IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2023i10p5853-d1149414.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Psychological and Wellbeing Impacts of Quarantine on Frontline Workers during COVID-19 and Beyond

Author

Listed:
  • Oliver S. Holmes

    (Psychosocial Oncology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Melbourne, Melbourne 3000, Australia)

  • Steven Ellen

    (Psychosocial Oncology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Melbourne, Melbourne 3000, Australia)

  • Natasha Smallwood

    (Chronic Respiratory Disease Laboratory, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne 3800, Australia)

  • Karen Willis

    (Institute for Sport and Health, Victoria University, Melbourne 3011, Australia)

  • Clare Delaney

    (Department of Medical Education, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia)

  • Leon J. Worth

    (National Centre for Infections in Cancer, Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia)

  • Shelley Dolan

    (Executive Team, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Melbourne, Melbourne 3000, Australia)

  • Lisa Dunlop

    (Clinical Governance and Strategic Projects, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Melbourne, Melbourne 3000, Australia)

  • Geraldine McDonald

    (Prevention and Wellbeing, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Melbourne, Melbourne 3000, Australia)

  • Leila Karimi

    (Department of Psychology, School of Applied Health, RMIT University, Melbourne 3000, Australia)

  • Megan Rees

    (Respiratory, Sleep, and General Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne 3050, Australia)

  • Maria Ftanou

    (Psychosocial Oncology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Melbourne, Melbourne 3000, Australia
    School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia)

Abstract

Objective: The current study investigated the experiences, wellbeing impacts, and coping strategies of frontline workers who participated in “Hotels for Heroes”, an Australian voluntary hotel quarantine program during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program was open to those who were COVID-19 positive or exposed to COVID-19 as part of their profession. Methods: Frontline workers who had stayed in voluntary quarantine between April 2020 and March 2021 were invited to participate in a voluntary, anonymous, cross-sectional online survey including both quantitative and qualitative responses. Complete responses were collected from 106 participants, which included data on sociodemographic and occupational characteristics, experiences of the Hotels for Heroes program, and validated mental health measures. Results: Mental health problems were prevalent amongst frontline workers (e.g., moderate anxiety symptoms, severe depression symptoms, and greater than usual impact of fatigue). For some, quarantine appeared to be helpful for anxiety and burnout, but quarantine also appeared to impact anxiety, depression, and PTSD negatively, and longer stays in quarantine were associated with significantly higher coronavirus anxiety and fatigue impacts. The most widely received support in quarantine was from designated program staff; however, this was reportedly accessed by less than half of the participants. Conclusions: The current study points to specific aspects of mental health care that can be applied to participants of similar voluntary quarantine programs in the future. It seems necessary to screen for psychological needs at various stages of quarantine, and to allocate appropriate care and improve its accessibility, as many participants did not utilise the routine support offered. Support should especially target disease-related anxiety, symptoms of depression and trauma, and the impacts of fatigue. Future research is needed to clarify specific phases of need throughout quarantine programs, and the barriers for participants receiving mental health supports in these contexts.

