Mental Health Consequences of COVID-19 Pandemic on Health Care Workers
Author(s): Aditya Dhonde*, Mahima Bhatt, Vasant Wagh and Swaroopa Chakole
Abstract
Background: The recent pandemic situation that resulted from the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has had a significant impact on nearly every element of the society. The pandemic has put a lot of danger on the mental and physical wellness of frontline healthcare workers and supporting hospital staffs since they are the sole in charges of the diagnosis and treatment of the COVID-19 infection. According to studies from China, Italy, Turkey, Spain, and Iran, healthcare workers have a higher frequency of having psychological impacts than the overall population. Being a HCW, being a woman, having a lower socioeconomic level, having a greater chance of contracting COVID-19, and social isolation were all common risk factors. On the contrary, having enough medical resources, having up-to-date and accurate knowledge, and having enough medical resources were all protective factors.
Objective: This review was primarily cantered to look into the prevalence of psychological problems in different types of healthcare workers (doctors, medical residents, nurses, technicians, and public health workers) during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the factors that are linked to the onset of psychological problems in this population during a public health crisis.
Methods: Original papers, reviews, preprints, and letters to editors relating to our topic were reviewed using keyword searches in PubMed, Web of Science electronic databases, Asian Journal of Psychiatry. Ten amongst them were finally chosen. This article presents a systemized review of them after extensive and rigorous research.
Conclusion: Actions are required to reduce the effects of COVID-19 on mental health by protecting and improving the psychological well-being of healthcare professionals during and after the epidemic. Analysing rates of mood, sleep, and other mental health difficulties is thus a primary priority in order to find moderating factors and tailor therapies.
Keywords: Psychological impact, COVID-19; Stress; Anxiety, Depression