Mental Health Outcomes in Australian Healthcare and Aged-Care Workers during the Second Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic

doi:10.3390/ijerph19094951

. 2022 Apr 19;19(9):4951.

doi: 10.3390/ijerph19094951.

Mental Health Outcomes in Australian Healthcare and Aged-Care Workers during the Second Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Sarah L McGuinness^{1

2}, Josphin Johnson^{1

2}, Owen Eades^{1

2}, Peter A Cameron^{1

2}, Andrew Forbes¹, Jane Fisher¹, Kelsey Grantham¹, Carol Hodgson^{1

2}, Peter Hunter^{1

2}, Jessica Kasza¹, Helen L Kelsall¹, Maggie Kirkman¹, Grant Russell¹, Philip L Russo^{3

4}, Malcolm R Sim¹, Kasha P Singh^{5

6}, Helen Skouteris¹, Karen L Smith^{1

7}, Rhonda L Stuart^{1

8}, Helena J Teede^{1

8}, James M Trauer¹, Andrew Udy^{1

2}, Sophia Zoungas^{1

2}, Karin Leder^{1

9}

Affiliations

¹ School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia.
² Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia.
³ School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia.
⁴ Cabrini Health, Melbourne, VIC 3144, Australia.
⁵ Peninsula Health, Melbourne, VIC 3199, Australia.
⁶ The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia.
⁷ Ambulance Victoria, Melbourne, VIC 3108, Australia.
⁸ Monash Health, Melbourne, VIC 3168, Australia.
⁹ Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3050, Australia.

PMID: 35564351
PMCID: PMC9103405
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19094951

Mental Health Outcomes in Australian Healthcare and Aged-Care Workers during the Second Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Sarah L McGuinness et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022.

. 2022 Apr 19;19(9):4951.

doi: 10.3390/ijerph19094951.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia.
² Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia.
³ School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia.
⁴ Cabrini Health, Melbourne, VIC 3144, Australia.
⁵ Peninsula Health, Melbourne, VIC 3199, Australia.
⁶ The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia.
⁷ Ambulance Victoria, Melbourne, VIC 3108, Australia.
⁸ Monash Health, Melbourne, VIC 3168, Australia.
⁹ Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3050, Australia.

PMID: 35564351
PMCID: PMC9103405
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19094951

Abstract

Objective: the COVID-19 pandemic has incurred psychological risks for healthcare workers (HCWs). We established a Victorian HCW cohort (the Coronavirus in Victorian Healthcare and Aged-Care Workers (COVIC-HA) cohort study) to examine COVID-19 impacts on HCWs and assess organisational responses over time.

Methods: mixed-methods cohort study, with baseline data collected via an online survey (7 May-18 July 2021) across four healthcare settings: ambulance, hospitals, primary care, and residential aged-care. Outcomes included self-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress (PTS), wellbeing, burnout, and resilience, measured using validated tools. Work and home-related COVID-19 impacts and perceptions of workplace responses were also captured.

Results: among 984 HCWs, symptoms of clinically significant depression, anxiety, and PTS were reported by 22.5%, 14.0%, and 20.4%, respectively, highest among paramedics and nurses. Emotional exhaustion reflecting moderate-severe burnout was reported by 65.1%. Concerns about contracting COVID-19 at work and transmitting COVID-19 were common, but 91.2% felt well-informed on workplace changes and 78.3% reported that support services were available.

Conclusions: Australian HCWs employed during 2021 experienced adverse mental health outcomes, with prevalence differences observed according to occupation. Longitudinal evidence is needed to inform workplace strategies that support the physical and mental wellbeing of HCWs at organisational and state policy levels.

Keywords: COVID-19; healthcare workers; infectious diseases epidemiology; occupational health; psychological disorders.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Figures

**Figure 1**
COVID-19 case numbers sourced from Victorian COVID-19 data available at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/victorian-coronavirus-covid-19-data (accessed on 18 November 2021); Victorian healthcare worker (clinical and non-clinical) COVID-19 data available at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/healthcare-worker-covid-19-data (accessed on 18 November 2021). COVID-19 vaccine data for Victoria were sourced from https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/weekly-covid-19-vaccine-data#covid-19-vaccine-rates-for-second-dose-by-postcode (accessed on 18 November 2021).

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[1] Pearce N., Lawlor D.A., Brickley E.B. Comparisons between countries are essential for the control of COVID-19. Int. J. Epidemiol. 2020;49:1059–1062. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyaa108. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

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[3] Australian Bureau of Statistics Regional Population. ABS; 2019-20 [Updated 30 March 2021] [(accessed on 5 October 2021)]; Available online: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/regional-population/....

[4] Australian Bureau of Statistics Regional Population. ABS; 2019-20 [Updated 30 March 2021] [(accessed on 5 October 2021)]; Available online: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/regional-population/....

[5] Victorian Department of Health COVID-19 Writing Group Population-based analysis of the epidemiological features of COVID-19 epidemics in Victoria, Australia, January 2020–March 2021, and their suppression through comprehensive control strategies. Lancet Reg. Health West Pac. 2021;17:100297. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2021.100297. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[6] Victorian Department of Health COVID-19 Writing Group Population-based analysis of the epidemiological features of COVID-19 epidemics in Victoria, Australia, January 2020–March 2021, and their suppression through comprehensive control strategies. Lancet Reg. Health West Pac. 2021;17:100297. doi: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2021.100297. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

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[8] World Health Organization . [(accessed on 21 March 2022)]. Weekly Operational Update on COVID-19—29 December 2020. Geneva: World Health Organization. 2020. Available online: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/weekly-epidemiological-update---....

[9] De Foo C., Grépin K.A., Cook A.R., Hsu L.Y., Bartos M., Singh S., Asgari N., Teo Y.Y., Heymann D.L., Legido-Quigley H. Navigating from SARS-CoV-2 elimination to endemicity in Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and Singapore. Lancet. 2021;398:1547–1551. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02186-3. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[10] De Foo C., Grépin K.A., Cook A.R., Hsu L.Y., Bartos M., Singh S., Asgari N., Teo Y.Y., Heymann D.L., Legido-Quigley H. Navigating from SARS-CoV-2 elimination to endemicity in Australia, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and Singapore. Lancet. 2021;398:1547–1551. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02186-3. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

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Mental Health Outcomes in Australian Healthcare and Aged-Care Workers during the Second Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Mental Health Outcomes in Australian Healthcare and Aged-Care Workers during the Second Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic

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