Are Organizational Interventions Effective in Protecting Healthcare Worker Mental Health during Epidemics/Pandemics? A Systematic Literature Review

Nektaria Nicolakakis (), Maude Lafantaisie, Marie-Claude Letellier, Caroline Biron, Michel Vézina, Nathalie Jauvin, Maryline Vivion and Mariève Pelletier
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Nektaria Nicolakakis: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Toxicology, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec (INSPQ), Montreal, QC H2P 1E2, Canada
Maude Lafantaisie: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Toxicology, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec (INSPQ), Montreal, QC H2P 1E2, Canada
Marie-Claude Letellier: Department of Public Health Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Integrated Health and Social Services Centre of Gaspésie, Gaspe, QC G4X 1A9, Canada
Caroline Biron: Department of Management, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
Michel Vézina: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Toxicology, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec (INSPQ), Montreal, QC H2P 1E2, Canada
Nathalie Jauvin: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Toxicology, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec (INSPQ), Montreal, QC H2P 1E2, Canada
Maryline Vivion: Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
Mariève Pelletier: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Toxicology, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec (INSPQ), Montreal, QC H2P 1E2, Canada

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 15, 1-18

Abstract: It is unclear how to effectively protect healthcare workers’ mental health during infectious disease epidemics. Targeting the occupational determinants of stress may hold more promise than individual stress management, which has received more focus. Through a systematic review of the 2000–2021 English- and French-language scientific literature, we evaluated the effectiveness of organizational and psychosocial work environment interventions to protect healthcare workers’ mental health in an epidemic/pandemic context. Evidence from medium- and high-quality studies was synthesized using GRADE. Among 1604 unique search results, 41 studies were deemed relevant, yielding 34 low-quality and seven medium-quality studies. The latter reported on promising multi-component prevention programs that combined staffing adjustments, work shift arrangements, enhanced infection prevention and control, recognition of workers’ efforts, psychological and/or logistic support during lockdowns (e.g., accommodation). Our confidence in the effectiveness of reviewed interventions is low to very low, however, owing to methodological limitations. We highlight gaps in the reporting of intervention process and context elements and discuss theory and implementation failure as possible explanations for results. We conclude by urging authors of future studies to include and document detailed risk assessments of the work environment, involve workers in solution design and implementation and consider how this process can be adapted during an emergency.

Keywords: effectiveness evaluation; health and social services worker; infectious disease; pandemic; psychological health; psychosocial work environment; occupational determinants of stress (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 (2)

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