A Survey of Psychiatric Healthcare Workers' Perception of Working Environment and Possibility to Recover Before and After the First Wave of COVID-19 in Sweden

Eirini Alexiou^{1

2}, Steinn Steingrimsson^{1

3}, Magnus Akerstrom^{4

5}, Ingibjörg H Jonsdottir^{4

5}, Linda Ahlstrom^{6

7}, Caterina Finizia^{8

9}, Helle Wijk^{6

10

11}, Alessio Degl'Innocenti^{2

12}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatric Clinic, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden.
² Center for Ethics, Law, and Mental Health, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
³ Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
⁴ Institute of Stress Medicine, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden.
⁵ School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
⁶ Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
⁷ Department of Orthopaedics, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden.
⁸ Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
⁹ Department of Research, Development, Education and Innovation, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden.
¹⁰ Department of Quality Strategies, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden.
¹¹ Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden.
¹² Gothia Forum for Clinical Trials, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden.

PMID: 34912253
PMCID: PMC8666504
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.770955

A Survey of Psychiatric Healthcare Workers' Perception of Working Environment and Possibility to Recover Before and After the First Wave of COVID-19 in Sweden

Eirini Alexiou et al. Front Psychiatry. 2021.

. 2021 Nov 29:12:770955.

doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.770955. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatric Clinic, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden.
² Center for Ethics, Law, and Mental Health, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
³ Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
⁴ Institute of Stress Medicine, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden.
⁵ School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
⁶ Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
⁷ Department of Orthopaedics, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden.
⁸ Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
⁹ Department of Research, Development, Education and Innovation, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden.
¹⁰ Department of Quality Strategies, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden.
¹¹ Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden.
¹² Gothia Forum for Clinical Trials, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden.

PMID: 34912253
PMCID: PMC8666504
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.770955

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on perceived working environment, including the possibility to recover, among psychiatric healthcare workers (PHCWs) in comparison with pre-pandemic measures. Method: A link to an anonymous, web-based COVID-19 related survey was sent via email to all PHCWs at a university hospital in Sweden (n = 1,618) in September 2020. The response rate was 38% (566 of 1,507 eligible participants). Working environment survey responses collected in 2019 were used as pre-pandemic comparators. Statistical analyses were performed to assess overall impact over time on work demands, support, motivation, and recovery, stratified by professional role, and considering variables such as access to personal protective equipment. Results: The percentage of individuals responding negatively to statements about working environment increased significantly for most items after the first wave. Similarly, the increase of five of the investigated factors indicated a more negative perception of recovery during the pandemic. Registered nurses reported a greater negative impact of the pandemic on perceived working conditions and ability to recover than other professional groups. PHCWs working with patients with COVID-19 (35%) who reported being worried about becoming infected (12%) or infecting others (17%), or lacking adequate personal protective equipment (22%) were more negatively impacted regarding work environment-related items than those who did not. Conclusions: PHCWs' working environment and possibility for recovery were impacted by the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses being most affected. Although psychiatric services do not directly care for patients with severe COVID-19 infection, the results from this study suggests that mental health services should also prepare for future pandemics.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; online survey; psychiatric healthcare workers; recovery; working environment.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

**Figure 1**
Response flowchart to online survey administered to psychiatric healthcare workers in 2020.

**Figure 2**
The percentage of negative responses (strongly disagree or disagree) to statements regarding work environment and possibility for recovery before and after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

**Figure 3**
The overall effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on working conditions and recovery stratified for occupational status compared to the situation before the pandemic i.e., a negative result indicates a more negative perception of work environment and recovery during the pandemic, and vice versa. The overall effect size should be related to the item's response scale ranging between 1 (strongly disagree) and 5 (strongly agree).

**Figure 4**
The relationship between five selected work environment items in terms of job demands and resources, motivation and possibility for recovery, and working with patients with COVID-19. The item's survey score ranges between 1 (strongly disagree) and 5 (strongly agree).

**Figure 5**
The relationship between five selected work environment items in terms of job demands and resources, motivation and possibility for recovery, and lacking access to enough personal protection equipment while working with patients with COVID-19. The item's survey score ranges between 1 (strongly disagree) and 5 (strongly agree).

**Figure 6**
The relationship between five selected work environment items in terms of job demands and resources, motivation and possibility for recovery, and strong worry of becoming infected with COVID-19. The item's survey score ranges between 1 (strongly disagree) and 5 (strongly agree).

See this image and copyright information in PMC

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A Survey of Psychiatric Healthcare Workers' Perception of Working Environment and Possibility to Recover Before and After the First Wave of COVID-19 in Sweden

Affiliations

A Survey of Psychiatric Healthcare Workers' Perception of Working Environment and Possibility to Recover Before and After the First Wave of COVID-19 in Sweden

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

Figures

References

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources