The structural vulnerability of healthcare workers during COVID-19: Observations on the social context of risk and the equitable distribution of resources

Smith, Catherine

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113119

Cited by 69 publications

(68 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Considerable research has been devoted to examining the mental health of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 [ 5 - 7 ] and medical staff who cared for and treated these patients during the pandemic [ 8 , 9 ]. However, not much is known about the mental health conditions of nonpatients, who might experience varying degrees of psychiatric disorders due to COVID-19.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association of Social Media Use With Mental Health Conditions of Nonpatients During the COVID-19 Outbreak: Insights from a National Survey Study

Zhong¹,

Jiang²,

Xie³

et al. 2020

J Med Internet Res

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Background Considerable research has been devoted to examining the mental health conditions of patients with COVID-19 and medical staff attending to these patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are few insights concerning how the pandemic may take a toll on the mental health of the general population, and especially of nonpatients (ie, individuals who have not contracted COVID-19). Objective This study aimed to investigate the association between social media use and mental health conditions in the general population based on a national representative sample during the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak in China. Methods We formed a national representative sample (N=2185) comprising participants from 30 provinces across China, who were the first to experience the COVID-19 outbreak in the world. We administered a web-based survey to these participants to analyze social media use, health information support received via social media, and possible psychiatric disorders, including secondary traumatic stress (STS) and vicarious trauma (VT). Results Social media use did not cause mental health issues, but it mediated the levels of traumatic emotions among nonpatients. Participants received health information support via social media, but excessive social media use led to elevated levels of stress (β=.175; P<.001), anxiety (β=.224; P<.001), depression (β=.201; P<.001), STS (β=.307; P<.001), and VT (β=.688; P<.001). Geographic location (or geolocation) and lockdown conditions also contributed to more instances of traumatic disorders. Participants living in big cities were more stressed than those living in rural areas (P=.02). Furthermore, participants from small cities or towns were more anxious (P=.01), stressed (P<.001), and depressed (P=.008) than those from rural areas. Obtaining more informational support (β=.165; P<.001) and emotional support (β=.144; P<.001) via social media increased their VT levels. Peer support received via social media increased both VT (β=.332; P<.001) and STS (β=.130; P<.001) levels. Moreover, geolocation moderated the relationships between emotional support on social media and VT (F2=3.549; P=.029) and the association between peer support and STS (F2=5.059; P=.006). Geolocation also interacted with health information support in predicting STS (F2=5.093; P=.006). Conclusions COVID-19 has taken a severe toll on the mental health of the general population, including individuals who have no history of psychiatric disorders or coronavirus infection. This study contributes to the literature by establishing the association between social media use and psychiatric disorders among the general public during the COVID-19 outbreak. The study findings suggest that the causes of such psychiatric disorders are complex and multifactorial, and social media use is a potential factor. The findings also highlight the experiences of people in China and can help global citizens and health policymakers to mitigate the effects of psychiatric disorders during this and other public health crises, which should be regarded as a key component of a global pandemic response.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association of Social Media Use With Mental Health Conditions of Nonpatients During the COVID-19 Outbreak: Insights from a National Survey Study

Zhong¹,

Jiang²,

Xie³

et al. 2020

J Med Internet Res

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“…The general public recognizes this fact during the celebration of healthcare workers on social media around the world 19 . Protecting and empowering all healthcare workers will be very important for reducing the impact of this pandemic and building deeper resilience into healthcare systems 20 . Whether the government prevention strategy aims to suppress or mitigate, building healthcare capacity should be a top priority that also includes protecting healthcare workers as our most valuable resource 21 .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Covid-19 related deaths among doctors in India

