Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health of Health Care Workers (COVID-Impact)

December 13, 2022 updated by: University Hospital, Ghent

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health and Quality of Life of Healthcare Workers in a University Hospital

The impact of the current Covid-19 pandemic on healthcare workers is enormous. This longitudinal study investigates the prevalence of mental health problems and the quality of life of healthcare workers during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. Underlying risk factors are also examined. Health care workers of the different Covid-19 cohort and transit wards, as well as the intensive care unit and (psychiatric) emergency services of the Ghent university hospital will be included, as well as the health care workers of 6 non-Covid-19 wards.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The impact of the current Covid-19 pandemic on healthcare workers is enormous. Previous studies during the SARS outbreak demonstrated a significant burden and increase of mental health problems in health care workers.This longitudinal study aims to investigate the prevalence of mental health problems and the quality of life of health care workers during and after the Covid-19 pandemic. Health care workers of the different Covid-19 cohort and transit wards, as well as the intensive care unit and (psychiatric) emergency services of the Ghent university hospital will be included, as well as the health care workers of 6 non-Covid-19 wards. Participants will receive a monthly online survey during the government issued restrictions. After cessation of the restrictions participants will receive three-monthly surveys for a one-year-period.

Sociodemographic data, data regarding employment and previous mental health problems will be collected at the first survey. The Covid-19 status of the health care workers will be inquired at every survey. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), the Dutch translation of the Covid-19 Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI), the WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF), and the Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5) and three items measuring social support will be administered at every survey.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

524

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Belgium
      • Ghent, Belgium, 9000
        • Ghent University Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

All personnel of the above specified services of the university hospital involved in direct or indirect care will be eligible for inclusion

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • health care worker
  • employed at inclusion at Covid cohort/transit or (psychiatric) emergency services or intensive care unit or 6 specified wards of the Ghent University Hospital

Exclusion Criteria:

  • none

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Cohort
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Health care workers
Health care workers at university hospital
Other: Online survey
An online survey will be administered

