RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 High levels of psychosocial distress among Australian frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey
JF General Psychiatry
JO Gen Psych
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP e100577
DO 10.1136/gpsych-2021-100577
VO 34
IS 5
A1 Natasha Smallwood
A1 Leila Karimi
A1 Marie Bismark
A1 Mark Putland
A1 Douglas Johnson
A1 Shyamali Chandrika Dharmage
A1 Elizabeth Barson
A1 Nicola Atkin
A1 Claire Long
A1 Irene Ng
A1 Anne Holland
A1 Jane E Munro
A1 Irani Thevarajan
A1 Cara Moore
A1 Anthony McGillion
A1 Debra Sandford
A1 Karen Willis
YR 2021
UL http://gpsych.bmj.com/content/34/5/e100577.abstract
AB Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a profound and prolonged impact on healthcare services and healthcare workers.Aims The Australian COVID-19 Frontline Healthcare Workers Study aimed to investigate the severity and prevalence of mental health issues, as well as the social, workplace and financial disruptions experienced by Australian healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods A nationwide, voluntary, anonymous, single timepoint, online survey was conducted between 27 August and 23 October 2020. Individuals self-identifying as frontline healthcare workers in secondary or primary care were invited to participate. Participants were recruited through health organisations, professional associations or colleges, universities, government contacts and national media. Demographics, home and work situation, health and psychological well-being data were collected.Results A total of 9518 survey responses were received; of the 9518 participants, 7846 (82.4%) participants reported complete data. With regard to age, 4110 (52.4%) participants were younger than 40 years; 6344 (80.9%) participants were women. Participants were nurses (n=3088, 39.4%), doctors (n=2436, 31.1%), allied health staff (n=1314, 16.7%) or in other roles (n=523, 6.7%). In addition, 1250 (15.9%) participants worked in primary care. Objectively measured mental health symptoms were common: mild to severe anxiety (n=4694, 59.8%), moderate to severe burnout (n=5458, 70.9%) and mild to severe depression (n=4495, 57.3%). Participants were highly resilient (mean (SD)=3.2 (0.66)). Predictors for worse outcomes on all scales included female gender; younger age; pre-existing psychiatric condition; experiencing relationship problems; nursing, allied health or other roles; frontline area; being worried about being blamed by colleagues and working with patients with COVID-19.Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic is associated with significant mental health symptoms in frontline healthcare workers. Crisis preparedness together with policies and practices addressing psychological well-being are needed.Data are available upon reasonable request. Data are available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author.