‘Should I Stay, or Should I Go?’ Psychological Distress Predicts Career Change Ideation among Intensive Care Staff in Lithuania and the UK Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Ieva Norkiene, Lina Jovarauskaite, Monika Kvedaraite, Encarl Uppal, Mandeep Kaur Phull, Heidi Chander, Kathryn Halford and Evaldas Kazlauskas
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Ieva Norkiene: Clinic of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, M. K. Ciurlionio Str. 21, LT-03101 Vilnius, Lithuania
Lina Jovarauskaite: Center for Psychotraumatology, Institute of Psychology, Vilnius University, M. K. Ciurlionio Str. 29, LT-03100 Vilnius, Lithuania
Monika Kvedaraite: Center for Psychotraumatology, Institute of Psychology, Vilnius University, M. K. Ciurlionio Str. 29, LT-03100 Vilnius, Lithuania
Encarl Uppal: The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, Whitechapel Road, Whitechapel, London E1 1FR, UK
Mandeep Kaur Phull: Barking Havering and Redbridge University NHS Trust, Rom Valley Way, Romford Essex, London RM7 0AG, UK
Heidi Chander: Barking Havering and Redbridge University NHS Trust, Rom Valley Way, Romford Essex, London RM7 0AG, UK
Kathryn Halford: Barking Havering and Redbridge University NHS Trust, Rom Valley Way, Romford Essex, London RM7 0AG, UK
Evaldas Kazlauskas: Center for Psychotraumatology, Institute of Psychology, Vilnius University, M. K. Ciurlionio Str. 29, LT-03100 Vilnius, Lithuania

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 5, 1-9

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant effect on healthcare globally. Additional pressure created by coronavirus adversely affected the mental health and psychological well-being of healthcare workers, leading many to question their desire and willingness to continue working in healthcare. This study aimed to identify predictors for career change ideation among healthcare professionals in two countries; Lithuania and the United Kingdom amid the coronavirus pandemic. In total, 610 healthcare professionals from Lithuania and the UK (285 and 325, respectively) participated in a survey from May to August 2020. Psychological distress and psychological well-being were measured using the self-report scales “DASS-21” and “WHO-5”. Almost half of the sample (49.2%), 59.6% and 40.0% in Lithuanian and the UK, respectively, exhibited career change ideation, the country effect was significant ( AOR = 2.21, p < 0.001). Stronger ideation to leave healthcare was predicted by higher levels of depression ( AOR = 1.10, p = 0.005), stress ( AOR = 1.10, p = 0.007), anxiety surrounding inadequate personal protective equipment ( AOR = 2.27, p = 0.009), and lower psychological well-being scores ( AOR = 1.10, p = 0.007). We conclude that psychosocial support must be provided for healthcare professionals to prevent burnout and loss of staff amid the pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; healthcare; mental health; burn-out (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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