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Depressive symptoms at baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
Depressive symptoms as measured by the 7-item depression subscale of the self-reported 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) (DASS-21-Depression). A higher score indicates more depressive symptoms with a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 21.
Baseline
Change in depressive symptoms
Time Frame: Baseline, baseline + 30 days, baseline + 90 days, baseline + 180 days, baseline + 270 days, baseline + 360 days, baseline + 540 days, baseline + 900 days
Depressive symptoms as measured by the 7-item depression subscale of the self-reported 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) (DASS-21-Depression). A higher score indicates more depressive symptoms with a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 21.
Baseline, baseline + 30 days, baseline + 90 days, baseline + 180 days, baseline + 270 days, baseline + 360 days, baseline + 540 days, baseline + 900 days
Anxiety levels at baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
Anxiety as measured by the 7-item anxiety subscale of the self-reported DASS-21 (DASS-21-Anxiety). A higher score indicates higher anxiety levels with a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 21.
Baseline
Change in anxiety levels
Time Frame: Baseline, baseline + 30 days, baseline + 90 days, baseline + 180 days, baseline + 270 days, baseline + 360 days, baseline + 540 days, baseline + 900 days
Anxiety as measured by the 7-item anxiety subscale of the self-reported DASS-21 (DASS-21-Anxiety). A higher score indicates higher anxiety levels with a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 21.
Baseline, baseline + 30 days, baseline + 90 days, baseline + 180 days, baseline + 270 days, baseline + 360 days, baseline + 540 days, baseline + 900 days
Stress levels at baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
Stress as measured by the 7-item stress subscale of the self-reported DASS-21 (DASS-21-Stress). A higher score indicates higher stress levels with a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 21.
Baseline
Change in stress levels
Time Frame: Baseline, baseline + 30 days, baseline + 90 days, baseline + 180 days, baseline + 270 days, baseline + 360 days, baseline + 540 days, baseline + 900 days
Stress as measured by the 7-item stress subscale of the self-reported DASS-21 (DASS-21-Stress). A higher score indicates higher stress levels with a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 21.
Baseline, baseline + 30 days, baseline + 90 days, baseline + 180 days, baseline + 270 days, baseline + 360 days, baseline + 540 days, baseline + 900 days
Quality of life at baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
Quality of life will be measured by the WHO Quality of Life Bref Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF). This self-report questionnaire has a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 100 with a higher score indicating higher quality of life. It includes different domains such as physical health, psychological health, social relationships and environment as well as two specific questions regarding an individual's overall perception of quality of life and physical health.
Baseline
Change in Quality of life
Time Frame: Baseline, baseline + 30 days, baseline + 90 days, baseline + 180 days, baseline + 270 days, baseline + 360 days, baseline + 540 days, baseline + 900 days
Quality of life will be measured by the WHO Quality of Life Bref Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF). This self-report questionnaire has a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 100 with a higher score indicating higher quality of life. It includes different domains such as physical health, psychological health, social relationships and environment as well as two specific questions regarding an individual's overall perception of quality of life and physical health.
Baseline, baseline + 30 days, baseline + 90 days, baseline + 180 days, baseline + 270 days, baseline + 360 days, baseline + 540 days, baseline + 900 days
Covid-19 related psychological distress
Time Frame: baseline
Specific distress regarding Covd-19 will be measured by the Dutch translation of the COVID-19 Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI). This self-reported questionnaire inquires about the frequency of anxiety, depression, specific phobias, cognitive change, avoidance and compulsive behaviour, physical symptoms and loss of social functioning in the past week. The score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more distress.
baseline
Change in Covid-19 related psychological distress
Time Frame: Baseline, baseline + 30 days, baseline + 90 days, baseline + 180 days, baseline + 270 days, baseline + 360 days, baseline + 540 days, baseline + 900 days
Specific distress regarding Covd-19 will be measured by the Dutch translation of the COVID-19 Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI). This self-reported questionnaire inquires about the frequency of anxiety, depression, specific phobias, cognitive change, avoidance and compulsive behaviour, physical symptoms and loss of social functioning in the past week. The score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more distress.
Baseline, baseline + 30 days, baseline + 90 days, baseline + 180 days, baseline + 270 days, baseline + 360 days, baseline + 540 days, baseline + 900 days
Post traumatic stress symptoms
Time Frame: Baseline
The Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5) is a 5-item screen that was designed for use in primary care settings. The measure begins with an item designed to assess whether the respondent has had any exposure to traumatic events. If a respondent denies exposure, the PC-PTSD-5 is complete with a score of 0. However, if a respondent indicates that they have experienced a traumatic event over the course of their life, the respondent is instructed to respond to five additional yes/no questions about how that trauma exposure has affected them over the past month. The minimum score is 0 and the maximum score is 5 with higher scores indicating more PTSD-related symptoms.
Baseline
Change in post traumatic stress symptoms
Time Frame: Baseline, baseline + 30 days, baseline + 90 days, baseline + 180 days, baseline + 270 days, baseline + 360 days, baseline + 540 days, baseline + 900 days
The Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5) is a 5-item screen that was designed for use in primary care settings. The measure begins with an item designed to assess whether the respondent has had any exposure to traumatic events. If a respondent denies exposure, the PC-PTSD-5 is complete with a score of 0. However, if a respondent indicates that they have experienced a traumatic event over the course of their life, the respondent is instructed to respond to five additional yes/no questions about how that trauma exposure has affected them over the past month. The minimum score is 0 and the maximum score is 5 with higher scores indicating more PTSD-related symptoms.
Baseline, baseline + 30 days, baseline + 90 days, baseline + 180 days, baseline + 270 days, baseline + 360 days, baseline + 540 days, baseline + 900 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Perceived social support at baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
Social support (from colleagues and employer) as perceived by participants will be measured by three items as measured on a 5-point Likert scale. For each item the minimum score is 1 and the maximum score is 5.
Baseline
Change in perceived social support
Time Frame: Baseline, baseline + 30 days, baseline + 90 days, baseline + 180 days, baseline + 270 days, baseline + 360 days, baseline + 540 days, baseline + 900 days
Social support (from colleagues and employer) as perceived by participants will be measured by three items as measured on a 5-point Likert scale. For each item the minimum score is 1 and the maximum score is 5.
Baseline, baseline + 30 days, baseline + 90 days, baseline + 180 days, baseline + 270 days, baseline + 360 days, baseline + 540 days, baseline + 900 days

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University Hospital, Ghent

Investigators

  • Study Director: Gilbert Lemmens, University Hospital, Ghent

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

April 17, 2020

Primary Completion (Actual)

June 6, 2022

Study Completion (Actual)

June 6, 2022

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 8, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 8, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

May 11, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

December 14, 2022

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 13, 2022

Last Verified

December 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • BC-07564

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

Undecided

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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