Return to Work of Healthcare Workers after SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Determinants of Physical and Mental Health

Maddalena Grazzini, Lucrezia Ginevra Lulli, Nicola Mucci, Diana Paolini, Antonio Baldassarre, Veronica Gallinoro, Annarita Chiarelli, Fabrizio Niccolini and Giulio Arcangeli
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Maddalena Grazzini: Health Direction, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy
Lucrezia Ginevra Lulli: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Nicola Mucci: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Diana Paolini: Health Direction, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy
Antonio Baldassarre: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Veronica Gallinoro: Medical Specialization School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
Annarita Chiarelli: Occupational Medicine Unit, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy
Fabrizio Niccolini: Health Direction, Careggi University Hospital, 50134 Florence, Italy
Giulio Arcangeli: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 11, 1-13

Abstract: Introduction. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has involved healthcare workers (HCWs) both as caregivers and as patients. This study is a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of the HCWs working in a third-level hospital in Central Italy who were infected with COVID-19 from March 2020 to April 2021. This research aims at identifying the physical and mental health outcomes of HCWs infected with COVID-19 who returned to work after the infection, the determinants of those outcomes, such as age and sex, and the identification of possible vulnerable professional groups. Methods. A questionnaire about the acute illness, the experience of returning to work, and health perceptions after the disease was administered to 427 healthcare workers 3 months after recovering from the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results. The majority interviewed (84.5%) reported symptoms at the time of the positive test, with no significant differences regarding age or sex, while a significant difference in the mean age was found regarding hospitalization ( p < 0.001). At 3 months after the infection, females ( p = 0.001), older workers ( p < 0.001), and healthcare assistants ( p < 0.001) were more likely to report persistent symptoms. Sex ( p = 0.02) and age ( p = 0.006) influenced the quality of sleep after the infection. At work, the nurses group reported increase in workload ( p = 0.03) and worse relationships ( p = 0.028). At 3 months after the infection, female workers perceived worse physical ( p = 0.002) and mental ( p < 0.001) health status according to the SF-12. A negative correlation was found between age and PCS score ( p < 0.001) but not MCS score ( p = 0.86). A significant difference in PCS score was found between nurses and physicians ( p = 0.04) and between residents and all other groups ( p < 0.001). Finally, the group of workers reporting sleep alterations showed lower PCS and MCS scores ( p < 0.001) and working relationships had an impact on MCS scores ( p < 0.001). Conclusions. Age, sex, and type of job had an impact on physical and mental outcomes. Organizing specific interventions, also tailored to professional sub-groups, should be a target for healthcare systems to protect and boost the physical and mental health of their workers.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2 infection; healthcare workers; return to work; aging workforce; gender; sleep alterations; health perception; occupational health; occupational wellbeing; resilience (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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