tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Affect Disord
. 2020 Oct 1;275:210-215.
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.06.031. Epub 2020 Jul 2.
The mental health of frontline and non-frontline medical workers during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in China: A case-control study
Qi Cai[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hongliang Feng[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Jing Huang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Meiyao Wang[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Qunfeng Wang[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Xuanzhen Lu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yu Xie[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Xing Wang[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Zhenxing Liu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Botong Hou[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Keni Ouyang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jing Pan[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Qin Li[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Beibei Fu[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Yongchao Deng[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Yumin Liu[SUP] 10 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Background and objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new infectious disease with high transmissibility and morbidity. It has caused substantial mental distress to medical professionals. We aimed to compare the psychological impact of the COVID-19 outbreak between frontline and non-frontline medical workers in China.
Methods: This case-control study recruited 1173 frontline and 1173 age- and sex-matched non-frontline medical workers during the COVID-19 outbreak (February 11 to 26, 2020). A set of online questionnaires were used to measure mental problems (i.e., anxiety, insomnia, and depressive symptoms), and help-seeking behavior and treatment for these mental problems.
Results: Frontline medical workers had higher rates of any mental problem (52.6% vs. 34.0%, adjusted OR=1.88, 95% CI=1.57-2.25), anxiety symptoms (15.7% vs. 7.4%, adjusted OR=1.95, 95% CI=1.46-2.61), depressed mood (marginally insignificant; 14.3% vs. 10.1%, adjusted OR=1.32, 95% CI=0.99-1.76) and insomnia (47.8% vs. 29.1%, adjusted OR=1.96, 95% CI=1.63-2.36) than non-frontline medical workers. No significant difference was observed in terms of suicidal ideation (12.0% vs. 9.0%, adjusted OR=1.25, 95% CI=0.92-1.71), help-seeking (4.5% vs. 4.5%, adjusted OR=1.00, 95% CI=0.53-1.87) or treatment (3.4% vs. 2.3%, adjusted OR=1.38, 95% CI=0.54-3.52) for mental problems.
Limitations: The case-control nature of the data precludes causal inferences, and there is a possibility of bias related to self-reports.
Conclusions: Frontline medical workers had more mental problems but comparable help-seeking behaviors and treatment for these problems than non-frontline medical workers. These findings highlight the timely mental support and intervention for medical workers, especially for those on the frontline.
Keywords: Coronavirus disease 2019; Help-seeking behavior; Medical workers; Mental health; Severe acute respiratory syndrome from coronavirus 2.
. 2020 Oct 1;275:210-215.
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.06.031. Epub 2020 Jul 2.
The mental health of frontline and non-frontline medical workers during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in China: A case-control study
Qi Cai[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hongliang Feng[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Jing Huang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Meiyao Wang[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Qunfeng Wang[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Xuanzhen Lu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yu Xie[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Xing Wang[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Zhenxing Liu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Botong Hou[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Keni Ouyang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jing Pan[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Qin Li[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Beibei Fu[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Yongchao Deng[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Yumin Liu[SUP] 10 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 32734910
- DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.06.031
Abstract
Background and objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new infectious disease with high transmissibility and morbidity. It has caused substantial mental distress to medical professionals. We aimed to compare the psychological impact of the COVID-19 outbreak between frontline and non-frontline medical workers in China.
Methods: This case-control study recruited 1173 frontline and 1173 age- and sex-matched non-frontline medical workers during the COVID-19 outbreak (February 11 to 26, 2020). A set of online questionnaires were used to measure mental problems (i.e., anxiety, insomnia, and depressive symptoms), and help-seeking behavior and treatment for these mental problems.
Results: Frontline medical workers had higher rates of any mental problem (52.6% vs. 34.0%, adjusted OR=1.88, 95% CI=1.57-2.25), anxiety symptoms (15.7% vs. 7.4%, adjusted OR=1.95, 95% CI=1.46-2.61), depressed mood (marginally insignificant; 14.3% vs. 10.1%, adjusted OR=1.32, 95% CI=0.99-1.76) and insomnia (47.8% vs. 29.1%, adjusted OR=1.96, 95% CI=1.63-2.36) than non-frontline medical workers. No significant difference was observed in terms of suicidal ideation (12.0% vs. 9.0%, adjusted OR=1.25, 95% CI=0.92-1.71), help-seeking (4.5% vs. 4.5%, adjusted OR=1.00, 95% CI=0.53-1.87) or treatment (3.4% vs. 2.3%, adjusted OR=1.38, 95% CI=0.54-3.52) for mental problems.
Limitations: The case-control nature of the data precludes causal inferences, and there is a possibility of bias related to self-reports.
Conclusions: Frontline medical workers had more mental problems but comparable help-seeking behaviors and treatment for these problems than non-frontline medical workers. These findings highlight the timely mental support and intervention for medical workers, especially for those on the frontline.
Keywords: Coronavirus disease 2019; Help-seeking behavior; Medical workers; Mental health; Severe acute respiratory syndrome from coronavirus 2.