Hospital Employees’ Well-Being Six Months after the COVID-19 Outbreak: Results from a Psychological Screening Program in Italy

Giulia Lamiani, Lidia Borghi, Silvia Poli, Katia Razzini, Claudio Colosio and Elena Vegni
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Giulia Lamiani: Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, 20142 Milan, Italy
Lidia Borghi: Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, 20142 Milan, Italy
Silvia Poli: Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
Katia Razzini: Prevention and Protection Service, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, 20142 Milan, Italy
Claudio Colosio: Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, 20142 Milan, Italy
Elena Vegni: Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, 20142 Milan, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-12

Abstract: The COVID-19 outbreak has taken a heavy toll on the mental well-being of healthcare workers. This study aims to describe a psychological screening program developed at a large University Hospital in Milan, Italy, and assess the psychological outcomes of employees and associated factors. A survey was electronically conducted among hospital employees between July and October 2020. Sociodemographic data, information about COVID-19 experience and three scales assessing anxiety (STAI-Y1), depression (HAM-D) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PCL-5) were collected. A total of 308 employees (80% women; mean age 45.1 years) responded: 16% physicians, 68% other healthcare professionals, and 16% administrative staff. Employees reported moderate/severe symptoms of anxiety (23%), depression (53%), and post-traumatic stress disorder (40%). At multivariate logistic regression analysis, having suffered a loss for COVID-19 in the personal context was independently associated with higher risk of moderate/severe anxiety (OR = 2.40; 95% CI 1.16–4.98), being female was associated with higher risk of moderate/severe depression (OR = 2.82; 95% CI 1.43–5.59), and having had a family member affected by COVID-19 was associated with higher risk of moderate/severe post-traumatic stress disorder (OR = 2.75; 95% CI 1.01–7.48). COVID-19 personal experience may have a profound impact on hospital workers’ mental health and should be considered in supportive interventions.

Keywords: coronavirus; mental health; psychological distress; hospital workers; healthcare workers; PTSD; anxiety; depression; preventive interventions; clinical psychology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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