Suggested Citation

  • Oliver S. Holmes & Steven Ellen & Natasha Smallwood & Karen Willis & Clare Delaney & Leon J. Worth & Shelley Dolan & Lisa Dunlop & Geraldine McDonald & Leila Karimi & Megan Rees & Maria Ftanou, 2023. "The Psychological and Wellbeing Impacts of Quarantine on Frontline Workers during COVID-19 and Beyond," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(10), pages 1-11, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:10:p:5853-:d:1149414
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/10/5853/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/10/5853/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Natasha Smallwood & Amy Pascoe & Leila Karimi & Karen Willis, 2021. "Moral Distress and Perceived Community Views Are Associated with Mental Health Symptoms in Frontline Health Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-15, August.
    2. Natasha Smallwood & Amy Pascoe & Leila Karimi & Marie Bismark & Karen Willis, 2021. "Occupational Disruptions during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Their Association with Healthcare Workers’ Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-14, September.
    3. Lee, Sing & Chan, Lydia Y.Y. & Chau, Annie M.Y. & Kwok, Kathleen P.S. & Kleinman, Arthur, 2005. "The experience of SARS-related stigma at Amoy Gardens," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 61(9), pages 2038-2046, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Karen Willis & Paulina Ezer & Sophie Lewis & Marie Bismark & Natasha Smallwood, 2021. "“Covid Just Amplified the Cracks of the System”: Working as a Frontline Health Worker during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-15, September.
    2. Amy Pascoe & Eldho Paul & Douglas Johnson & Mark Putland & Karen Willis & Natasha Smallwood, 2021. "Differences in Coping Strategies and Help-Seeking Behaviours among Australian Junior and Senior Doctors during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-17, December.
    3. Jonathan Tran & Karen Willis & Margaret Kay & Kathryn Hutt & Natasha Smallwood, 2022. "The Workplace and Psychosocial Experiences of Australian Senior Doctors during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-16, March.
    4. Mehwish Majeed & Muhammad Irshad & Jos Bartels, 2021. "The Interactive Effect of COVID-19 Risk and Hospital Measures on Turnover Intentions of Healthcare Workers: A Time-Lagged Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-15, October.
    5. Li, Yumei & Duan, Wenjie & Chen, Zheng, 2020. "Latent profiles of the comorbidity of the symptoms for posttraumatic stress disorder and generalized anxiety disorder among children and adolescents who are susceptible to COVID-19," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    6. Keetie Roelen & Caroline Ackley & Paul Boyce & Nicolas Farina & Santiago Ripoll, 2020. "COVID-19 in LMICs: The Need to Place Stigma Front and Centre to Its Response," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 32(5), pages 1592-1612, December.
    7. David Lucas & Sandrine Brient & Tanguy Le Grand & Jean-Dominique Dewitte & Brice Loddé & Richard Pougnet & Bisi Moriamo Eveillard, 2022. "Evolution of Global Health and Psychosocial Factors among Hospital Workers during First Year of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: A Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-11, November.
    8. Zhang, Yan & Cao, Xiaochen & Aashiq, & Xie, Yufei & Zhong, Qiongyao & Lei, Guanghui & Zhang, Jingyuan & Xiao, Qiang & Wang, Guixiang & Bian, Yueran & Xie, Simiao & Huang, Fei, 2021. "Psychological stress of university students in the hardest-hit areas at different stages of the COVID-19 epidemic," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    9. Peter D. Lunn & Cameron A. Belton & Ciarán Lavin & Féidhlim P. McGowan & Shane Timmons & Deirdre A. Robertson, 2020. "Using behavioral science to help fight the Coronavirus," Journal of Behavioral Public Administration, Center for Experimental and Behavioral Public Administration, vol. 3(1).
    10. Kuan-Ying Hsieh & Wei-Tsung Kao & Dian-Jeng Li & Wan-Chun Lu & Kuan-Yi Tsai & Wei-Jen Chen & Li-Shiu Chou & Joh-Jong Huang & Su-Ting Hsu & Frank Huang-Chih Chou, 2021. "Mental health in biological disasters: From SARS to COVID-19," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 67(5), pages 576-586, August.
    11. Dian-Jeng Li & Wei-Tsung Kao & Vincent Shieh & Frank Huang-Chih Chou & Huei-Wen Angela Lo, 2020. "Development and Implementation of Societal Influences Survey Questionnaire (SISQ) for Peoples during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Validity and Reliability Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-13, August.
    12. Elisabet Sánchez-Rodríguez & Alexandra Ferreira-Valente & Filipa Pimenta & Antonella Ciaramella & Jordi Miró, 2022. "Mental, Physical and Socio-Economic Status of Adults Living in Spain during the Late Stages of the State of Emergency Caused by COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-14, January.
    13. Mihaela Alexandra Gherman & Laura Arhiri & Andrei Corneliu Holman & Camelia Soponaru, 2022. "The Moral Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Nurses’ Burnout, Work Satisfaction and Adaptive Work Performance: The Role of Autobiographical Memories of Potentially Morally Injurious Events and Basic P," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-22, June.
    14. Duan, Wenjie & Bu, He & Chen, Zheng, 2020. "COVID-19-related stigma profiles and risk factors among people who are at high risk of contagion," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    15. Gabriele Giorgi & Luigi Isaia Lecca & Federico Alessio & Georgia Libera Finstad & Giorgia Bondanini & Lucrezia Ginevra Lulli & Giulio Arcangeli & Nicola Mucci, 2020. "COVID-19-Related Mental Health Effects in the Workplace: A Narrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-22, October.
    16. David N. Sattler & Boldsuren Bishkhorloo & Kendall A. Lawley & Ruth Hackler & Chuluunbileg Byambajav & Michidmaa Munkhbat & Brooklyn Smith-Galeno, 2023. "Stigma, Post-traumatic Stress, and COVID-19 Vaccination Intent in Mongolia, India, and the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-12, January.
    17. María Dolores Hidalgo & Nekane Balluerka & Arantxa Gorostiaga & José Pedro Espada & Miguel Ángel Santed & José Luis Padilla & Juana Gómez-Benito, 2020. "The Psychological Consequences of COVID-19 and Lockdown in the Spanish Population: An Exploratory Sequential Design," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-17, November.
    18. Antonio Baldassarre & Gabriele Giorgi & Federico Alessio & Lucrezia Ginevra Lulli & Giulio Arcangeli & Nicola Mucci, 2020. "Stigma and Discrimination (SAD) at the Time of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-29, August.
    19. Esther Alonso-Prieto & Holly Longstaff & Agnes Black & Alice K. Virani, 2022. "COVID-19 Outbreak: Understanding Moral-Distress Experiences Faced by Healthcare Workers in British Columbia, Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-14, August.
    20. Anthony S. Anih & Patrik Söderberg & Kaj Björkqvist, 2023. "Predictors of Adolescents’ Antisocial Behavior in Southeastern Nigeria: Exposure to Armed Conflict and Physical Punishment at Home," European Journal of Social Sciences Articles, Revistia Research and Publishing, vol. 6, ejss_v6_i.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:10:p:5853-:d:1149414. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.