From Recession to Depression? Prevalence and Correlates of Depression, Anxiety, Traumatic Stress and Burnout in Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Greece: A Multi-Center, Cross-Sectional Study

Sofia Pappa, Nikolaos Athanasiou, Nikolaos Sakkas, Stavros Patrinos, Elpitha Sakka, Zafeiria Barmparessou, Stamatoula Tsikrika, Andreas Adraktas, Athanasia Pataka, Ilias Migdalis, Sofia Gida and Paraskevi Katsaounou
Additional contact information
Sofia Pappa: Department of Psychiatry, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
Nikolaos Athanasiou: Department of Respiratory Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 157 72 Athens, Greece
Nikolaos Sakkas: Department of Respiratory Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 157 72 Athens, Greece
Stavros Patrinos: Department of Respiratory Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 157 72 Athens, Greece
Elpitha Sakka: Department of Respiratory Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 157 72 Athens, Greece
Zafeiria Barmparessou: Department of Respiratory Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 157 72 Athens, Greece
Stamatoula Tsikrika: Respiratory Failure Clinic, Sotiria Hospital, 115 27 Athens, Greece
Andreas Adraktas: Pammakaristos Hospital, 111 44 Athens, Greece
Athanasia Pataka: Respiratory Failure Unit, Papanikolaou Hospital Thessaloniki, 570 10 Thessaloniki, Greece
Ilias Migdalis: 417 Army Equity Fund Hospital (NIMTS), 115 21 Athens, Greece
Sofia Gida: Trikala Hospital, 421 00 Trikala, Greece
Paraskevi Katsaounou: Department of Respiratory Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 157 72 Athens, Greece

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 5, 1-16

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to adversely affect the mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs). The public healthcare system in Greece was already facing serious challenges at the outset of the outbreak following years of austerity and an escalating refugee crisis. This multi-center, cross-sectional study aims to assess the levels and associated risk factors of anxiety, depression, traumatic stress and burnout of frontline staff in Greece. A total of 464 self-selected HCWs in six reference hospitals completed a questionnaire comprising sociodemographic and work-related information and validated psychometric scales. The proportion of HCWs with symptoms of moderate/severe depression, anxiety and traumatic stress were 30%, 25% and 33%, respectively. Burnout levels were particularly high with 65% of respondents scoring moderate/severe in emotional exhaustion, 92% severe in depersonalization and 51% low/moderate in personal accomplishment. Predictive factors of adverse psychological outcomes included fear, perceived stress, risk of infection, lack of protective equipment and low social support. The psychological burden associated with COVID-19 in healthcare professionals in Greece is considerable, with more than half experiencing at least mild mental health difficulties. Findings signal the need for immediate organizational and individually tailored interventions to enhance resilience and support wellbeing under pandemic conditions.

Keywords: COVID-19; healthcare workers; Greece; mental health; depression; anxiety; traumatic stress; burnout (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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