Department of Medicine, Sinai Health; and Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Center for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences and Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Can J Anaesth. 2022 Apr;69(4):472-484. doi: 10.1007/s12630-021-02175-z. Epub 2021 Dec 23.
To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canadian intensive care unit (ICU) workers.
Between June and August 2020, we distributed a cross-sectional online survey of ICU workers evaluating the impact of the pandemic, coping strategies, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD; Impact of Events Scale-Revised), and psychological distress, anxiety, and depression (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale). We performed regression analyses to determine the predictors of psychological symptoms.
We analyzed responses from 455 ICU workers (80% women; 67% from Ontario; 279 nurses, 69 physicians, and 107 other healthcare professionals). Respondents felt that their job put them at great risk of exposure (60%), were concerned about transmitting COVID-19 to family members (76%), felt more stressed at work (67%), and considered leaving their job (37%). Overall, 25% had probable PTSD and 18% had minimal or greater psychological distress. Nurses were more likely to report PTSD symptoms (33%) and psychological distress (23%) than physicians (5% for both) and other health disciplines professionals (19% and 14%). Variables associated with PTSD and psychological distress included female sex (beta-coefficient [B], 1.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20 to 2.10 and B, 3.79; 95% CI, 1.79 to 5.78, respectively; P < 0.001 for differences in scores across groups) and perceived increased risk due to PPE shortage or inadequate PPE training (B, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.51 to 2.31 and B, 4.88; 95% CI, 3.34 to 6.43, respectively). Coping strategies included talking to friends/family/colleagues (80%), learning about COVID-19 (78%), and physical exercise (68%). Over half endorsed the following workplace strategies as valuable: hospital-provided scrubs, clear communication and protocols by hospitals, knowing their voice is heard, subsidized parking, and gestures of appreciation from leadership.
This survey study shows that ICU workers have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with high levels of stress and psychological burden. Respondents endorsed communication, protocols, and appreciation from leadership as helpful mitigating strategies.
评估 COVID-19 大流行对加拿大重症监护病房（ICU）工作人员的影响。
2020 年 6 月至 8 月期间，我们开展了一项 ICU 工作人员的横断面在线调查，评估大流行的影响、应对策略、创伤后应激障碍症状（修订后的事件影响量表）和心理困扰、焦虑和抑郁（凯斯勒心理困扰量表）。我们进行了回归分析，以确定心理症状的预测因素。
我们分析了 455 名 ICU 工作人员（80%为女性；67%来自安大略省；279 名护士、69 名医生和 107 名其他医护人员）的应答。受访者认为他们的工作使他们面临巨大的暴露风险（60%）、担心将 COVID-19 传染给家庭成员（76%）、工作压力更大（67%）以及考虑离职（37%）。总体而言，25%的人有 PTSD 可能性，18%有轻微或更大的心理困扰。护士报告 PTSD 症状（33%）和心理困扰（23%）的可能性高于医生（两者均为 5%）和其他卫生学科专业人员（19%和 14%）。与 PTSD 和心理困扰相关的变量包括女性（β系数[B]，1.59；95%置信区间[CI]，1.20 至 2.10 和 B，3.79；95%CI，1.79 至 5.78，P<0.001 用于组间评分差异）和因个人防护设备短缺或个人防护设备培训不足而感知到的风险增加（B，1.87；95%CI，1.51 至 2.31 和 B，4.88；95%CI，3.34 至 6.43，P<0.001）。应对策略包括与朋友/家人/同事交谈（80%）、了解 COVID-19（78%）和体育锻炼（68%）。超过一半的人认为以下工作场所策略很有价值：医院提供的工作服、医院提供的明确沟通和协议、知道自己的声音被听到、补贴停车和领导的赞赏。
本研究表明，COVID-19 大流行对 ICU 工作人员造成了严重影响，导致他们压力大、心理负担重。受访者支持沟通、协议和领导的认可作为有帮助的缓解策略。
