Impact of Unexpected In-House Major COVID-19 Outbreaks on Depressive Symptoms among Healthcare Workers: A Retrospective Multi-Institutional Study

Hideki Sato (), Masaharu Maeda, Yui Takebayashi, Noriko Setou, Jiro Shimada and Yumiko Kanari
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Hideki Sato: Department of Disaster Psychiatry, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
Masaharu Maeda: Department of Disaster Psychiatry, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
Yui Takebayashi: Department of Disaster Psychiatry, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
Noriko Setou: Department of Disaster Psychiatry, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
Jiro Shimada: Hospital Futaba Emergency General Medical Support Center, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan
Yumiko Kanari: Fukushima Prefectural Government, Department of Health and Welfare, Fukushima Prefectural Headquarters for Coronavirus Infection Control, Fukushima 960-8670, Japan

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 6, 1-14

Abstract: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has significantly affected the mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs). The authors have provided psychosocial support to HCWs working in typical hospitals and nursing homes in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, where major COVID-19 outbreaks have occurred since December 2020. This study retrospectively examines depressive symptoms before psychosocial interventions among HCWs working at typical hospitals and nursing homes experiencing in-house major COVID-19 outbreaks. We have offered psychosocial support in eight hospitals and nursing homes, obtaining data on the mental health status of 558 HCWs using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. The study’s results indicate that 29.4% of HCWs have exhibited moderate or higher depressive symptoms, and 10.2% had suicidal ideation. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that being a nurse was associated with higher depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation compared to other HCWs. In addition, multiple logistic regression analysis of Polymerase Chain Reaction-positive HCWs showed that being a nurse and the number of COVID-19-related symptoms was associated with high depressive symptoms. These results suggest that HCWs in typical hospitals and nursing homes experiencing major COVID-19 outbreaks are more likely to exhibit severe depressive symptoms, which may worsen if infected with COVID-19. This study’s findings expand the current understanding of HCWs’ depressive symptoms and the importance of psychosocial support during unexpected major outbreaks in healthcare facilities.

Keywords: COVID-19; major outbreak; healthcare worker; depressive symptom; suicidal ideation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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