Personnel Well-Being in the Helsinki University Hospital during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Prospective Cohort Study

Henna Haravuori, Kristiina Junttila, Toni Haapa, Katinka Tuisku, Anne Kujala, Tom Rosenström, Jaana Suvisaari, Eero Pukkala, Tanja Laukkala and Pekka Jylhä
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Henna Haravuori: Department of Psychiatry, University of Helsinki and HUS Helsinki University Hospital, and Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, 00029 HUS Helsinki, Finland
Kristiina Junttila: HUS Helsinki University Hospital, Nursing Research Center and University of Helsinki, 00029 HUS Helsinki, Finland
Toni Haapa: HUS Helsinki University Hospital, Nursing Research Center and University of Helsinki, 00029 HUS Helsinki, Finland
Katinka Tuisku: Department of Psychiatry, University of Helsinki and Acute Psychiatry and Consultations, HUS Helsinki University Hospital, 00029 HUS Helsinki, Finland
Anne Kujala: HUS Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, 00029 HUS Helsinki, Finland
Tom Rosenström: Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
Jaana Suvisaari: Department of Public Health Solutions, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Mental Health Unit, 00271 Helsinki, Finland
Eero Pukkala: Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, 33100 Tampere, Finland
Tanja Laukkala: Department of Psychiatry, University of Helsinki and Acute Psychiatry and Consultations, HUS Helsinki University Hospital, 00029 HUS Helsinki, Finland
Pekka Jylhä: Department of Psychiatry, University of Helsinki and Acute Psychiatry and Consultations, HUS Helsinki University Hospital, 00029 HUS Helsinki, Finland

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-9

Abstract: In March 2020, strict measures took place in Finland to limit the COVID-19 pandemic. Majority of Finnish COVID-19 patients have been located in southern Finland and consequently cared for at the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS) Helsinki University Hospital. During the pandemic, HUS personnel’s psychological symptoms are followed via an electronic survey, which also delivers information on psychosocial support services. In June 2020, the baseline survey was sent to 25,494 HUS employees, 4804 (19%) of whom answered; altogether, 62.4% of the respondents were nursing staff and 8.9% were medical doctors. While the follow-up continues for a year and a half, this report shares the sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents and the first results of psychological symptoms from our baseline survey. Out of those who were directly involved in the pandemic patient care, 43.4% reported potentially traumatic COVID-19 pandemic-related events (PTEs) vs. 21.8% among the others ( p < 0.001). While over a half of the personnel were asymptomatic, a group of respondents reported PTEs and concurrent depression, insomnia, and anxiety symptoms. This highlights the need to ensure appropriate psychosocial support services to all traumatized personnel; especially, nursing staff may require attention.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; Finland; healthcare personnel; psychological distress; post-traumatic stress disorder (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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