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Psychological Support Interventions for Healthcare Providers and Informal Caregivers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Author

Listed:
  • Vanessa Bertuzzi

    (Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, 20123 Milan, Italy)

  • Michelle Semonella

    (Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel)

  • Denise Bruno

    (Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, 20123 Milan, Italy)

  • Chiara Manna

    (Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, 20123 Milan, Italy)

  • Julian Edbrook-Childs

    (Evidence-Based Practices Unit, University College London and Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, London N1 6EB, UK)

  • Emanuele M. Giusti

    (Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, 20123 Milan, Italy
    Psychology Research Laboratory, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, 20145 Milan, Italy)

  • Gianluca Castelnuovo

    (Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, 20123 Milan, Italy
    Psychology Research Laboratory, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, 20145 Milan, Italy)

  • Giada Pietrabissa

    (Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, 20123 Milan, Italy
    Psychology Research Laboratory, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, 20145 Milan, Italy)

Abstract

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare providers and informal caregivers were at an increased risk of adverse mental health effects. This systematic review provides a summary of the available evidence on the content and efficacy of the psychological support interventions in increasing mental health among healthcare providers and informal caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: PubMed, Google Scholar, PsychINFO, and Scopus databases were systematically searched for relevant articles, and the methodological quality of selected articles was assessed using the Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies. Results: A search of electronic databases identified five reports based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. All psychological support interventions for caregivers were delivered digitally. Despite the large heterogeneity of the selected studies, the findings support the efficacy of mental health interventions in reducing distress and burnout, while promoting self-efficacy and well-being in both healthcare providers and informal caregivers. Conclusion: Since mental health problems are expected to increase during, and as a result of, the COVID-19 pandemic, and digital tools might offer a range of mental health treatments to meet the unique and immediate needs of people, further research is needed to test the cost-effectiveness of digital psychological interventions.

Suggested Citation

  • Vanessa Bertuzzi & Michelle Semonella & Denise Bruno & Chiara Manna & Julian Edbrook-Childs & Emanuele M. Giusti & Gianluca Castelnuovo & Giada Pietrabissa, 2021. "Psychological Support Interventions for Healthcare Providers and Informal Caregivers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review of the Literature," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-13, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:13:p:6939-:d:584182
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Giovanni Bonaccorsi & Francesco Pierri & Matteo Cinelli & Andrea Flori & Alessandro Galeazzi & Francesco Porcelli & Ana Lucia Schmidt & Carlo Michele Valensise & Antonio Scala & Walter Quattrociocchi , 2020. "Economic and social consequences of human mobility restrictions under COVID-19," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 117(27), pages 15530-15535, July.
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    3. Vaughan, E. & Tinker, T., 2009. "Effective health risk communication about pandemic influenza for vulnerable populations," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 99(S2), pages 324-332.
    4. Ricardo Rodrigues & Cassandra Simmons & Andrea E. Schmidt & Nadia Steiber, 2021. "Care in times of COVID-19: the impact of the pandemic on informal caregiving in Austria," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 195-205, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Daniela Lemmo & Roberta Vitale & Carmela Girardi & Roberta Salsano & Ersilia Auriemma, 2022. "Moral Distress Events and Emotional Trajectories in Nursing Narratives during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-12, July.
    2. Habran, Yves & Küpers, Wendelin & Weber, Jean-Christophe, 2024. "Reconceiving vulnerabilities in relations of care how to account for and deal with carers’ vulnerabilities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 340(C).
    3. Barnabás Oláh & Bence Márk Rádi & Karolina Kósa, 2022. "Barriers to Seeking Mental Help and Interventions to Remove Them in Medical School during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Perspectives of Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-18, June.
    4. Alejandro Dominguez-Rodriguez & Reyna Jazmín Martínez-Arriaga & Paulina Erika Herdoiza-Arroyo & Eduardo Bautista-Valerio & Anabel de la Rosa-Gómez & Rosa Olimpia Castellanos Vargas & Laura Lacomba-Tre, 2022. "E-Health Psychological Intervention for COVID-19 Healthcare Workers: Protocol for its Implementation and Evaluation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-20, October.
    5. Barnabás Oláh & Ildikó Kuritárné Szabó & Karolina Kósa, 2022. "Transfer of Mental Health Services for Medical Students to Cyberspace during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Service Use and Students’ Preferences for Psychological Self-Help Techniques," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-10, October.
    6. Vanessa Bertuzzi & Michelle Semonella & Gianluca Castelnuovo & Gerhard Andersson & Giada Pietrabissa, 2022. "Synthesizing Stakeholders Perspectives on Online Psychological Interventions to Improve the Mental Health of the Italian Population during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Online Survey Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-13, June.

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