Predictors and rates of PTSD, depression and anxiety in UK frontline health and social care workers during COVID-19

Background: Studies have shown that working in frontline healthcare roles during epidemics and pandemics was associated with PTSD, depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to identify demographic, work-related and other predictors for clinically significant PTSD, depression, and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in UK frontline health and social care workers (HSCWs), and to compare rates of distress across different groups of HCSWs working in different roles and settings. Methods: A convenience sample (n = 1194) of frontline UK HCSWs completed an online survey during the first wave of the pandemic (27 May - 23 July 2020). Participants worked in UK hospitals, nursing or care homes and other community settings. PTSD was assessed using the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ); Depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9); Anxiety was assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7). Results: Nearly 58% of respondents met the threshold for a clinically significant disorder (PTSD = 22%; anxiety = 47%; depression = 47%), and symptom levels were high across occupational groups and settings. Logistic regression analyses found that participants who were concerned about infecting others, who could not talk with their managers if there were not coping, who reported feeling stigmatized and who had not had reliable access to personal protective equipment (PPE) were more likely to meet criteria for a clinically significant mental disorder. Being redeployed during the pandemic, and having had COVID were associated with higher odds for PTSD. Higher household income was associated with reduced odds for a mental disorder. Conclusions: This study identified predictors of clinically significant distress during COVID-19 and highlights the need for reliable access to PPE and further investigation of barriers to communication between managers and staff. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) Abstract (Chinese) : , -PTSD, , : - (HSCW) COVID-19PTSD, , , HCSW : - (2020527723), -HCSW (n = 1194) , (ITQ) PTSD;9 (PHQ-9) ; (GAD-7) : 58% (PTSD = 22%; = 47%; = 47%), Logistic, , , (PPE) , COVIDPTSD : COVID-19, PPE- (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) Abstract (Spanish) Antecedentes: Los estudios han mostrado que el trabajo en roles de primera linea de salud durante epidemias y pandemias se asocio a TEPT, depresion, ansiedad y otros trastornos de salud mental. Objetivos: Los objetivos de este estudio fueron identificar predictores demograficos, predictores relacionados al trabajo y otros, para TEPT, depresion y ansiedad clinicamente significativos durante la pandemia por COVID-19 en la primera linea de trabajadores sociales y de la salud (HSCWs), y comparar las tasas de afectacion entre los diferentes grupos de HSCWs trabajando en diferentes roles y contextos. Metodos: Una muestra por conveniencia (n=1194) de la primera linea de HSCWs en Reino Unido completo un cuestionario en linea durante la primera ola de la pandemia (27 de mayo - 23 de julio de 2020). Los participantes trabajaban en hospitales del Reino Unido, centros asistenciales u otros contextos clinicos comunitarios. Se evaluo TEPT usando el Cuestionario Internacional de Trauma (ITQ); la depresion fue evaluada usando el Cuestionario sobre la salud del paciente 9 (PHQ-9); la ansiedad fue evaluada usando la Escala sobre Trastorno Ansioso (GAD-7). Resultados: Cerca del 58% de los participantes cumplieron el umbral para algun trastorno clinicamente significativo (TEPT = 22%; ansiedad = 47%; depresion = 47%), y los niveles de sintomas fueron altos entre los grupos y contextos ocupacionales. Los analisis de regresion logistica encontraron que los participantes que estaban preocupados respecto a contagiar a otros; quienes no pudieron hablar con sus administradores cuando no se estaban adaptando a la situacion; quienes reportaron sentirse estigmatizados y quienes no tuvieron acceso a elementos de proteccion personal (EPP) confiables, tuvieron mayor probabilidad de cumplir los criterios para un trastorno mental clinicamente significativo. Ser redistribuido a otras funciones durante la pandemia, y haber tenido COVID se asociaron a mayores probabilidades de desarrollar TEPT. Un mayor ingreso familiar se asocio con menores probabilidades de desarrollar un trastorno mental. Conclusiones: Este estudio identifico predictores para afectacion clinicamente significativa durante la pandemia por COVID-19 y resalta la necesidad de un acceso confiable a EPP y de mayor investigacion sobre las barreras de comunicacion entre los administradores y los equipos de trabajo. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)