Kapoor¹,

Kapoor²

2020

Preprint

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Background: India has the most number of COVID-19 cases currently in the world, second only to the USA. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused high mortality not only in patients but also health care providers. In this paper, our aim is to analyze the cases of deaths among Indian doctors due to COVID-19 infection. Methods: The details of data were taken from the list of the deceased doctors in India due to COVID-19 infection, which was compiled by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), the top body of Indian doctors practicing modern allopathic medicine. The key data fields of age, specialty, and geographical location of the deceased doctors were extracted from the given list, and analysis was performed. Results: A total of 382 COVID-related deaths and 2174 infections were reported amongst doctors in India till 10 September 2020, with a case fatality rate of 16.7% among Indian doctors, which was ten times the CFR of 1.7% in the general population. Among the practicing doctors, after excluding the resident doctors and house surgeons, the CFR was 36.4%, which is almost 22 times more than what was seen in Indian general population. The average age of COVID-related deaths in Indian doctors was 60.8 years, with a median age of 60; 62% of deaths among doctors were in the above 60 years, age group. The maximum number of deceased doctors were amongst general practitioners 225(58.9%). Among the specialists, most deaths were seen in paediatricians 26(6.8%), medical specialists 24(6.3%), general surgeons 22(5.8%), obstetricians & gynecologists 16(4.2%), and anesthesiologists 14(3.7%). The highest COVID-19 related deaths in doctors were seen in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra in that order. Conclusions: The mortality rate is very high among doctors in India compared to the general population. The average age of COVID-19 related death was 60 years among doctors. General practitioners and 60 years+ doctors are at a much higher risk of mortality among the doctors. The states with the high number of COVID-19 cases in India, also had a higher number of doctor deaths.

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“…Coping and self-care strategies, feelings of growth under pressure, and the simultaneous occurrence of positive and negative emotions of the health care workforce have been documented (20). Psychological and/or psychiatric care provided to professionals in hospitals or other healthcare settings are highlighted as priorities for managers (4,21). Authors such as Halcomb et al (22) have reported job security as a concern of the health personnel during the pandemic.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Much of the literature covering the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare human resources has covered the perspectives and needs of health professionals providing frontline care (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8). However, the roles and experiences of healthcare managers in coordinating organisational responses to COVID-19 remain underexplored (9,10).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Organisational responses to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on healthcare workers: a qualitative case study from Bogotá, Colombia

Turner

Niño²,

Segura³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background Healthcare organisations have undergone organisational change to respond to COVID-19. This pandemic has presented challenges for employee adjustment, with impacts on the availability and coordination of human resources in healthcare. This study aimed to characterise the organisational actions regarding the coordination of human resources in healthcare within Bogotá, Colombia, to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We followed a case study approach to understand the response to the emergency taking into account the narratives of the actors who have been directly involved in the planning of guidelines oriented to face the pandemic or in the implementation of health services for COVID-19. Twenty-two interviews with multiple health system organisations within Bogotá were conducted between May and September 2020 and analysed thematically. Results Three themes emerged from the analysis of the interview data: to retain human resources, to implement actions to improve the mental and physical health of the healthcare workers, and to enhance healthcare workers knowledge, skills and availability to respond to COVID-19. Conclusions Organisational actions led by hospital managers to retain, protect, and train human health resources in the dynamic context of the COVID-19 pandemic were identified. Other system-wide organisations like scientific associations contributed to the coordination of human resources across hospitals to respond to COVID-19 in Bogotá, Colombia. The actions of hospital managers, and roles of system-wide intermediary organisations, in coordinating human resources need to be explored in other health system contexts facing COVID-19.

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The structural vulnerability of healthcare workers during COVID-19: Observations on the social context of risk and the equitable distribution of resources

Cited by 69 publications

References 7 publications

Association of Social Media Use With Mental Health Conditions of Nonpatients During the COVID-19 Outbreak: Insights from a National Survey Study

Association of Social Media Use With Mental Health Conditions of Nonpatients During the COVID-19 Outbreak: Insights from a National Survey Study

Covid-19 related deaths among doctors in India

Organisational responses to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on healthcare workers: a qualitative case study from Bogotá, Colombia

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