The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on the Healthcare Workers

Authors

  • Mohamed Berra Department of Emergency Medicine, Benguerir Hospital, Benguerir 43150, Morocco
  • Amine Fikry Burn center Ibn Rochd University Hospital, 1 rue des hopitaux, Casablanca 20000, Morocco
  • Sara Esseddiki Department of Pediatrics Ibn Rochd University Hospital, 1 rue des hopitaux, Casablanca 20000, Morocco

Keywords:

COVID-19, healthcare workers, lifestyle habits, physical and psychological symptoms, psychological impact, sources of information

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major psychological impact on the healthcare workers (HCWs). The purpose of the study was to investigate and analyze the extent of this impact, the measures taken to address it, and to offer a set of healthy lifestyle habits to deal with the difficulties posed by the pandemic. The data was collected through an electronic questionnaire, which targeted doctors and nurses in the public and private sectors, throughout the country. The results of our study showed an increased vulnerability in women. Also, the large flow of new and often contradictory information has had an anxiety-provoking effect on our subjects. It is worth noting that, only a minority of them received the necessary psychological support, and therefore the need for psychological support is mandatory in crisis situations. The study also highlighted the physical and psychological symptoms reported by our subjects and the importance of implementing proper lifestyle habits in order to maintain psychological balance. Our study was carried out on a small sample and the containment measures represent its major limits. Other larger studies may provide more insight.

References

. Why is depression more prevalent in women? Albert P.R. J. Psychiatry Neurosci. 2015;40:219–221. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

. Stress, Sleep and Psychological Impact in Healthcare Workers During the Early Phase of COVID-19 in India: A Factor Analysis. Seshadri Sekhar Chatterjee, Madhushree Chakrabarty, Debanjan Banerjee, Sandeep Grover, Shiv Sekhar Chatterjee, and Utpal Da.Front. Psychol., 25 February 2021. [PMC free article] [PubMed]

. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in the general population: A systematic review. Jiaqi Xiong, Orly Lipsitz, Flora Nasri, Leanna M.W. Lui, Hartej Gill, Lee Phan, David Chen-Li, Michelle Iacobucci, Roger Ho, Amna Majeed, and Roger S. McIntyre. AMSTERDAM: Elsevier B.V. Journal of affective disorders, 2020-12-01, Vol.277, p.55-64. [PMC free article] [PubMed]

. COVID-19 Pandemic: Prevention and Protection Measures to Be Adopted at the Workplace. Luigi Cirrincione, Fulvio Plescia , Caterina Ledda , Venerando Rapisarda, Daniela Martorana, Raluca Emilia Moldovan, Kelly Theodoridou and Emanuele Cannizzaro. (2020). Sustainability (Switzerland), 12(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/SU12093603

. The Impact of Social Media on Panic During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Iraqi Kurdistan: Online Questionnaire Study. Araz Ramazan Ahmad, MA, PhD and Hersh Rasool Murad, MA, PhD. April 2020. JMIR Mental Health 22(5). [PubMed]

. Social media influence in the COVID-19 Pandemic. Daniel A. González-Padilla and Leonardo Tortolero- Blanco. International Braz j Urol : Official Journal of the Brazilian Society of Urology, 01 Jul 2020, 46(suppl.1):120-124. [PMC free article] [PubMed]

. The psychological and mental impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on medical staff and general public - A systematic review and meta-analysis. Luo M, Guo L, Yu M, et al. Psychiatry Res. 2020;291:113190. [PMC free article] [PubMed]

. Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China. Cuiyan Wang, Riyu Pan, Xiaoyang Wan, Yilin Tan, Linkang Xu, Cyrus S. Ho, and Roger C. Ho. International journal of environmental research and public health, 2020-03-06, Vol.17 (5), p.1729 [PMC free article] [PubMed]

. Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Healthcare Workers Dealing with the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review. Gabriele d’Ettorre, Giancarlo Ceccarelli, Letizia Santinelli, Paolo Vassalini, Giuseppe Pietro Innocenti, Francesco Alessandri, Alexia E. Koukopoulos, Alessandro Russo, Gabriella d’Ettorre, and Lorenzo Tarsitani. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jan; 18(2): 601. [PMC free article] [PubMed]

. Psychological resilience and post-traumatic growth in disaster-exposed organisations: overview of the literature. Brooks S., Amlôt R., Rubin G. J., Greenberg N. (2020). BMJ Mil. Health 166, 52–56. [PubMed]

. PTSD as the second tsunami of the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic. Dutheil F., Mondillon L., Navel V. Psychol Med. 2020 Apr 24 : 1–2. [PMC free article] [PubMed]

. Mental health problems faced by healthcare workers due to the COVID-19 pandemic–A review Mamidipalli Sai Spoorthy, Sree Karthik Pratapa, and Supriya Mahant. Psychiatr. 2020 Jun;51:102119.. [PMC free article] [PubMed]

. [13] Mental Health Status of Healthcare Workers in China for COVID-19 Epidemic. Zijun Liu, Jie Wu, Xiuying Shi, Yuhan Ma, Xiao Ma, Zhaowei Teng, Xu You, Yunqiao Zhang, Wenyu Zhang, Ziqiao Feng, Qing Long, Xiaoyuan Ma, Libo Wang, and Dr. Yong Zeng. Ann Glob Health. 2020; 86(1): 128. [PMC free article] [PubMed]

. [Principles and Practice of Psychiatric Nursing, 10th Edition. Stuart GW. (2009). Mosby Elsevier, Missouri.

