Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
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SHR Neuro Krebs Kardio Lipid Stoffw Microb
Lenger, M; Maget, A; Dalkner, N; Lang, JN; Fellendorf, FT; Ratzenhofer, M; Schönthaler, E; Fleischmann, E; Birner, A; Bengesser, SA; Queissner, R; Platzer, M; Tmava-Berisha, A; Trojak, RM; Reininghaus, EZ.
Feeling Informed and Safe Are Important Factors in the Psychosomatic Health of Frontline Workers in the Health Sector during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Austria.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023; 20(2):
Doi: 10.3390/ijerph20021533
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- Führende Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz
- Lenger Melanie
- Maget Alexander
- Co-Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz
- Bengesser Susanne
- Birner Armin
- Dalkner Nina
- Fellendorf Frederike
- Fleischmann Eva
- Lang Jorgos Nikolas
- Platzer Martina
- Queissner Robert
- Ratzenhofer Michaela
- Reininghaus Eva
- Schönthaler Elena
- Tmava-Berisha Adelina
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- Abstract:
- UNLABELLED: The global spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has created new challenges for the entire healthcare system, and those who work directly with the patients or even on the front lines with COVID-19 patients have been particularly stressed. Only a few studies are currently available investigating psychosomatic symptoms among healthcare workers, particularly frontline workers, over the entire pandemic period (2020-2022). There is also a lack of knowledge about strategies to prevent stress during and after a health crisis. METHODS: An online survey was conducted at three times (April 2020, winter 2020/2021, and winter 2021/2022) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Austria. The sample included 160 healthcare workers at screening time 1, 1.361 healthcare workers at screening time 2, and 1.134 healthcare workers at screening time 3. The survey included COVID-19 work-related fears, satisfaction with the frontline work, and standardized inventories to assess psychosomatic symptoms, such as the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-D). RESULTS: Psychosomatic symptoms were more common among women compared to men, and among frontline workers compared to non-frontline workers, especially during the course of the pandemic at t2 and t3. Self-reported scores of COVID-19 work-related fears were significantly associated with psychosomatic symptoms. Furthermore, in frontline workers, there was a significant association between the feeling of being safe and well-informed and psychosomatic symptoms. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 work-related fears and psychosomatic symptoms have been prevalent among healthcare workers throughout the pandemic. Feeling safe and informed appears to be essential to prevent psychosomatic symptoms, leading to a recommendation for employers in the healthcare sector to focus on communication and information. As frontline workers are especially prone to psychosomatic symptoms, more stress prevention programs for them will be essential to maintain productivity and reduce sick days and fluctuations in the healthcare system.
- Find related publications in this database (using NLM MeSH Indexing)
- Male - administration & dosage
- Humans - administration & dosage
- Female - administration & dosage
- COVID-19 - epidemiology
- Pandemics - prevention & control
- SARS-CoV-2 - administration & dosage
- Austria - epidemiology
- Emotions - administration & dosage
- Health Personnel - psychology
- Find related publications in this database (Keywords)
- COVID-19 pandemic
- psychosomatic
- worker in the health sector
- stress
- frontline workers