Original Research Article_A study of Mental Health Status in Healthcare Workers posted in a dedicated COVID-19 Hospital

Abstract

Background: The massive toll due to COVID-19 has resulted in stretching of resources of healthcare systems and has led to unique demands on healthcare workers (HCWs) that are not seen in usual practice, which predispose them to mental health problems. The aim of the study was to assess mental health status in healthcare workers posted in COVID hospital as Mental health issues may impact decision making among HCWs, leading to medical errors and may also impact wellbeing in the long term. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study. 799 HCWs posted in the COVID-19 wing of a tertiary care hospital were studied. Socio-demographic details were recorded and a Gujarati version of GHQ-28 was applied. A total score of ≥ 4 on GHQ-28 was considered indicative of ‘caseness’ or ‘psychiatric morbidity’. Association of outcomes like total GHQ-28 score, and responses on individual items of GHQ indicative of fatigue, sleep disturbances, stress, irritability, anxiety and others with variables like age, gender, profession, years of experience, marital status and family type was assessed. Results: 40 individuals (5%) reported at least one of the symptoms. The most commonly reported symptom was sleep disturbance, reported by 38 participants (4.75%), followed by stress in 34 participants (4.25%), fatigue in 29 participants (3.62%) and anxiety in 24 (3.00%). Decision-making problems, hopelessness, death wishes/suicidal ideation were rare. Conclusion: Age > 45 years was a significant predictor for GHQ-28 total score being ≥4 and stress, experience > 5 years was statistically significantly associated with sleep disturbance, and being female was a significant predictor for fatigue.