The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on intensive care unit workers: a nationwide survey

Abstract

Purpose To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canadian intensive care unit (ICU) workers. Methods Between June and August 2020, we distributed a cross-sectional online survey of ICU workers evaluating the impact of the pandemic, coping strategies, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD; Impact of Events Scale-Revised), and psychological distress, anxiety, and depression (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale). We performed regression analyses to determine the predictors of psychological symptoms. Results We analyzed responses from 455 ICU workers (80% women; 67% from Ontario; 279 nurses, 69 physicians, and 107 other healthcare professionals). Respondents felt that their job put them at great risk of exposure (60%), were concerned about transmitting COVID-19 to family members (76%), felt more stressed at work (67%), and considered leaving their job (37%). Overall, 25% had probable PTSD and 18% had minimal or greater psychological distress. Nurses were more likely to report PTSD symptoms (33%) and psychological distress (23%) than physicians (5% for both) and other health disciplines professionals (19% and 14%). Variables associated with PTSD and psychological distress included female sex (beta-coefficient [B], 1.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20 to 2.10 and B, 3.79; 95% CI, 1.79 to 5.78, respectively; P < 0.001 for differences in scores across groups) and perceived increased risk due to PPE shortage or inadequate PPE training (B, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.51 to 2.31 and B, 4.88; 95% CI, 3.34 to 6.43, respectively). Coping strategies included talking to friends/family/colleagues (80%), learning about COVID-19 (78%), and physical exercise (68%). Over half endorsed the following workplace strategies as valuable: hospital-provided scrubs, clear communication and protocols by hospitals, knowing their voice is heard, subsidized parking, and gestures of appreciation from leadership. Conclusions This survey study shows that ICU workers have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with high levels of stress and psychological burden. Respondents endorsed communication, protocols, and appreciation from leadership as helpful mitigating strategies. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12630-021-02175-z.

Symptoms of Anxiety, Depression, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Health Care Personnel in Norwegian ICUs during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic, a Prospective, Observational Cross-Sectional Study

“…Nurses and physicians working bedside are directly exposed to the patients’ suffering, which may influence psychological distress, as Greenberg et al underline in their UK study (n = 709) [ 18 ]. In our study, to be a younger HCP was a comparable risk factor for symptoms, and the study from Metha et al [ 39 ] could confirm the results; however, the risk factor of being a less experienced HCP was not confirmed in the Canadian study. Less experienced nurses were found by Kramer et al [ 27 ] to experience psychological distress.…”

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on anaesthesia specialty training: a single-centre quantitative analysis

“…Therefore, the critical care educational experience of anaesthesia trainees seconded to the intensive care unit during the pandemic may not be as comparable in terms of diversity of pathology and patient mix as would be expected during non—pandemic rotations. Critical care exposure during this period may in fact have detrimental effects on trainees - there have been multiple documented impacts of the pandemic on intensive care staff indicating high levels of stress, depression, and burnout 28 , 29 .…”

Measurement of burnout during the prolonged pandemic in the Chinese zero-COVID context: COVID-19 burnout views scale

“…Currently, majority of the research examined pandemic burnout focused on physicians, nurses and educators [e.g., ( 7 , 23 , 24 )], with only limited studies focused on the general public ( 7 ) and rarely addressed COVID-related burnout in relation to zero-COVID policy [e.g., ( 25 )]. It has been demonstrated that high levels of burnout are significantly associated with psychological burden, depression, anxiety and insomnia ( 7 ).…”