. The effect of exercise on depression, anxiety, and other mood states : A review. Byrne, A. et Byrne, D. G. (1993). Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 37, 565-574. [Google Scholar]

. A review of physical activity and well-being. Lotan, M., Merrick, J. et Carmeli, E. (2005). International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 17, 23-31. [Google Scholar]

. Physical activity and the prevention of depression : a systematic review of prospective studies. Mammen, G. and Faulkner, G. (2013). American journal of preventive medicine, 2013. 45(5), 649-657. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

. Physical Fitness and Enhanced Psychological Health. Plante, T. G. et Rodin, J. (1990). Current Psychology : Research & Review, 9(1), 3-24. [Google Scholar]

. The Effects of Physical Activity on Sleep among Adolescents and Adults: A Narrative Review. Sophie Desjardins.Manuel Tanguay-Labonté. Department of Psychology, Universite du Quebec a Trois-Rivieres, Canada.

. The effects of acute exercise on sleep: a quantitative synthesis. Youngstedt SD, O’Connor PJ, Dishman RK. Sleep. 1997;20(3):203–214. [PubMed]

. The neuroprotective effects of caffeine: a prospective population study (the Three City Study). Ritchie K, Carriere I, de Mendonca A, Portet F, Dartigues JF, Rouaud O, et al. Neurology. 2007 Aug 7;69(6):536-45. [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

. Caffeine consumption and cognitive function at age 70: the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936 study. Corley J, Jia X, Kyle JA, Gow AJ, Brett CE, Starr JM, et al. Psychosom Med. 2010 Feb;72(2):206-14. [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

. Caffeine improves reaction time, vigilance and logical reasoning during extended periods with restricted opportunities for sleep. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2015 Jun;232(12):2031-42.[PMC free article] [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

. The influences of age and caffeine on psychomotor and cognitive function. Rees K, Allen D, Lader M. Psychopharmacology (Berlin). 1999 Jul;145(2):181-8. [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

. Study of establishment recommended daily allowance for caffeine [Internet]. Kim SH. Seoul: Korea Food and Nutrition Foundation; 2007. [cited 2007 Nov 5]. Available from: http://report.ndsl.kr/repDetail.do? cn=TRKO201000014956&topN=1. [Google Scholar]

. How much is the caffeine intake level of Koreans? [Internet]. Kim MH, Choi DS, Choi JC, Lee SH. Cheongju: Ministry of Food and Drug Safety; 2013. [cited 2013 Aug 6]. Available from: http:// www.mfds.go.kr/index.do?mid=675&seq=20953. [Google Scholar]

. Energy drinks: health risks and toxicity. Gunja N, Brown JA. Med J Aust. 2012;196:46–49. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

. Clinically significant pharmacokinetic interactions between dietary caffeine and medications. Carrillo JA, Benitez J. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2000;39:127–153. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

. Lippincott's illustrated reviews:pharmacology. 5th ed. Clark MA, Finkel R, Ray JA, Whalen K. Baltimore (MD): Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2012. pp. 151–160. [Google Scholar]

. Eveningness, sleep patterns, daytime sleepiness and fatigue in Korean male adolescents. Kang SH, Yoo HN, Chung SH, Kim CY. Sleep Med Psychophysiol. 2012;19:89–96. [Google Scholar]

. The effects of fluid restriction on hydration status and subjective feelings in man. Shirreffs SM, Merson SJ, Fraser SM, Archer DT. Br J Nutr. 2004;91:951–958. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

. Water deprivation: a new migraine precipitant. Blau J. Headache. 2005;45:757–759. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

. Water-deprivation headache: a new headache with two variants. Blau JN, Kell CA, Sperling JM. Headache. 2004;44:79–83. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

. Wellbeing of adult children and aging parents is associated with intergenerational support and relationship quality. Merz, E. M., Consedine, N. S., Schulze, H-J., & Schuengel, C. (2009). Aging & Society, 29, 783-802.

