Hospital-Based Healthcare Worker Perceptions of Personal Risk Related to COVID-19: One Year Follow-Up

David Yamane, From the George Washington University Hospital (JK), Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care (DY, IB, DD, EH), Department of Emergency Medicine (DY, OWP); The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (KZ), School of Engineering and Applies Sciences (KD).
Kimia Zarabian, From the George Washington University Hospital (JK), Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care (DY, IB, DD, EH), Department of Emergency Medicine (DY, OWP); The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (KZ), School of Engineering and Applies Sciences (KD).
Kyle Devine, From the George Washington University Hospital (JK), Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care (DY, IB, DD, EH), Department of Emergency Medicine (DY, OWP); The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (KZ), School of Engineering and Applies Sciences (KD).
Ivy Benjenk, From the George Washington University Hospital (JK), Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care (DY, IB, DD, EH), Department of Emergency Medicine (DY, OWP); The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (KZ), School of Engineering and Applies Sciences (KD).
Katherine Farrar, From the George Washington University Hospital (JK), Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care (DY, IB, DD, EH), Department of Emergency Medicine (DY, OWP); The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (KZ), School of Engineering and Applies Sciences (KD).
Owen Lee Park, From the George Washington University Hospital (JK), Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care (DY, IB, DD, EH), Department of Emergency Medicine (DY, OWP); The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (KZ), School of Engineering and Applies Sciences (KD).
Justin Kim, From the George Washington University Hospital (JK), Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care (DY, IB, DD, EH), Department of Emergency Medicine (DY, OWP); The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (KZ), School of Engineering and Applies Sciences (KD).
Danielle Davison, From the George Washington University Hospital (JK), Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care (DY, IB, DD, EH), Department of Emergency Medicine (DY, OWP); The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (KZ), School of Engineering and Applies Sciences (KD).
Eric Heinz, From the George Washington University Hospital (JK), Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care (DY, IB, DD, EH), Department of Emergency Medicine (DY, OWP); The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (KZ), School of Engineering and Applies Sciences (KD). eheinz@mfa.gwu.edu.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

3-1-2022

Journal

Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine : JABFM

Volume

35

Issue

2

DOI

10.3122/jabfm.2022.02.210272

Keywords

COVID-19; Caregivers; Critical Care; Emergency Medicine; Health Personnel; Linear Models; Mental Health; Nurses; Pandemics; Perception; Quality of Life; Workplace

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted health care workers (HCW). Most research focused on the adverse mental health effects during the initial surge of cases; and yet little is known about approximately how workers are faring 1 year into the pandemic. The objective of this study is to examine stress, burnout, and risk perception in an academic medical system, 1 year after the start of the pandemic. METHODS: HCW across care specialties participated in online surveys in Spring 2020 and Spring 2021. The surveys included questions related to workplace stress and risk perception related to COVID-19. Correlates of stress and burnout were explored using multivariable linear regression models. Professional Quality of Life Scale (PROQOL) questions were added to the second survey. RESULTS: While HCW reported significantly fewer concerns about the risk of COVID-19 transmission to themselves and their families during the 2021 survey (compared with 2020), the percentage of workers who reported feeling excess stress at work or considered resigning stayed the same. One year into the pandemic, 57% of study participants met criteria for moderate or high levels of traumatic stress and 75% met criteria for moderate or high levels of burnout. As compared with participants who cared for no COVID-19 deaths, participants who cared for COVID-19 patients who died had significantly higher traumatic stress (1 to 10: Coef. = 2.7, = ; >10: Coef. = 6.7, < ) and burnout scores (1 to 10: Coef. = 2.7, = ; >10: Coef. = 2.6, = ). CONCLUSION: While Although perceptions of risk declined over the course of the year, levels of stress still remained high despite high vaccination rates. Those who witnessed more COVID-19 deaths were more likely to report increased burnout and post-traumatic stress. As our nation continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic and new variants emerge it is imperative to focus on recovery strategies for high burnout groups to ensure the wellbeing of our health care workforce.

Department

Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine

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