Article Figures & Data
Figures
- Fig 1.
Survey respondents' job roles.
- Fig 2.
Level of anxiety in healthcare professionals. a) Anxiety prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. b) Anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Fig 3.
Level of anxiety by work sector. a) Anxiety prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. b) Anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Fig 4.
Main reasons for anxiety in healthcare professionals. The blue bars are for individual reasons, the purple line is for the cumulative percentage of reasons.
- Fig 5.
How healthcare professionals feel about adequate support services by job sector.
Tables
Causes of anxiety (themes generated) Comments Fear of dying and leaving dependents Concerns about leaving dependents, in particular, when both parents were key workers and leaving children orphaned, and fear of loved ones dying. Transferred anxiety Anxiety transferred from colleagues, managers, employees and patients, and consequent work-based conflicts. Lack of remote working options Inability to work from home or to work from home effectively due to IT infrastructure, resources and support issues. Reduced usual service provision Concerns about adverse impact on patients due to reduced services and routine care; staff sickness; and reduced usual support networks. Clinical uncertainty Issues around working safely in non-face-to-face consultations, managing risk without examining patients, and how to manage patient anxiety. General uncertainty Concerns about impact on economy, length of pandemic, and people not following lockdown rules. Social impact of COVID-19 Concerns about social isolation, reduced usual support networks, childcare issues, and panic buying. Change in work setting Problems with increased workload, cancelled leave, and changing landscape (specifically locum general practitioners): feeling unsupported, reduced demand for work and lack of locum options to work remotely. Leadership issues Lack of trust in national leadership and lack of government preparedness were mentioned. Lack of coordination creating confusion and increased workload eg how to identify and manage high-risk patients. What support would healthcare professionals like Comments Workplace-based support Holistic support for mental health by employers, direct communication from senior staff, support regarding their role, onsite wellbeing support and choice to work from home, supportive visible managers and seniors, and more supervision. Clearer signposting Information and advertising about what support and resources are available and a single point of COVID-19-related information. Peer support Balint groups, safe spaces, multidisciplinary team meetings and one-to-one debrief sessions, talking to colleagues and webinars, and protected time for peer support Psychological support and therapies Guided self-help, talking therapies, services which are free, short waiting lists for psychological support, and help that is specific for healthcare professionals and specific to COVID-19. Staff helpline/telephone support Dedicated phone line for frontline staff, and direct telephone or video line tailored to COVID-19 issues. Wellbeing activities Mindfulness, yoga, fitness, physical activities, massage and relaxation sessions. Support around specific clinical issues related to COVID-19 How to discuss do not attempt resuscitation and ceiling of care, support managing COVID-19 illness, feeling involved in updates rather than just being emailed information. Cultural/faith-based support Cultural approach and faith-based support options. Bereavement support Specific to not being able to visit dying relative and attending funerals. Effective leadership and communication From the government and from others in leadership roles; proactive, truthful leadership; and better coordination. Adequate/more personal protective equipment Easy and inexpensive access to personal protective equipment, better protection for face-to-face contact. Support from friends and family Some felt that support from friends and family was sufficient for supporting their mental health and wellbeing. Tailored support Tailored, sensitive, local support. Summary
What is known? Studies from previous pandemics have shown adverse psychological impact on healthcare professionals (HCPs). What is the question? Has anxiety increased in HCPs in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic? What are the specific causes and what support do HCPs want for their mental health and wellbeing? What was found? Perceived anxiety in HCPs has increased in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic. Causes were wide ranging, but the main reasons were related to concerns about risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and lack of PPE. A large proportion of HCPs felt there was inadequate support and identified what support they wanted. What is the implication for practice now? Strategic interventions to address the anxieties of HCPs are required as matter of urgency. A multi-faceted and collaborative local, regional and national approach is needed to address the breadth of support needs identified in this survey.
Supplementary material
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COVID-19: Causes of anxiety and wellbeing support needs of healthcare professionals in the UK: A cross-sectional survey
