Psychological stress and influencing factors of hospital workers in different periods under the public health background of infectious disease outbreak: A cross‐sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Background and Aims It is well known that public health emergencies can affect the mental health of medical personnel, and many studies have focused on cross‐sectional studies with short‐term benefits. The present study aimed to investigate the long‐term influence of infectious disease outbreak about the mental health of hospital staff. Methods The demographic characteristics and mental health status of staff in Fuzhou, China, were analyzed by using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD‐7) Scale and Depression Screening Scale (9‐item Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ‐9]) in February and December 2020. Results There were no significant differences in anxiety levels during different time periods (p > 0.05), but there were significant differences among anxiety level and total score of GAD‐7 scale (p 0.05). Conclusions Since the outbreak of an infectious disease public health emergency, the anxiety of hospital staff has decreased over time, but the depression has increased. The management and psychological support personnel in medical institutions should continue to pay attention to the mental health of medical staff, and it is necessary to take different intervention measures in different periods when implementing the psychological crisis prevention mechanism.

Keywords

• anxiety
• depression
• infectious disease outbreak
• medical workers