. Social integration: A conceptual overview and two case studies. Hartwell S. W., & Benson P. R (2007). Mental health, social mirror (pp. 329–353). New York: Springer. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-36320-2_14 [Google Scholar]

. The influence of social support and problematic support on optimism and depression in chronic illness: A prospective study evaluating self-esteem as a mediator. Symister P., & Friend R (2003). Health Psychol. 22, 2003 Mar;22(2):123-9.[PubMed] [Google Scholar]

. Marriage, health, and immune function: A review of key findings and the role of depression. Graham J. E., Christian L. M., & Kiecolt-Glaser J. K (2006). In S. R. H. Beach, M. Z. Wamboldt, N. J. Kaslow, R. E. Heyman, M. B. First, L. G. Underwood, & D. Reiss (Eds.), Relational processes and DSM-V: Neuroscience, assessment, prevention, and treatment (pp. 61–76). American Psychiatric Association.

. Marriage and health: His and hers. Kiecolt-Glaser J. K., & Newton T. L (2001). Psychological Bull. 2001 Jul;127(4):472-503.[PubMed] [Google Scholar]

. Private prayer associations with depression, anxiety and other health conditions: an analytical review of clinical studies. James W Anderson, Paige A Nunnelley. Postgrad Med. 2016 Sep;128(7):635-41. [PubMed]

. Efficacy Of Yoga Vs Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Vs Stress Education For The Treatment Of Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Simon, Naomi M; Hofmann, Stefan G; Rosenfield, David; Hoeppner, Susanne S; Hoge, Elizabeth A; Bui, Eric; Khalsa, Sat Bir S. JAMA Psychiatry. 2021 Jan 01; 78:13-20. [PubMed]

. Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Madhav Goyal et al. JAMA Intern Med. 2014 Mar. JAMA Intern Med. 2014 Mar;174(3):357-68. [PubMed]

. Reflective and automatic processes in the initiation and maintenance of dietary change. Alexander J Rothman et al. Ann Behav Med. 2009 Dec;38 Suppl 1:S4-17. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

. Promoting habit formation. Lally P, Gardner B. Health Psychol Rev. In press: DOI: 10.1080/17437199.2011.603640. [Google Scholar]

. Effects of aerobic exercise on cognitive performance and individual psychopathology in depressive and schizophrenia patients. Viola Oertel-Knöchel et al. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2014;264(7):589– 604. [PubMed]

. Effects of aerobic interval training on metabolic complications and cardiorespiratory fitness in young adults with psychotic disorders: a pilot study. Amal Abdel-Baki et al. Schizophr Res. 2013 Sep;149(1-3):112-5. [PubMed]

. Integrating physical activity as medicine in the care of people with severe mental illness. Davy Vancampfort et al. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2015 Aug; 49(8):681-2. [PubMed]

. http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/factsheet_recommendations/fr/

. InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Insomnia: Relaxation techniques and sleeping habits. 2008 Aug 18 [Updated 2017 Mar 9].

. Use of sleep hygiene in the treatment of insomnia. Stepanski EJ, Wyatt JK. Sleep Med Rev. 2003;7:215– 25. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

. Food Leftover Practices among Consumers in Selected Countries in Europe, South and North America. Kadri Koppel et al. Foods. 2016 Sep 21;5(3):66. [PubMed]

. Coffee consumption and health: Umbrella review of meta-analyses of multiple health outcomes. Poole R., Kennedy O.J., Roderick P., Fallowfield J.A., Hayes P.C., Parkes J. BMJ. 2017;359:j5024. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

. Coffee, Caffeine, and Health Outcomes: An Umbrella Review. Annu. Grosso G., Godos J., Galvano F., Giovannucci E.L. Rev. Nutr. 2017;37:131–156. [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

. Systematic review of the potential adverse effects of caffeine consumption in healthy adults, pregnant women, adolescents, and children. Wikoff D., Welsh B.T., Henderson R., Brorby G.P., Britt J., Myers E., Goldberger J., Lieberman H.R., O’Brien C., Peck J., et al. Food Chem. Toxicol. 2017;109:585–648. [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

. EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) Scientific Opinion on the safety of caffeine. EFSA J. 2015;13:4102:1–4102:120. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]

. Association of Enjoyable Leisure Activities With Psychological and Physical Well-Being. Sarah D Pressman et al. Psychosom Med. 2009 Sep;71(7):725-32. [PubMed]

. Mindfulness in Salah Prayer and its Association with Mental Health. Shahid Ijaz et al. J Relig Health. 2017 Dec;56(6):2297-2307. [PubMed]

. Brief Mindfulness Meditation Improves Emotion Processing. Ran Wu, Lin-Lin Liu, Hong Zhu, Wen-Jun Su, Zhi-Yong Cao, Shi-Yang Zhong, Xing-Hua Liu and Chun-Lei Jiang. Front Neurosci. 2019 Oct 10;13:1074. [PubMed]

Downloads

Published

2021-07-29

How to Cite

Berra, M. ., Fikry, A. ., & Esseddiki , S. . (2021). The Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on the Healthcare Workers. International Journal of Sciences: Basic and Applied Research (IJSBAR), 59(2), 123–139. Retrieved from https://www.gssrr.org/index.php/JournalOfBasicAndApplied/article/view/12877

Issue

Section

Articles