IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2023i24p7153-d1295693.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Psychopathological Burden among Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic Compared to the Pre-Pandemic Period

Author

Listed:
  • Sara Gostoli

    (Department of Psychology “Renzo Canestrari”, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Angelica D’Oronzo

    (Department of Psychology “Renzo Canestrari”, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Carlotta Malaguti

    (Occupational Health Unit, Bologna University Hospital Authority St. Orsola Malpighi Polyclinic IRCCS, 40138 Bologna, Italy)

  • Francesco Guolo

    (Division of Cardiology, Bellaria Hospital, AUSL Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy)

  • Cristian Balducci

    (Department of Quality of Life Sciences, University of Bologna, 47921 Rimini, Italy)

  • Regina Subach

    (Department of Psychology “Renzo Canestrari”, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy)

  • Vittorio Lodi

    (Occupational Health Unit, Bologna University Hospital Authority St. Orsola Malpighi Polyclinic IRCCS, 40138 Bologna, Italy)

  • Carmine Petio

    (Department of Psychiatry, Bologna University Hospital Authority St. Orsola Malpighi Polyclinic IRCCS, 40138 Bologna, Italy)

  • Chiara Rafanelli

    (Department of Psychology “Renzo Canestrari”, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy)

Abstract

This retrospective observational study on hospital staff requesting an “application visit” (from 2017 to 2022) at the Occupational Medicine department aimed at comparing a “pre-COVID group” (2017–2019) with a “COVID group” (2020–2022) regarding (a) sociodemographic data (i.e., age, sex, occupation, years of employment at the hospital), (b) rate and type of psychiatric diagnoses in both groups and rate of psychiatric diagnoses per subject, and (c) rate of drug/psychotherapeutic prescriptions. Two hundred and five healthcare workers (F = 73.7%; mean age = 50.7 ± 10.33) were visited. Compared with the pre-COVID group, healthcare workers evaluated during COVID-19 were significantly younger and reported fewer years of employment at the hospital. Although rates of primary psychiatric diagnoses were similar in both samples, an increased number of psychopathologies per subject and associated treatment prescriptions in the COVID group was observed. In the COVID group, 61% had one psychiatric diagnosis, and 28% had 2+ psychiatric diagnoses, compared with 83.8% and 6.7% of pre-COVID. Furthermore, 56.2%/1.9% in pre-COVID and 73%/6% in the COVID group were prescribed drugs/psychotherapy, respectively. The findings of the present study highlighted an increase in both younger workers’ requests and psychiatric comorbidities during the pandemic, representing a burden on the Italian healthcare system. It is thus relevant to address the mental health challenges of healthcare workers accordingly.

Suggested Citation

  • Sara Gostoli & Angelica D’Oronzo & Carlotta Malaguti & Francesco Guolo & Cristian Balducci & Regina Subach & Vittorio Lodi & Carmine Petio & Chiara Rafanelli, 2023. "Psychopathological Burden among Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic Compared to the Pre-Pandemic Period," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(24), pages 1-13, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:24:p:7153-:d:1295693
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/24/7153/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/24/7153/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Shamona Maharaj & Ty Lees & Sara Lal, 2018. "Prevalence and Risk Factors of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in a Cohort of Australian Nurses," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Sara Gostoli & Laura Nicolucci & Carlotta Malaguti & Chiara Patierno & Danilo Carrozzino & Cristian Balducci & Sara Zaniboni & Vittorio Lodi & Carmine Petio & Chiara Rafanelli, 2022. "Mental Illness and Work-Related Limitations in Healthcare Workers: A Preliminary Retrospective Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-14, July.
    3. Lara Bellotti & Sara Zaniboni & Cristian Balducci & Gudela Grote, 2021. "Rapid Review on COVID-19, Work-Related Aspects, and Age Differences," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-24, May.
    4. Chiang, Yu-Mei & Chang, Yuhsuan, 2012. "Stress, depression, and intention to leave among nurses in different medical units: Implications for healthcare management/nursing practice," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 108(2), pages 149-157.
    5. 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.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Cristian Balducci & Chiara Rafanelli & Luca Menghini & Chiara Consiglio, 2024. "The Relationship between Patients’ Demands and Workplace Violence among Healthcare Workers: A Multilevel Look Focusing on the Moderating Role of Psychosocial Working Conditions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(2), pages 1-13, February.

