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Sustainable Development Goals
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MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES IN FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN BRAZIL DURING THE COVID-19 EPIDEMIC: RESULTS OF AN ONLINE SURVEY IN FOUR REGIONS USING RESPONDENT-DRIVEN SAMPLING (RDS)
Author
Cohen, Mírian
Cardoso, Ricardo B.
Kerr, Ligia R. F. S.
Kendall, Carl
Almeida, Rosa L. F.
Schneider, Nayê B.
Viera, Carolina M.
Zaduchliver, Jorge G.
Castro, Andriele A.
Pinheiro, Francisco M. L.
Albuquerque, Maria F. P. M.
Lima, Luana N. G. C.
Veras, Maria A. S. M.
Martelli, Celina M. T.
Cruz, Luciane N.
Camey, Suzi A.
Cardoso, Ricardo B.
Kerr, Ligia R. F. S.
Kendall, Carl
Almeida, Rosa L. F.
Schneider, Nayê B.
Viera, Carolina M.
Zaduchliver, Jorge G.
Castro, Andriele A.
Pinheiro, Francisco M. L.
Albuquerque, Maria F. P. M.
Lima, Luana N. G. C.
Veras, Maria A. S. M.
Martelli, Celina M. T.
Cruz, Luciane N.
Camey, Suzi A.
Affilliation
Graduate Program in Epidemiology. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil / National Institute of Science and Technology for Health Technology Assessment. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Graduate Program in Epidemiology. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil / National Institute of Science and Technology for Health Technology Assessment. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Department of Community Health. Federal University of Ceará. Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
Department of Community Health. Federal University of Ceará. Fortaleza, CE, Brazil / Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Graduate Program in Public Health. Fortaleza University. Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
Graduate Program in Epidemiology. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil / National Institute of Science and Technology for Health Technology Assessment. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Medical School. Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Hospital Moinhos de Vento. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Hospital Moinhos de Vento. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Department of Community Health. Federal University of Ceará. Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. Institute Aggeu Magalhães. Recife, PE, Brazil.
Evandro Chagas Institute. Ananindeua, PA, Brazil.
School of Medical Sciences. Santa Casa de São Paulo Dr Cesário Mota Jr. São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. Institute Aggeu Magalhães. Recife, PE, Brazil.
National Institute of Science and Technology for Health Technology Assessment. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil / Hospital Moinhos de Vento. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Statistics Department. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil / Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Graduate Program in Epidemiology. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil / National Institute of Science and Technology for Health Technology Assessment. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Department of Community Health. Federal University of Ceará. Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
Department of Community Health. Federal University of Ceará. Fortaleza, CE, Brazil / Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Graduate Program in Public Health. Fortaleza University. Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
Graduate Program in Epidemiology. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil / National Institute of Science and Technology for Health Technology Assessment. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Medical School. Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Hospital Moinhos de Vento. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Hospital Moinhos de Vento. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Department of Community Health. Federal University of Ceará. Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. Institute Aggeu Magalhães. Recife, PE, Brazil.
Evandro Chagas Institute. Ananindeua, PA, Brazil.
School of Medical Sciences. Santa Casa de São Paulo Dr Cesário Mota Jr. São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. Institute Aggeu Magalhães. Recife, PE, Brazil.
National Institute of Science and Technology for Health Technology Assessment. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil / Hospital Moinhos de Vento. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Statistics Department. Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil / Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic overwhelmed health facilities and presented healthcare workers (HCWs) with a new infectious disease threat. In addition to a sanitary crisis, Brazil still had to face major political, economic, and social challenges. This study aimed to investigate mental health outcomes in frontline HCWs in different regions of the country and at different epidemic times. We also sought to identify the main risk factors associated with these outcomes. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey using respondent-driven sampling was conducted to recruit physicians (n = 584), nurses (n = 997), and nurse technicians (n = 524) in 4 regions of Brazil (North, Northeast, Southeast, and South) from August 2020 to July 2021. We used standardized instruments to screen for common mental disorders (CMD)(SRQ-20), alcohol misuse (AUDIT-C), depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)(PCL-5). Gile's successive sampling estimator was used to produce weighted estimates. We created a three-cluster data set for each HCW category and developed a hierarchical regression model with three levels: individual characteristics; workplace-related aspects; COVID-19 personal experience. The impact of the epidemic moment on the outcomes was also studied. Results: The prevalence of probable CMD was 26.8-36.9%, alcohol misuse 8.7-13.6%, depression 16.4-21.2%, anxiety 10.8-14.2%, and PTSD 5.9-8.0%. We found a stronger association between mental health outcomes and the following factors: history of psychiatric disorders, female gender, and clinical comorbidities (level 1); work overload and family isolation (level 2); sick leave (level 3). Epidemic variables, such as the number of deaths and trend of deaths by COVID-19, had almost no impact on the outcomes. Conclusion: An alarmingly high prevalence of depression and anxiety was found in Brazilian frontline HCWs. Individual factors were the most strongly associated with mental health outcomes. These findings indicate the need to develop programs that provide emotional support, identify professionals at risk and refer them to specialized treatment when necessary.
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