Factors associated with psychological symptoms in hospital workers of a French hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons from the first wave

M d'Ussel, A Fels, X Durand, C Lemogne, G Chatellier, N Castreau, F Adam, M d'Ussel, A Fels, X Durand, C Lemogne, G Chatellier, N Castreau, F Adam

Abstract

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has put hospital workers around the world in an unprecedented and difficult situation, possibly leading to emotional difficulties and mental health problems. We aimed to analyze psychological symptoms of the hospital employees of the Paris Saint-Joseph Hospital Group a few months after the 1st wave of the pandemic.

Participants and methods: From July 15 to October 1, 2020, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among hospital workers in the two locations of our hospital group using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Checklist (PCL) to measure anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms. Factors independently associated with these symptoms were identified.

Results: In total, 780 participants (47% caregivers, 18% health administrative workers, 16% physicians, and 19% other professionals) completed the survey. Significant symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD were reported by 41%, 21%, and 14% of the participants, respectively. Hierarchical regression analysis showed a higher risk of having psychological symptoms among those (1) who were infected by SARS-CoV-2 or had colleagues or relatives infected by the virus, (2) who retrospectively reported to have had an anxious experience during the first wave, and (3) with a previous history of burnout or depression. In contrast, job satisfaction appeared to be a protective factor. Overall, hospital workers showed the statistically same levels of anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms, regardless of their profession and whether they had worked in units with COVID-19 patients or not.

Conclusions: Our cross-sectional survey of 780 hospital workers shows that after the first wave, hospital employees had a significant burden of mental health symptoms. Specific preventive measures to promote mental well-being among hospital workers exposed to COVID-19 need to be implemented, first among particularly vulnerable staff, and then, for all hospital staff for whom anxiety is detected early, and not only those who were directly exposed to infected patients.

Conflict of interest statement

I have read the journal’s policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: Marguerite d’Ussel reports personal fees and non-financial support from Grunenthal, Ethypharm and IPRAD in the previous three years, outside the submitted work. Xavier Durand reports personal fees and non-financial support from JANSSEN, ASTELLAS, RECORDATI and IPSEN in the previous three years, outside the submitted work. Cédric Lemogne reports personal fees and non-financial support from Janssen-Cilag, Lundbeck, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, and Boehringer Ingelheim in the previous three years, outside the submitted work.

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