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ABSTRACT: Background
A healthcare system's collapse due to a pandemic, such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), can expose healthcare workers (HCWs) to various mental health problems. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the depression and anxiety of HCWs.Methods
A nationwide questionnaire-based survey was conducted on HCWs who worked in healthcare facilities and public health centers in Korea in December 2020. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) were used to measure depression and anxiety. To investigate factors associated with depression and anxiety, stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis was performed.Results
A total of 1,425 participating HCWs were included. The mean depression score (PHQ-9) of HCWs before and after COVID-19 increased from 2.37 to 5.39, and the mean anxiety score (GAD-7) increased from 1.41 to 3.41. The proportion of HCWs with moderate to severe depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 10) increased from 3.8% before COVID-19 to 19.5% after COVID-19, whereas that of HCWs with moderate to severe anxiety (GAD-7 ≥ 10) increased from 2.0% to 10.1%. In our study, insomnia, chronic fatigue symptoms and physical symptoms after COVID-19, anxiety score (GAD-7) after COVID-19, living alone, and exhaustion were positively correlated with depression. Furthermore, post-traumatic stress symptoms, stress score (Global Assessment of Recent Stress), depression score (PHQ-9) after COVID-19, and exhaustion were positively correlated with anxiety.Conclusion
In Korea, during the COVID-19 pandemic, HCWs commonly suffered from mental health problems, including depression and anxiety. Regularly checking the physical and mental health problems of HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic is crucial, and social support and strategy are needed to reduce the heavy workload and psychological distress of HCWs.
SUBMITTER: Lee S
PROVIDER: S-EPMC11004773 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

Lee Shinwon S Hwang Soyoon S Kwon Ki Tae KT Nam EunKyung E Chung Un Sun US Kim Shin-Woo SW Chang Hyun-Ha HH Kim Yoonjung Y Bae Sohyun S Shin Ji-Yeon JY Bae Sang-Geun SG Ryoo Hyun Wook HW Jeong Juhwan J Oh NamHee N Lee So Hee SH Kim Yeonjae Y Kang Chang Kyung CK Park Hye Yoon HY Park Jiho J Park Se Yoon SY Kim Bongyoung B Cheong Hae Suk HS Son Ji Woong JW Lim Su Jin SJ Yun Seongcheol S Oh Won Sup WS Park Kyung-Hwa KH Lee Ju-Yeon JY Heo Sang Taek ST Lee Ji-Yeon JY
Journal of Korean medical science 20240408 13
<h4>Background</h4>A healthcare system's collapse due to a pandemic, such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), can expose healthcare workers (HCWs) to various mental health problems. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the depression and anxiety of HCWs.<h4>Methods</h4>A nationwide questionnaire-based survey was conducted on HCWs who worked in healthcare facilities and public health centers in Korea in December 2020. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9 ...[more]