Identification of the most vulnerable populations in the psychosocial sphere: a cross-sectional study conducted in Catalonia during the strict lockdown imposed against the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Design and objectives: A cross-sectional study to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on the psychosocial sphere in both the general population and healthcare workers (HCWs).

Methods: The study was conducted in Catalonia (Spain) during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic when strict lockdown was in force. The study population included all people aged over 16 years who consented to participate in the study and completed the survey, in this case a 74-question questionnaire shared via social media using snowball sampling. A total of 56 656 completed survey questionnaires were obtained between 3 and 19 April 2020.The primary and secondary outcome measures included descriptive statistics for the non-psychological questions and the psychological impact of the pandemic, such as depression, anxiety, stress and post-traumatic stress disorder question scores.

Results: A n early and markedly negative impact on family finances, fear of working with COVID-19 patients and ethical issues related to COVID-19 care among HCWs was observed. A total of seven target groups at higher risk of impaired mental health and which may therefore benefit from an intervention were identified, namely women, subjects aged less than 42 years, people with a care burden, socioeconomically deprived groups, people with unskilled or unqualified jobs, patients with COVID-19 and HCWs working with patients with COVID-19.

Conclusions: Active implementation of specific strategies to increase resilience and to prepare an adequate organisational response should be encouraged for the seven groups identified as high risk and susceptible to benefit from an intervention.

Trial registration number: NCT04378452.

Keywords: COVID-19; health policy; health services administration & management; public health.

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: The salaries of JF, JLR and JAM-M are partially paid by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 847 762. LA received support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 847 762 through her contract. JAM-M has a postdoctoral research contract from the Fundació Lluita contra la SIDA and has received honoraria for research/educational presentations by GILEAD Sciences and MSD. MV is the president of the Suicidal Conduct Committee of PSSJD. AS-B has received support from the Diputació de Barcelona via contracts or grants to carry out seven projects on mental health planning, from the Spanish Government-FEDER Funds through Instituto de Salud Carlos III (a grant to carry out a research project about mental health (PI19/00111 and PI15/00519)) and from the Catalan Government via an intensification research contract from the PERIS programme (SLT006/17/68), 2018–2020. He has acted as member of the Advisory Board of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III for the evaluation of research projects and as member of the Advisory Board of the Fundación Progreso y Salud for the evaluation of research projects. CV received support from the Spanish Government-FEDER Funds through CIBER Enfermedades Respiratorias and her contract (CPII18/00031), from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme for being the local PI of the Comix study (conducted within the EpiPose project (GA 101003688)) and has acted as an expert member of the COVID-19 crisis committee of the IGTP. MR-S, CA, P-JC, BA and JU declared no competing interests.

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