Occupational Health of Frontline Healthcare Workers in the United Arab Emirates during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Snapshot of Summer 2020

Suad Ajab, Balázs Ádam, Muna Al Hammadi, Najwa Al Bastaki, Mohamed Al Junaibi, Abdulmajeed Al Zubaidi, Mona Hegazi, Michal Grivna, Suhail Kady, Erik Koornneef, Raquel Neves, António Sousa Uva, Mohamud Sheek-Hussein, Tom Loney, Florentino Serranheira and Marília Silva Paulo
Additional contact information
Suad Ajab: Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 17666, United Arab Emirates
Balázs Ádam: Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 17666, United Arab Emirates
Muna Al Hammadi: Tawam Hospital, Al Ain P.O. Box 17666, United Arab Emirates
Najwa Al Bastaki: Department of Medical Education and Research, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai P.O. Box 4545, United Arab Emirates
Mohamed Al Junaibi: Ministry of Presidential Affairs, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 280, United Arab Emirates
Abdulmajeed Al Zubaidi: Ministry of Presidential Affairs, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 280, United Arab Emirates
Mona Hegazi: Department of Family Medicine, Mediclinic City Hospital, Dubai P.O. Box 505004, United Arab Emirates
Michal Grivna: Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 17666, United Arab Emirates
Suhail Kady: Ministry of Presidential Affairs, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 280, United Arab Emirates
Erik Koornneef: Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 17666, United Arab Emirates
Raquel Neves: Health Science Faculty, Higher College of Technology Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 25026, United Arab Emirates
António Sousa Uva: CHRC, Comprehensive Health Research Center, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1600-560 Lisbon, Portugal
Mohamud Sheek-Hussein: Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 17666, United Arab Emirates
Tom Loney: College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab Emirates
Florentino Serranheira: CHRC, Comprehensive Health Research Center, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1600-560 Lisbon, Portugal
Marília Silva Paulo: Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 17666, United Arab Emirates

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 21, 1-15

Abstract: The study aim was to understand the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the levels of anxiety, depression, and burnout of healthcare workers (HCWs) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study was an online-based, cross-sectional survey during July and August 2020. Participants were eligible from the entire country, and 1290 agreed to participate. The majority of HCWs were females aged 30–39 years old, working as nurses, and 80% considered PPE to be available. Twelve percent of respondents tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Half of HCWs considered themselves physically tired (52.2%), reported musculoskeletal pain or discomfort (54.2%), and perceived moderate-to-high levels of burnout on at least one of three burnout domains (52.8%). A quarter of HCWs reported anxiety (26.3%) or depression (28.1%). HCWs reporting not having musculoskeletal pain, having performed physical activity, and higher scores of available PPE reported lower scores of anxiety, depression, and burnout. UAE HCWs experienced more access to PPE and less anxiety, depression, and burnout compared with HCWs in other countries. Study findings can be used by healthcare organizations and policymakers to ensure adequate measures are implemented to maximize the health and wellbeing of HCWs during the current COVID-19 and future pandemics.

Keywords: anxiety; burnout; COVID-19; healthcare workers; occupational health; personal protective equipment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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