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- Title
Mental health of medical professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in eight European countries - A cross-sectional survey.
- Authors
Hummel, Svenja; Oetjen, Neele; Du, Junfeng; Posenato, Elisabetta; Almeida, Rosa Maria Resende de; Losada, Raquel; Ribeiro, Oscar; Frisardi, Vincenza; Hopper, Louise; Rashid, Asarnusch; Nasser, Habib; König, Alexandra; Rudofsky, Gottfried; Weidt, Steffi; Zafar, Ali; Gronewold, Nadine; Mayer, Gwendolyn; Schultz, Jobst-Hendrik; Resende de Almeida, Rosa Maria; Losada Durán, Raquel
- Abstract
<bold>Background: </bold>The death toll of COVID-19 topped 170,000 in Europe by the end of May 2020. COVID-19 has caused an immense psychological burden on the population, especially doctors and nurses who are faced with high infection risks and increased workload.<bold>Objective: </bold>To compare the mental health of medical professionals with non-medical professionals in different European countries during COVID-19, assuming that medical professionals, particularly those exposed to COVID-19 at work, would have higher depression, anxiety and stress. To determine their main stressors and most frequently used coping strategies during the crisis.<bold>Methods: </bold>A cross-sectional online survey was conducted during peak COVID-19 months in eight European countries. The questionnaire included demographic data and whether the participants were exposed to COVID-19 at work or not. Mental health was assessed via the Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21). A 12-item checklist on preferred coping strategies and another 23-item questionnaire on major stressors was filled by the medical professionals.<bold>Results: </bold>The sample (N=609) consisted of 189 doctors, 165 nurses and 255 non-medical professionals. Participants from France and the UK were more often assigned to the group with severe/extremely severe depression, anxiety and stress on DASS-21. Non-medical professionals had significantly higher scores for depression and anxiety. Among medical professionals no significant link was reported between direct contact with COVID-19 patients at work and anxiety, depression or stress. ´Uncertainty about when the epidemic will be under control´ was the most stressful aspect for healthcare professionals while ´taking protective measures´" was the most frequently used coping strategy among all participants.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>COVID-19 poses a major challenge to the mental health of working professionals as a considerable proportion of our participants showed high values for depression, anxiety and stress. Even though medical professionals showed less mental stress than non-medical professionals, sufficient help should be offered to all occupational groups with an emphasis on effective coping strategies.<bold>Clinicaltrial: </bold>
- Publication
Journal of Medical Internet Research, 2021, Vol 23, Issue 1, pN.PAG
- ISSN
1439-4456
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2196/24983