Background: Global healthcare systems have been particularly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are widely reported to have experienced increased levels of baseline psychological distress relative to the general population, and the COVID-19 pandemic may have had an additive effect. However, previous studies are typically restricted to physicians and nurses with limited data available on hospital HCWs. We aimed to conduct a cross-sectional, psychological evaluation of Irish HCWs during COVID-19. Methods: HCWs across five adult acute level-4 Dublin-based hospitals completed an online survey of wellbeing and COVID-19 experience. Results: There were 1898 HCWs who commenced the survey representing 10% of the total employee base. The sample comprised nurses (33%), doctors (21%), Health and Social Care Professionals (HSCPs) (24%) and ‘Other’ disciplines (22%), and 81% identified as female. Clinical levels of depression, anxiety and PTSD symptoms were endorsed by 31%, 34% and 28% of respondents, respectively. Professional grouping effects included: nurses reporting significantly greater levels of COVID-19 exposure, infection, COVID-fear, moral injury, and post-traumatic distress; HSCPs were significantly less likely to report mood dysfunction. In terms of gender, males were significantly less likely to report negative pandemic experiences, low resilience, and significantly more likely to endorse ‘minimal’ depression, anxiety, and traumatic distress. Logistic regression modelling revealed mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety and PTSD symptoms) were associated with increased frontline exposure, fewer career years’ experience, elevated pre-pandemic stress, and female gender. Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the largest evaluation of psychological wellbeing amongst HCWs in acute hospitals in the Dublin region. Our findings have implications for healthcare workforce wellbeing and future service delivery.

Background A cancer diagnosis is a known precipitant of psychological distress, with fear of recurrence being a well-documented distressing consequence of cancer. Cancer recurrence often results in an additional psychological burden, which may exacerbate as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This is a single-centre, prospective, randomised controlled trial. Patients identified as having experienced cancer recurrence since March 2020 (the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland) will be screened for participation. Eligible, consenting candidates who score 4 or higher on the Distress Thermometer will be enrolled in the study. Participants will be randomly allocated to receive either a 6-week, group-based, online, compassion-focussed therapy and breathing pattern retraining intervention or the control arm. Those in the control arm will all be offered the group intervention after the 18-week study period. The primary outcome is the Distress Thermometer score at 18 weeks post-baseline though secondary outcomes will include measures of mood, traumatic distress and mental adjustment to cancer. Discussion To our knowledge, this protocol describes the first RCT which directly examines the effect of a group-based psychological intervention on Irish patients experiencing cancer recurrence in the context of COVID-19. The outcome of this trial is likely to be twofold: It will determine if the psychological intervention achieves its primary objective of distress amelioration 3 months post-intervention and to establish the feasibility of delivering this intervention in a virtual format. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05518591. Registered on 25 August 2022. All items from the World Health Organization Trial Registration Data set have been included.

Background A cancer diagnosis is a known precipitant of psychological distress, with fear of recurrence being a well-documented distressing consequence of cancer. Cancer recurrence often results in an additional psychological burden, which may exacerbated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This is a single-centre, prospective, randomised controlled trial. Patients identified as having experienced cancer recurrence since March 2020 (the onset of COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland) will be screened for participation. Eligible, consenting candidates who score 4 or higher on the Distress Thermometer will be enrolled into the study. Participants will be randomly allocated to receive either a 6-week, group-based, online, Compassion Focussed Therapy and Breathing Pattern Retraining intervention or the control arm. Those in the control arm will all be offered the group intervention after the 18-week study period. The primary outcome is the Distress Thermometer score at 18-weeks post-baseline though secondary outcomes will include measures of mood, traumatic distress and mental adjustment to cancer. Discussion To our knowledge, this protocol describes the first RCT which directly examines the effect of a group-based psychological intervention on Irish patients experiencing cancer recurrence in the context of COVID-19. The outcome of this trial is likely to be twofold: It will determine if the psychological intervention achieves its primary objective of distress amelioration three months post-intervention; and to establish the feasibility of delivering this intervention in a virtual format. Trial registration Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05518591. Registered on 25 August 2022. All items from the World Health Organisation Trial Registration Data set have been included.