    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. Ullah, Faiz & Harrigan, Nicholas M., 2022. "A natural experiment in social security as public health measure: Experiences of international students as temporary migrant workers during two Covid-19 lockdowns," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    2. Michał Błaszczyk & Milan Popović & Karolina Zajdel & Radosław Zajdel, 2022. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Organisation of Remote Work in IT Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-14, October.
    3. Francesco Pace & Giulia Sciotto & Naomi Alexia Randazzo & Vincenza Macaluso, 2022. "Teachers’ Work-Related Well-Being in Times of COVID-19: The Effects of Technostress and Online Teaching," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-10, October.
    4. Clément Cormi & Stéphane Sanchez & Valentine de l’Estoile & Laura Ollivier & Aude Letty & Gilles Berrut & Emmanuel Mulin, 2021. "Telepsychiatry to Provide Mental Health Support to Healthcare Professionals during the COVID-19 Crisis: A Cross-Sectional Survey among 321 Healthcare Professionals in France," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-14, September.
    5. Alexander Frank Pasquel Cajas & Verónica Tomasa Cajas Bravo & Roberto Carlos Dávila Morán, 2023. "Remote Work in Peru during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-25, February.
    6. Lauren R. Gullett & Dana M. Alhasan & W. Braxton Jackson & Chandra L. Jackson, 2022. "Employment Industry and Occupational Class in Relation to Serious Psychological Distress in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-26, July.
    7. Ruixin Su & Bojan Obrenovic & Jianguo Du & Danijela Godinic & Akmal Khudaykulov, 2022. "COVID-19 Pandemic Implications for Corporate Sustainability and Society: A Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-23, January.
    8. Perri Campbell & Erin Wilson & Luke John Howie & Andrew Joyce & Jenny Crosbie & Robyn Eversole, 2024. "The Role of Shared Resilience in Building Employment Pathways with People with a Disability," Disabilities, MDPI, vol. 4(1), pages 1-16, January.
    9. Mehran Shayganfard & Fateme Mahdavi & Mohammad Haghighi & Dena Sadeghi-Bahmani & Serge Brand, 2021. "Sources of Health Anxiety for Hospital Staff Working during the Covid-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-11, March.
    10. Mohd Nurumal & Sachiko Makabe & Farah Ilyani Che Jamaludin & Hairil Fahmi Mohd Yusof & Khin Thandar Aung & Yanika Kowitlawakul, 2017. "Work-Life Balance among Teaching Hospital Nurses in Malaysia," Global Journal of Health Science, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 9(9), pages 1-81, September.
    11. Andrés Calvache-Mateo & Laura López-López & Javier Martín-Núñez & Alejandro Heredia-Ciuró & María Granados-Santiago & Araceli Ortiz-Rubio & Marie Carmen Valenza, 2023. "Pain and Clinical Presentation: A Cross-Sectional Study of Patients with New-Onset Chronic Pain in Long-COVID-19 Syndrome," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-15, February.
    12. Bojan Grum, 2024. "The Impact of Real Estate “COVID” Factors on Expressed Satisfaction of Residents during COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-14, January.
    13. Nor Intan Shamimi A. A & Mumtaz Ahmad, 2015. "Stress Management and Oncology Nurse Behaviors: An Association in Nursing Profession," International Journal of Business and Administrative Studies, Professor Dr. Bahaudin G. Mujtaba, vol. 1(1), pages 29-34.
    14. Tanja Laukkala & Jaana Suvisaari & Tom Rosenström & Eero Pukkala & Kristiina Junttila & Henna Haravuori & Katinka Tuisku & Toni Haapa & Pekka Jylhä, 2021. "COVID-19 Pandemic and Helsinki University Hospital Personnel Psychological Well-Being: Six-Month Follow-Up Results," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-9, March.
    15. Yushi Lu & Zhi Li & Yuting Fan & Jin Wang & Tian Zhong & Ling Wang & Ying Xiao & Dongmei Zhang & Qingsong Chen & Xi Yu, 2022. "The Mediating Role of Cumulative Fatigue on the Association between Occupational Stress and Depressive Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Study among 1327 Chinese Primary Healthcare Professionals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-15, November.
    16. Cristian Balducci & Chiara Rafanelli & Luca Menghini & Chiara Consiglio, 2024. "The Relationship between Patients’ Demands and Workplace Violence among Healthcare Workers: A Multilevel Look Focusing on the Moderating Role of Psychosocial Working Conditions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(2), pages 1-13, February.
    17. Patricia Concheiro-Moscoso & Betania Groba & Francisco José Martínez-Martínez & María del Carmen Miranda-Duro & Laura Nieto-Riveiro & Thais Pousada & Cristina Queirós & Javier Pereira, 2021. "Study for the Design of a Protocol to Assess the Impact of Stress in the Quality of Life of Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-11, February.
    18. Michel P. Guillemin, 2021. "New Avenues for Prevention of Work-Related Diseases Linked to Psychosocial Risks," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-12, October.
    19. Thanakrit Jeamjitvibool & Cherdsak Duangchan & Andria Mousa & Wiriya Mahikul, 2022. "The Association between Resilience and Psychological Distress during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-17, November.
    20. Ivet Bayes-Marin & Maria Roura-Adserias & Iago Giné-Vázquez & Felipe Villalobos & Marta Franch-Roca & Amanda Lloret-Pineda & Aina Gabarrell-Pascuet & Yuelu He & Rachid El Hafi & Fajar Matloob Ahmed Bu, 2022. "Factors Associated with Depression and Anxiety Symptoms among Migrant Population in Spain during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-14, November.

    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:24:p:7153-:d:1295693. 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.