The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health among healthcare workers in ear-nose-throat clinics

Lena Walvik; Maiken Wissing Brejnebøl; Andreas Tomaas Ravn; Ramon Gordon Jensen; Anders Korsgaard Christensen; Christian von Buchwald

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health among healthcare workers in ear-nose-throat clinics

Lena Walvik, Maiken Wissing Brejnebøl, Andreas Tomaas Ravn, Ramon Gordon Jensen, Anders Korsgaard Christensen, Christian von Buchwald

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was established that otorhinolaryngologists were at a high risk of contracting the infection due to examinations of the upper airways. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health among healthcare workers (HCWs) in primary ear-nose-throat (ENT) practices.

METHODS: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire study among HCWs assessing symptoms of anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, ten-item scale) and depression (Patients Health Questionnaire, nine-item scale). The survey targeted otolaryngologists and staff in primary private practices in the Capital Region of Denmark during the COVID-19 lock-down in May 2020.

RESULTS: For 30% of the participants, signs were observed of depressive symptoms and 13% had signs of anxiety symptoms. Seventy percent felt sufficiently protected by their available personal protective equipment. Fifty-two percent worried about becoming infected in relation to their work and 56% feared infecting their families.

CONCLUSIONS: HCWs in Danish primary ENT practices did not display extraordinary stress reactions during the first wave of the pandemic. Noticeably, participants were concerned about acquiring the infection or transmitting it to their household.

FUNDING: none.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.

Original language	English
Article number	A01210073
Journal	Danish Medical Journal
Volume	68
Issue number	6
ISSN	1603-9629
Publication status	Published - 11 May 2021

Keywords

Administrative Personnel/psychology
Ambulatory Care Facilities
Anxiety/etiology
COVID-19/psychology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Depression/etiology
Female
Health Personnel/psychology
Humans
Male
Mental Health
Middle Aged
Nurses/psychology
Otolaryngologists/psychology
Otolaryngology
Personal Protective Equipment
Private Practice
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
SARS-CoV-2
Surveys and Questionnaires

Cite this

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title = "The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health among healthcare workers in ear-nose-throat clinics",

abstract = "INTRODUCTION: During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was established that otorhinolaryngologists were at a high risk of contracting the infection due to examinations of the upper airways. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health among healthcare workers (HCWs) in primary ear-nose-throat (ENT) practices.METHODS: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire study among HCWs assessing symptoms of anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, ten-item scale) and depression (Patients Health Questionnaire, nine-item scale). The survey targeted otolaryngologists and staff in primary private practices in the Capital Region of Denmark during the COVID-19 lock-down in May 2020.RESULTS: For 30\% of the participants, signs were observed of depressive symptoms and 13\% had signs of anxiety symptoms. Seventy percent felt sufficiently protected by their available personal protective equipment. Fifty-two percent worried about becoming infected in relation to their work and 56\% feared infecting their families.CONCLUSIONS: HCWs in Danish primary ENT practices did not display extraordinary stress reactions during the first wave of the pandemic. Noticeably, participants were concerned about acquiring the infection or transmitting it to their household.FUNDING: none.TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.",

keywords = "Administrative Personnel/psychology, Ambulatory Care Facilities, Anxiety/etiology, COVID-19/psychology, Cross-Sectional Studies, Depression/etiology, Female, Health Personnel/psychology, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Middle Aged, Nurses/psychology, Otolaryngologists/psychology, Otolaryngology, Personal Protective Equipment, Private Practice, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, SARS-CoV-2, Surveys and Questionnaires",

author = "Lena Walvik and Brejneb{\o}l, \{Maiken Wissing\} and Ravn, \{Andreas Tomaas\} and Jensen, \{Ramon Gordon\} and Christensen, \{Anders Korsgaard\} and \{von Buchwald\}, Christian",

note = "Articles published in the DMJ are “open access”. This means that the articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial License, which permits any non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.",

year = "2021",

month = may,

day = "11",

language = "English",

volume = "68",

journal = "Danish Medical Journal",

issn = "1603-9629",

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T1 - The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health among healthcare workers in ear-nose-throat clinics

AU - Walvik, Lena

AU - Brejnebøl, Maiken Wissing

AU - Ravn, Andreas Tomaas

AU - Jensen, Ramon Gordon

AU - Christensen, Anders Korsgaard

AU - von Buchwald, Christian

N1 - Articles published in the DMJ are “open access”. This means that the articles are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial License, which permits any non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.

PY - 2021/5/11

Y1 - 2021/5/11

N2 - INTRODUCTION: During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was established that otorhinolaryngologists were at a high risk of contracting the infection due to examinations of the upper airways. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health among healthcare workers (HCWs) in primary ear-nose-throat (ENT) practices.METHODS: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire study among HCWs assessing symptoms of anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, ten-item scale) and depression (Patients Health Questionnaire, nine-item scale). The survey targeted otolaryngologists and staff in primary private practices in the Capital Region of Denmark during the COVID-19 lock-down in May 2020.RESULTS: For 30% of the participants, signs were observed of depressive symptoms and 13% had signs of anxiety symptoms. Seventy percent felt sufficiently protected by their available personal protective equipment. Fifty-two percent worried about becoming infected in relation to their work and 56% feared infecting their families.CONCLUSIONS: HCWs in Danish primary ENT practices did not display extraordinary stress reactions during the first wave of the pandemic. Noticeably, participants were concerned about acquiring the infection or transmitting it to their household.FUNDING: none.TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.

AB - INTRODUCTION: During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was established that otorhinolaryngologists were at a high risk of contracting the infection due to examinations of the upper airways. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health among healthcare workers (HCWs) in primary ear-nose-throat (ENT) practices.METHODS: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire study among HCWs assessing symptoms of anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, ten-item scale) and depression (Patients Health Questionnaire, nine-item scale). The survey targeted otolaryngologists and staff in primary private practices in the Capital Region of Denmark during the COVID-19 lock-down in May 2020.RESULTS: For 30% of the participants, signs were observed of depressive symptoms and 13% had signs of anxiety symptoms. Seventy percent felt sufficiently protected by their available personal protective equipment. Fifty-two percent worried about becoming infected in relation to their work and 56% feared infecting their families.CONCLUSIONS: HCWs in Danish primary ENT practices did not display extraordinary stress reactions during the first wave of the pandemic. Noticeably, participants were concerned about acquiring the infection or transmitting it to their household.FUNDING: none.TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.

KW - Administrative Personnel/psychology

KW - Ambulatory Care Facilities

KW - Anxiety/etiology

KW - COVID-19/psychology

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Depression/etiology

KW - Female

KW - Health Personnel/psychology

KW - Humans

KW - Male

KW - Mental Health

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Nurses/psychology

KW - Otolaryngologists/psychology

KW - Otolaryngology

KW - Personal Protective Equipment

KW - Private Practice

KW - Psychiatric Status Rating Scales

KW - SARS-CoV-2

KW - Surveys and Questionnaires

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85107458591

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 34060459

SN - 1603-9629

VL - 68

JO - Danish Medical Journal

JF - Danish Medical Journal

IS - 6

M1 - A01210073

ER -

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health among healthcare workers in ear-nose-throat clinics

Abstract

Keywords

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