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. 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 Forbes  1 , Jane Fisher  1 , Kelsey Grantham  1 , Carol Hodgson  1   2 , Peter Hunter  1   2 , Jessica Kasza  1 , Helen L Kelsall  1 , Maggie Kirkman  1 , Grant Russell  1 , Philip L Russo  3   4 , Malcolm R Sim  1 , Kasha P Singh  5   6 , Helen Skouteris  1 , Karen L Smith  1   7 , Rhonda L Stuart  1   8 , Helena J Teede  1   8 , James M Trauer  1 , Andrew Udy  1   2 , Sophia Zoungas  1   2 , Karin Leder  1   9
Affiliations

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. .

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
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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