Occupational Risk Factors for Physical and Mental Health in Primary Healthcare Providers: A National Cross-Sectional Survey from 62 Urban Communities in China

Abstract

Tao Yin,1,* Yan Lu,2,* Wei Xiong,3,* Chengdong Yu,4 Delu Yin,5 Huijing He6 1Department of Technology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Gynecology Endocrine & Reproductive Center, National Clinical Research Center for Obstetric & Gynecologic Diseases Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College/Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Growth and Development, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Child Health Care, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 6Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Huijing He, Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, 5 Dongdansantiao, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100005, People’s Republic of China, Tel [phone], Email [email protected] Delu Yin, Department of Child Health Care, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, 2 Yabao Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100020, People’s Republic of China, Tel [phone], Email [email protected]: To understand the physical and mental health status of primary healthcare providers (PHPs) including physicians, nurses and other staff and the workplace risk factors for depression, anxiety and intention-to-leave.Patients and Methods: In December 2021, a national cross-sectional survey was conducted from 62 urban communities in China, and all PHPs were invited to complete a standardized questionnaire. Information on demographic, health-related lifestyle, cardiovascular risk factors and physical health status, occupational stress and intention-to-leave was collected. Depression and anxiety were assessed using the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety/Depression Scale (SAS/SDS).Results: A total of 4901 PHPs were included. 67.0% males currently drank alcohol vs 25.3% in females; 36.0% males currently smoked cigarettes vs 1.4% in females. Notably, more than half males were overweight or obese, but this proportion was 24.2% in females. The prevalence of chronic diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, gout, and disease clustering were higher in males than in females. The prevalence of depression and anxiety were high, 50% had depression, of whom 15.6% had moderate/severe depression. Over 15% participants had varied levels of anxiety, and approximately 4% had moderate/severe anxiety. PHPs who aged 18– 29 (OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.05– 1.64), were males (OR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.14– 1.57), with lower professional title (comparing with staff with senior title, the ORs of the intermedium, junior and none were 1.83, 2.18 and 2.49, respectively), took charge in nursing (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.20– 1.65), with higher perceived stress level (OR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.41– 2.34), and suffering from severe fatigue (OR: 2.55, 95% CI: 1.99– 3.27) were more likely to have depression. Likewise, PHPs who were younger, with intermedium professional title, had higher perceived pressure level, and higher fatigue levels were more likely to have anxiety.Conclusion: The mental health of PHPs is worrisome, with a high burden of chronic diseases and occupational risk factors. Younger PHPs, nurses, and those with higher levels of work pressure and fatigue are more vulnerable to psychological problems. The high prevalence of intention-to-leave calls for strategies that relieve the workplace stress and enhance the human resource capability.Keywords: depression, anxiety, stress, intention-to-leave, COVID-19, primary healthcare

Keywords

• depression
• anxiety
• stress
• intention-to-leave
• covid-19
• primary healthcare