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J Korean Med Sci.  2024 Apr;39(13):e120. 10.3346/jkms.2024.39.e120.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Depression and Anxiety Among Healthcare Workers During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: A Nationwide Study in Korea

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea
  • 2Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
  • 3Department of Psychiatry, Kyungpook National University Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
  • 4Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University Hospital, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
  • 5Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
  • 6Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
  • 7Division of Infectious Diseases, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Daegu, Korea
  • 8Hospital Infection Control Team, Daegu Medical Center, Daegu, Korea
  • 9Department of Psychiatry, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
  • 10Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
  • 11Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
  • 12Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
  • 13Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University Medical Center, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
  • 14Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
  • 15Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
  • 16Department of Internal Medicine, Konyang University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea
  • 17Division of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Masan Medical Center, Changwon, Korea
  • 18Department of Internal Medicine, Andong Medical Center, Andong, Korea
  • 19Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea
  • 20Department of Infectious Diseases, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea
  • 21Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea
  • 22Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju, Korea
  • 23Department of Counseling Psychology, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

Background
A healthcare system’s collapse due to a pandemic, such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), can expose healthcare workers (HCWs) to various mental health problems. This study aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the depression and anxiety of HCWs.
Methods
A nationwide questionnaire-based survey was conducted on HCWs who worked in healthcare facilities and public health centers in Korea in December 2020. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) were used to measure depression and anxiety. To investigate factors associated with depression and anxiety, stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis was performed.
Results
A total of 1,425 participating HCWs were included. The mean depression score (PHQ-9) of HCWs before and after COVID-19 increased from 2.37 to 5.39, and the mean anxiety score (GAD-7) increased from 1.41 to 3.41. The proportion of HCWs with moderate to severe depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 10) increased from 3.8% before COVID-19 to 19.5% after COVID-19, whereas that of HCWs with moderate to severe anxiety (GAD-7 ≥ 10) increased from 2.0% to 10.1%. In our study, insomnia, chronic fatigue symptoms and physical symptoms after COVID-19, anxiety score (GAD-7) after COVID-19, living alone, and exhaustion were positively correlated with depression. Furthermore, post-traumatic stress symptoms, stress score (Global Assessment of Recent Stress), depression score (PHQ-9) after COVID-19, and exhaustion were positively correlated with anxiety.
Conclusion
In Korea, during the COVID-19 pandemic, HCWs commonly suffered from mental health problems, including depression and anxiety. Regularly checking the physical and mental health problems of HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic is crucial, and social support and strategy are needed to reduce the heavy workload and psychological distress of HCWs.

Keyword

Depression; Anxiety; COVID-19; Pandemic; Healthcare Worker

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