TY - JOUR
T1 - Factors Associated With Prolonged Psychological Distress Among Nurses and Physicians Engaged in COVID-19 Patient Care in Singapore and Japan
AU - Morioka, Shinichiro
AU - Tan, Ban Hock
AU - Kikuchi, Hiroe
AU - Asai, Yusuke
AU - Suzuki, Tetsuya
AU - Ashida, Shinobu
AU - Kutsuna, Satoshi
AU - Saito, Sho
AU - Hayakawa, Kayoko
AU - Tan, Thuan Tong
AU - Kodama, Eiichi
AU - Ohmagari, Norio
N1 - Funding Information:
We thank all the healthcare providers who participated in our survey.
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2022 Morioka, Tan, Kikuchi, Asai, Suzuki, Ashida, Kutsuna, Saito, Hayakawa, Tan, Kodama and Ohmagari.
PY - 2022/4/28
Y1 - 2022/4/28
N2 - This study explores the factors contributing to the prolonged psychological distress of frontline nurses and physicians caring for COVID-19 patients in hospitals in Singapore and Japan. A cross-sectional survey between September and December 2020 yielded 1,644 responses (23.8%), from 62 nurses and 64 physicians in Singapore and 1,280 nurses and 238 physicians in Japan. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that significant risk factors for prolonged psychological distress included being a frontline nurse [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.40, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.24–4.66], having an underlying medical condition (aOR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.22–2.46), experiencing prejudice because they undertook COVID-19 patient care (aOR = 3.05, 95% CI: 2.23–4.18), having trouble dealing with panicked or uncooperative patients (aOR = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.71–3.25), and experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19 in the hospital (aOR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.38–3.04). Factors inversely associated with psychological distress included age (OR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.97–1.00), number of beds in the hospital (aOR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.57–0.94), clinical practice of carefully putting on and taking off personal protective equipment in daily COVID-19 patient care (aOR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.37–0.73), and knowledge on COVID-19 (aOR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.72–0.94). These results could help us identify vulnerable healthcare providers who need urgent mental care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Measures that may reduce psychological strain include adequate supply of medical resources, education on precautionary measures, and communication strategies to combat discrimination against frontline healthcare providers.
AB - This study explores the factors contributing to the prolonged psychological distress of frontline nurses and physicians caring for COVID-19 patients in hospitals in Singapore and Japan. A cross-sectional survey between September and December 2020 yielded 1,644 responses (23.8%), from 62 nurses and 64 physicians in Singapore and 1,280 nurses and 238 physicians in Japan. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that significant risk factors for prolonged psychological distress included being a frontline nurse [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.40, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.24–4.66], having an underlying medical condition (aOR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.22–2.46), experiencing prejudice because they undertook COVID-19 patient care (aOR = 3.05, 95% CI: 2.23–4.18), having trouble dealing with panicked or uncooperative patients (aOR = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.71–3.25), and experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19 in the hospital (aOR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.38–3.04). Factors inversely associated with psychological distress included age (OR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.97–1.00), number of beds in the hospital (aOR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.57–0.94), clinical practice of carefully putting on and taking off personal protective equipment in daily COVID-19 patient care (aOR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.37–0.73), and knowledge on COVID-19 (aOR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.72–0.94). These results could help us identify vulnerable healthcare providers who need urgent mental care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Measures that may reduce psychological strain include adequate supply of medical resources, education on precautionary measures, and communication strategies to combat discrimination against frontline healthcare providers.
KW - coronavirus disease 2019
KW - cross-sectional survey
KW - healthcare providers
KW - mental health
KW - pandemic
KW - psychological distress
KW - quarantine
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85130172694&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85130172694&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.781796
DO - 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.781796
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85130172694
SN - 1664-0640
VL - 13
JO - Frontiers in Psychiatry
JF - Frontiers in Psychiatry
M1 - 781796
ER -