General and event-related psychological stress, and suicidal ideation among hospital workers during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: Findings from the third wave of repeated cross-sectional studies.

AIM

The psychological impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on hospital workers has been reported, but most previous studies focused on the first year of the pandemic, and long-term monitoring remains scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the psychological status of hospital workers as of March 2023, and identify associated factors.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in March 2023 among all workers at two university hospitals in Yokohama, Japan. Similar surveys were conducted in March-April 2020 and March 2021. The prevalence of general psychological stress, event-related stress, and suicidal ideation was assessed using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and Item 9 of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify associated factors.

RESULTS

A total of 4244 questionnaires were distributed and 2635 responses (62.1%) were analyzed. Severe general stress, event-related stress, and suicidal ideation were observed in 38.0%, 18.1%, and 10.0% of participants, respectively. Regression analysis identified isolation, exhaustion, and being office workers or support staff as significant factors for general stress; living with a partner and feeling protected were inversely associated. Event-related stress was associated with clerical work, isolation, and exhaustion. Suicidal ideation was associated with younger age, isolation, and coexisting general and event-related stress, while the anxiety factor showed a negative association.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the sustained psychological burden experienced by hospital workers in 2023. The findings underscore the importance of strategies to reduce isolation and enhance mental health support in healthcare settings.