RETRACTED: Mental Health Problems Among Front-Line Healthcare Workers Caring for COVID-19 Patients in Vietnam: A Mixed Methods Study

Abstract

AimHealthcare workers have directly provided care for COVID-19 patients, and have faced many additional sources leading to poor mental health. The study aimed to investigate the mental health problems and related factors among healthcare staff in Vietnam.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional mixed methods study, combining quantitative and qualitative research methods, was performed among 400 healthcare workers working at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases and Ninh Binh General Hospital from the first day of treatment for COVID-19 patients to May 01, 2020.ResultsThe results showed that 8.0% of participants had stress, 17.5% of participants had anxiety, and 14.8% of participants had depression. Approximately 50% of participants reported that they had at least one of these symptoms. The findings illustrated that stress, anxiety, and depression were associated with the position in a hospital, health status during the COVID-19 pandemic, family members/relatives infected with COVID-19, physical and mental support from friends, family, and community, department, years of working, and the average work hours per day of healthcare workers exposed to COVID-19.ConclusionDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers who worked in the hospital providing treatment and care for COVID-19 patients dealt with mental health problems such as stress, anxiety, and depression. It is necessary to promote mental health among healthcare workers, to contribute to the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak in Vietnam.

Depression, anxiety and stress among healthcare workers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study in a tertiary hospital in Northern Vietnam

“…In this study, the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among healthcare workers were 19.2%, 24.7%, and 13.9%, respectively. Those were slightly higher than figures reported by some other studies in Vietnam ( 16 , 17 ). However, figures in our study were lower than those in a study conducted during the fourth wave of COVID-19 ( 22 ).…”

“…During the pandemic, health professionals experienced many psychosocial stressors such as the disruption of routine life, travel restrictions, shortage of necessities, separation from family members and friends, and salary reduction. Indeed, during the COVID-19 pandemic, several frontline healthcare workers such as doctors working with COVID-19 patients or laboratories, were isolated with other staff in the hospital and isolated with families and communities due to incomplete information and fear associated with COVID-19 ( 16 ). In the beginning of pandemic, Holmes et al ( 28 ) had called for actions to address the mental health in vulnerable groups including healthcare providers and emphasized the long term psychological impact.…”

Parenting stress and associated factors in healthcare workers after the second wave of COVID-19 in India: a two-center cross-sectional study

“…Notably, the odds of severe PS were high in HCWs with COVID-19 infection; however, this was not significant after adjusting for confounders. Other studies on the general population and HCWs have found that having an acquaintance or family member with COVID-19 is associated with higher levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and parental distress ( 46 , 79 ). However, this study did not find an association between PS in HCWs and COVID-19 infection or death in their families.…”

Demand for mental health support services among health professionals in Vietnam: Lesson from COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Stress can be categorized into five distinct levels, namely normal (ranging from 0 to 14), mild (from 15 to 18), moderate (from 19 to 25), severe (from 26 to 33), and very severe (34 and above). This instrument had been used among Vietnamese health professionals previously with good validity and reliability [ 16 ].…”