Department of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
Department of Medical Psychology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
BMJ Open. 2024 Nov 17;14(11):e083422. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-083422.
Healthcare workers (HCWs) have been of particular relevance for overcoming the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. At the same time they have been affected by SARS-CoV-2 infections with above average probability. Around 6.5% of the overall infected persons are likely to develop persistent symptoms resulting from the infection, known as long-COVID or post-COVID syndrome (PCS). The aim of this study is (1) to investigate the prevalence, course and characteristics of PCS in German HCWs, (2) to examine its effects on psychosocial variables, (3) to identify rehabilitation and healthcare needs and (4) to analyse treatment experiences.
In a cohort study with a randomised selection of participants (N=20 000) from the Employer's Liability Insurance Association for Health and Welfare Care, the health status of HCWs, who had COVID-19 in their professional context will be examined. There will be two measurement points: baseline (T) and a 12-month follow-up (T2). The outcome measures are the health status with a particular focus on persistent or newly occurring symptoms after a SARS-CoV-2 infection, health-related quality of life, functional capacity, the subjective need for and utilisation of healthcare services. Pre-existing conditions, the course of the acute infection and sociodemographic factors are considered as predictors. An advisory board made up of affected HCWs supports the study by contributing to the surveys' contents.
The study has been approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the Center for Psychosocial Medicine at the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf (LPEK-0518). For dissemination, the results will be published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at conferences and communicated to relevant stakeholders in general and rehabilitation medicine.
医疗工作者（HCWs）在克服 SARS-CoV-2 大流行方面具有特殊意义。与此同时，他们也因 SARS-CoV-2 感染而受到影响，感染的概率高于平均水平。大约 6.5%的感染者可能会出现持续的感染症状，即所谓的长新冠或新冠后综合征（PCS）。本研究的目的是：（1）调查德国 HCWs 中 PCS 的流行率、病程和特征；（2）研究其对心理社会变量的影响；（3）确定康复和医疗保健需求；（4）分析治疗经验。
在一项具有随机参与者选择（N=20000）的队列研究中，参与者来自雇主责任保险公司的卫生和福利护理协会，将检查在职业环境中感染 COVID-19 的 HCWs 的健康状况。将有两个测量时间点：基线（T）和 12 个月随访（T2）。主要结果是健康状况，重点是 SARS-CoV-2 感染后持续或新出现的症状，健康相关生活质量，功能能力，对医疗服务的主观需求和利用。预先存在的条件，急性感染的过程和社会人口因素被认为是预测因素。一个由受影响的 HCWs 组成的顾问委员会通过为调查内容做出贡献来支持该研究。
该研究已获得汉堡埃彭多夫大学中心心理社会医学的地方伦理委员会（LPEK-0518）的批准。为了传播，研究结果将发表在同行评议的期刊上，在会议上展示，并与一般康复医学和利益相关者进行沟通。
