Fluctuations of stress and resilience in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: Insights and recommendations

Background: Healthcare workers (HCW) have faced unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19, with significant impact on their well-being. We aimed to monitor stress-related symptoms and resilience in HCW over time in relation to various factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Between June 20...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nienke J. de Bles, Erik J. Giltay, Manon A. Boeschoten, Nic J.A. van der Wee, Veronica R. Janssen, Albert M. van Hemert, Henricus G.J.M. Vermetten, Nathaly Rius Ottenheim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-04-01
Series:Journal of Affective Disorders Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666915324000532
Description
Summary:Background: Healthcare workers (HCW) have faced unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19, with significant impact on their well-being. We aimed to monitor stress-related symptoms and resilience in HCW over time in relation to various factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Between June 2020 and May 2022, data was collected among HCW of Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC) through a digital self-monitoring application. The application included a 14-items self-monitoring tool (i.e., 7-items on Supporting factors, 7-items on Stressful burden), and a set of validated questionnaires (i.e., the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), Impact of Event Scale – Revised (IES-R), Resilience Evaluation Scale (RES), and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Results: The self-monitoring tool and validated questionnaires were completed by 1070 and 413 participants respectively. Mean stress-related symptom scores (as measured by the self-monitoring, CBI, IES-R, and DASS-21) exhibited significant changes over time (all p’s < 0.001), which correlated with the waves of COVID-19 patients admitted and the national COVID-19 mortality rate (all p’s < 0.005). Resilience, as measured by the RES, showed a significant decrease from the start of data collection onwards (p = 0.001), whereas supporting factors showed significant decreases the first few months, followed by fluctuations after January 2021 (p = 0.02). Limitations: Selection bias may have arisen as those participating may have been more concerned with the burden on mental wellbeing. Conclusions: The current study underscores the need for active psychosocial support for all HCW particularly during periods of increased admissions due to pandemics.
ISSN:2666-9153