|
|
| |
| The Effects of the COVID 19 Pandemic on Healthcare Workers' Mental Health |
Aaliyah Jones and Dr. Bruce Lazar, MBA, DM
|
Abstract:
Healthcare workers are more prone to health problems such as burnout, post-traumatic stress, and anxiety associated with their occupation. When COVID 19 began to spread rapidly; several researchers thought it might increase mental health issues among workers. However, there was a lack of comprehensive reliable studies on the impacts of the pandemic on the healthcare worker's mental health. This systematic literature review aimed to explore the mental health effects of COVID-19 on healthcare workers. A meticulous interrogation and review of literature transpired using electronic academic databases, CINAHL and MEDLINE based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Data from 21 articles germane that the topic weas thematically analyzed through a screening process based on the research question. Three themes related to the topic emerged from the literature review. The themes generated included psychological impacts of the pandemic discussed in 61.90% of the articles, psychosocial effects of COVID 19 explored in 28.57% of the articles, and coping mechanisms used by healthcare workers noted in 23.81% of the studies considered. The findings indicated that a high percentage of health workers have suffered from psychological impacts such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, insomnia, anxiety, exhaustion during the pandemic. The results also showed an increase in psychosocial problems due to the pandemic. The findings also revealed that commonly used organizational coping mechanisms included the removal of job-related barriers, provision of quality resting areas, and access to peer-to-peer support, and individual factors such as embracing relaxation techniques and work-life balance. The implications of these findings provide healthcare leaders and health workers an opportunity to understand the mental health impacts of COVID-19 and to promote mental health by implementing strategies such as providing quality relaxing areas, offering flexible schedules, and providing peer-to-peer support systems.
|
|
|
| | |