Analysis of Factors That Influenced the Mental Health Status of Public Health Workers During the COVID-19 Epidemic Based on Bayesian Networks: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Public health workers are essential to responding to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, but research on anxiety and stress among public health workers during the epidemic is limited. This study aimed to evaluate related factors affecting mental health among public health workers during the epidemic.Methods: Between February 19 and 25, 2020, an online, cross-sectional study was conducted among public health workers in a city in China. Mental health status was assessed using the Chinese versions of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scale and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), both with a cutoff score of 5. Work-related variables, workloads and sacrifices, and personal perceptions were also assessed.Results: The prevalence of anxiety and depression were 49.2% and 45.7%, respectively, among public health workers. Three risk factors and one protective factor, namely, overcommitment (OR = 1.10∼1.20, p < 0.001), perceived troubles at work (OR = 1.14∼1.18, p < 0.001), perceived tension (OR = 1.11, p < 0.001) and the capability to persist for more than 1 month at the current work intensity (OR = 0.41∼0.42, p < 0.001) were found to be independently associated with anxiety and depression in the multivariable logistic regression analyses after propensity score matching. But the Bayesian networks analysis found that the last three factors directly affect anxiety and depression.Conclusion: Psychological responses to COVID-19 were dramatic among public health workers during the severe phase of the outbreak. To minimize the impact of the epidemic, working conditions should be improved, and easily accessible psychological support services should be implemented.

Stress and influencing factors of public health and preventive medicine students in the post-pandemic period: a cross-sectional study in Changsha, China

“…Students rated the frequency of these symptoms over the past 2 weeks. The severity of anxiety was classified according to the score as minimal or none (0-4), mild (5-9), moderate (10)(11)(12)(13)(14), and severe (≥15). The scale's internal consistency coefficient was 0.92, the test-retest reliability was 0.83, and the correlation R with the Beck anxiety inventory (BAI) and the symptom check list-90 (SCL-90) were 0.72 and 0.74, respectively (18, 19).…”

“…In fact, public health and preventive medicine students have been hit hard by the pandemic, but they did not seem to receive much attention. Studies have confirmed that during the severe phase of the epidemic, COVID-19 elicits a strong psychological response among public health workers (13). In China, although they rarely directly work with clinical patients, most of them are involved in epidemic prevention and control at primary health organizations, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and hospital administrations.…”

Comparison of Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department with Psychiatric Complaints Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The COVID-19 pandemic has also posed an increased risk to people with mental health problems. These people have struggled to receive their current treatments during the pandemic, and their support systems and resources have decreased, which has led to an increase and worsening of symptoms in people with psychological problems [3].…”