Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences (Jan 2023)

Traumatic stress symptoms among Spanish healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a prospective study

  • Ana Portillo-Van Diest,
  • Gemma Vilagut,
  • Itxaso Alayo,
  • Montse Ferrer,
  • Franco Amigo,
  • Benedikt L. Amann,
  • Andrés Aragón-Peña,
  • Enric Aragonès,
  • Ángel Asúnsolo Del Barco,
  • Mireia Campos,
  • Isabel Del Cura-González,
  • Meritxell Espuga,
  • Ana González-Pinto,
  • Josep M. Haro,
  • Amparo Larrauri,
  • Nieves López-Fresneña,
  • Alma Martínez de Salázar,
  • Juan D. Molina,
  • Rafael M. Ortí-Lucas,
  • Mara Parellada,
  • José M. Pelayo-Terán,
  • Aurora Pérez-Zapata,
  • José I. Pijoan,
  • Nieves Plana,
  • Teresa Puig,
  • Cristina Rius,
  • Carmen Rodríguez-Blázquez,
  • Ferran Sanz,
  • Consol Serra,
  • Iratxe Urreta-Barallobre,
  • Ronald C. Kessler,
  • Ronny Bruffaerts,
  • Eduard Vieta,
  • Víctor Pérez-Solá,
  • Jordi Alonso,
  • Philippe Mortier,
  • MINDCOVID Working Group

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1017/S2045796023000628
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 32

Abstract

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Abstract Aim To investigate the occurrence of traumatic stress symptoms (TSS) among healthcare workers active during the COVID-19 pandemic and to obtain insight as to which pandemic-related stressful experiences are associated with onset and persistence of traumatic stress. Methods This is a multicenter prospective cohort study. Spanish healthcare workers (N = 4,809) participated at an initial assessment (i.e., just after the first wave of the Spain COVID-19 pandemic) and at a 4-month follow-up assessment using web-based surveys. Logistic regression investigated associations of 19 pandemic-related stressful experiences across four domains (infection-related, work-related, health-related and financial) with TSS prevalence, incidence and persistence, including simulations of population attributable risk proportions (PARP). Results Thirty-day TSS prevalence at T1 was 22.1%. Four-month incidence and persistence were 11.6% and 54.2%, respectively. Auxiliary nurses had highest rates of TSS prevalence (35.1%) and incidence (16.1%). All 19 pandemic-related stressful experiences under study were associated with TSS prevalence or incidence, especially experiences from the domains of health-related (PARP range 88.4–95.6%) and work-related stressful experiences (PARP range 76.8–86.5%). Nine stressful experiences were also associated with TSS persistence, of which having patient(s) in care who died from COVID-19 had the strongest association. This association remained significant after adjusting for co-occurring depression and anxiety. Conclusions TSSs among Spanish healthcare workers active during the COVID-19 pandemic are common and associated with various pandemic-related stressful experiences. Future research should investigate if these stressful experiences represent truly traumatic experiences and carry risk for the development of post-traumatic stress disorder.

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