Table 5

Workplace predictors of mental health outcomes (multivariable univariate analysis)

PredictorAnxiety (GAD-7)Depression (PHQ-9)PTSD (IES-6)Burnout DPBurnout EEBurnout PA
OR (95% CI)P valueOR (95% CI)P valueOR (95% CI)P valueOR (95% CI)P valueOR (95% CI)P valueOR (95% CI)P value
Occupation
 Nursing1.79 (1.55 to 2.07)0.0011.92 (1.65 to 2.23)0.0011.28 (1.12 to 1.45)0.0010.84 (0.74 to 0.96)0.0131.22 (1.07 to 1.39)0.0030.73 (0.64 to 0.83)0.001
 Allied health1.25 (1.04 to 1.50)0.0131.48 (1.22 to 1.79)0.0011.20 (1.02 to 1.41)0.0220.57 (0.48 to 0.68)0.0011.16 (0.98 to 1.38)0.0811.13 (0.95 to 1.34)0.150
 Other roles1.83 (1.51 to 2.22)0.0011.95 (1.59 to 2.38)0.0011.29 (1.08 to 1.53)0.0041.13 (0.85 to 1.49)0.3800.89 (0.74 to 1.07)0.2330.43 (0.36 to 0.51)0.001
Frontline area
 ICU0.87 (0.70 to 1.10)0.2600.73 (0.58 to 0.93)0.010N/A-0.70 (0.57 to 0.87)0.0010.83 (0.67 to 1.03)0.1001.08 (0.88 to 1.33)0.450
 Anaesthetics and surgery1.18 (0.94 to 1.48)0.1400.85 (0.67 to 1.08)0.190N/A-0.73 (0.59 to 0.91)0.0051.14 (0.91 to 1.43)0.2200.85 (0.69 to 1.05)0.140
 Medical specialty areas1.13 (0.95 to 1.35)0.1500.89 (0.74 to 1.06)0.200N/A-0.67 (0.57 to 0.80)0.0011.19 (1.00 to 1.41)0.0471.18 (1.00 to 1.39)0.040
 Primary care, community and residential aged care0.96 (0.77 to 1.20)0.7600.82 (0.66 to 1.03)0.580N/A-0.62 (0.49 to 0.78)0.0011.53 (1.24 to 1.89)0.0011.35 (1.10 to 1.66)0.003
 Other*1.11 (0.87 to 1.42)0.3800.85 (0.66 to 1.03)0.098N/A-0.64 (0.49 to 0.84)0.0011.31 (1.03 to 1.66)0.0270.89 (0.71 to 1.11)0.300
 Currently working with patients with COVID-191.21 (1.05 to 1.39)0.0061.19 (1.03 to 1.37)0.0151.27 (1.12 to 1.44)0.0011.25 (1.09 to 1.42)0.0011.20 (1.05 to 1.37)0.0070.80 (0.71 to 0.92)0.001
 Received PPE training0.91 (0.80 to 1.05)0.2100.96 (0.83 to 1.10)0.5801.04 (0.92 to 1.17)0.4900.98 (0.85 to 1.12)0.7901.10 (0.97 to 1.25)0.1221.27 (1.12 to 1.43)0.001
 Being worried that colleagues will blame them1.68 (1.42 to 1.97)0.0011.44 (1.22 to 1.71)0.0011.82 (1.58 to 2.11)0.0011.39 (1.19 to 1.62)0.0011.57 (1.36 to 1.81)0.0011.02 (0.89 to 1.18)0.700
  • N/A=variable not included for that mental scale in the model because no relationship was observed in the univariate model.

  • Reference categories for each variable were as follows: occupation=medical staff; frontline area=emergency department; currently working with patients with COVID-19=negative response; received PPE training=negative response; being worried about being blamed=disagreed. Resilience was a continuous variable (scores 0–4).

  • Lower OR for personal accomplishment indicates poorer outcomes.

  • *Other for frontline area included people working in paramedicine, radiology, pharmacy, pathology and clinical laboratories, or other areas.

  • COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; DP, depersonalisation; EE, emotional exhaustion; GAD-7, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7; ICU, intensive care unit; IES-6, Impact of Events Scale-6; PA, personal accomplishment; PHQ-9, Patient Health Questionnaire-9; PPE, personal protective equipment; PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder.