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Meta-Analysis
. 2024 Jan 19;19(1):e0289454.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289454. eCollection 2024.

Mental health status and related factors influencing healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Jia Huang  1 , Zhu-Tang Huang  1 , Xin-Ce Sun  1 , Ting-Ting Chen  1 , Xiao-Tian Wu  2
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Mental health status and related factors influencing healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Jia Huang et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: The mental health of healthcare workers during the coronavirus-2019 pandemic was seriously affected, and the risk of mental health problems was high. The present study sought to systematically evaluate the mental health problems of healthcare workers worldwide during the pandemic and to determine the latest global frequency of COVID-19 associated mental health problems.

Methods: Data in the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), EMBASE, Elsevier, MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO and the Web of Science before November 11, 2022, were systematically searched. Cohort, case-control and cross-sectional studies were included. The meta-analysis used a random effects model to synthesize the comprehensive prevalence rate of mental health problems. Subgroup analyses were performed based on time of data collection; whether the country was or was not developed; continent; doctors and nurses; doctors/nurses vs. other healthcare workers; and psychological evaluation scale.

Results: A total of 161 studies were included, including 341,014 healthcare workers worldwide, with women accounting for 82.8%. Occupationally, 16.2% of the healthcare workers were doctors, 63.6% were nurses and 13.3% were other medical staff. During the pandemic, 47% (95% confidence interval [CI], 35-60%) of healthcare workers reported job burnout, 38% (95% CI, 35-41%) experienced anxiety, 34% (95% CI 30-38%) reported depression, 30% (95% CI, 29-31%) had acute stress disorder, and 26% (95% CI, 21-31%) had post-traumatic stress disorder.

Conclusions: The study found that there were common mental health problems among health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The most common was job burnout, followed by anxiety, depression, acute stress and post-traumatic stress disorder. Although the global pandemic has been brought under control, its long-term impact on the mental health of healthcare workers cannot be ignored. Additional research is required to develop measures to prevent, monitor and treat psychological disorders among healthcare workers.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Prisma flow-diagram.
From: Page MJ, McKenzie JE, Bossuyt PM, Boutron I, Hoffmann TC, Mulrow CD, et al. The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ 2021;372:n71. doi: 10.1136/bmj.n71. For more information, visit: http://www.prisma-statement.org/.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Meta-analysis and pooled estimate of burnout in health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Meta-analysis and pooled estimate of anxiety in health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Meta-analysis and pooled estimate of depression in health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fig 5
Fig 5. Meta-analysis and pooled estimate of acute stress disorder in health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fig 6
Fig 6. Meta-analysis and pooled estimate of post-traumatic stress disorder in health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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