J Korean Med Sci.  2021 Dec;36(47):e325. 10.3346/jkms.2021.36.e325.

How COVID-19 Affected Healthcare Workers in the Hospital Locked Down due to Early COVID-19 Cases in Korea

• Lee HA
• Ahn MH
• Byun S
• Lee HK
• Kweon YS
• Chung S
• Shin YW
• Lee KU

• KMID: 2523242
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2021.36.e325

Abstract

Background
The healthcare workers (HCWs) were exposed to never-experienced psychological distress during the early stage of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The aim of this study was to investigate how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the mental health of HCWs during the hospital lockdown period due to mass healthcare-associated infection during the early spread of COVID-19.
Methods
A real-time online survey was conducted between April 14–18, 2020 among HCWs who worked at the university hospital where COVID-19 was confirmed in a patient, and the hospital was shut down for 3 weeks. Along with demographic variables and work-related information, psychological distress was measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey scale, and the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-9.
Results
The HCWs working in the cohort ward and those who have experienced social discrimination had significantly higher level of depression (PHQ-9 score; 5.24 ± 4.48 vs. 4.15 ± 4.38; P < 0.01 and 5.89 ± 4.78 vs. 3.25 ± 3.77; P < 0.001, respectively) and anxiety (GAD-7 score; 3.69 ± 3.68 vs. 2.87 ± 3.73;P < 0.05 and 4.20 ± 4.22 vs. 2.17 ± 3.06; P < 0.001, respectively) compared to other HCWs. Worries regarding the peer relationship and the skepticism about job were associated with depression (odds ratio [OR], 1.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07–1.79; P < 0.05 and OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.31–2.17; P < 0.001, respectively) and anxiety (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.21–2.49; P < 0.01 and OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.09–2.17; P < 0.05, respectively), while fear of infection or worsening of health was not. Path analysis showed that work-related stress associated with the viral epidemic rather than anxiety about the viral epidemic mainly contributed to depression.
Conclusion
The present observational study indicates that mental health problems of HCWs exposed to COVID-19 are associated with distress in work and social relationship. Early intervention programs focusing on these factors are necessary.

Keyword

COVID-19; Psychological Distress; Social Discrimination; Healthcare Workers

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Trend value on Google trend for ‘Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital’ and newly confirmed COVID-19 cases. Two bars represent the period of lockdown of the hospital and survey period, respectively.COVID-19 = coronavirus disease 2019.

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  Fig. 2 Odds ratio of the COVID-19-related events and items of the SAVE-9 in a binary logistic regression model of depression and anxiety.COVID-19 = coronavirus disease 2019, SAVE-9 = Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-9.*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001.

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  Fig. 3 Path analysis model for the predictors of depression in healthcare workers during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Only significant effects are shown.COVID-19 = coronavirus disease 2019.

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