Introduction
The past three years have been extremely challenging for all segments of the population around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic has not only affected public health but all the other aspects of life as well, such as economics and education. One of the most topical issues related is hospital staff mental health during the pandemic. This literature review aims to identify some major topics discussed in research concerning this issue. The inquiry question for it is “What factors contributed to hospital staff having mental health problems, and what strategies helped to address these issues?”
The literature review includes 15 articles from peer-reviewed journals, which were sorted according to specific themes based on the findings of these articles. These three themes, therefore, include symptoms of mental health conditions observed, factors contributing to the challenges experienced by health workers, and strategies used to address the problem.
Symptoms of Mental Health Disorders in Health Workers
The studies reviewed have shown that there were various symptoms associated with hospital staff mental health issues during a pandemic. The study by Fattori et al. (2021) and Owens (2020) identified symptoms of general psychological discomfort, post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and psychological distress. The study by Allan et al. (2020) used qualitative synthesis to estimate the prevalence of mental health disorders in healthcare workers who treated COVID patients. The findings of this study showed that mental health issues were “particularly common in clinicians working with pandemic-afflicted patients immediately following a pandemic” (p. 2). However, “the course of disorders following this period” was reported to be understudied and poorly understood (Allan et al., 2020, p. 2).
Another study that has reported symptoms of mental health disorders among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic is the article by Galbraith et al. (2020). This study has identified higher risks of psychological distress and “suicidal ideation” in clinicians working with COVID patients (Galbraith et al., 2020, p. 96). Another study by Magill et al. (2020) demonstrated “some adverse psychological experiences” that health workers exhibited “during outbreaks, with stress and anxiety being most common” (p. 1261). It is also reported, however, that there was a decrease in these symptoms over time.
Factors Contributing to Mental Health Issues in Health Workers
The second theme that was discussed in many of the studies reviewed is the variety of factors that were involved in this issue, worsening the conditions of the health workers. The studies by Gupta and Sahoo (2020) and Hao et al. (2021) have identified several types of these factors: biological, psychological, and socio-environmental. Biological factors included such predispositions as the history of mood disorders and earlier age versus later age. Psychological factors were specific personality traits, such as avoidance tendencies and coping mechanisms, and fear of scrutiny. Finally, socio-economic factors appeared to be the largest category and included social distancing, risks of exposure to the infection source, occupational stress, stigma, isolation, lack of support from other workers, and role conflict.
Another study was conducted by Hennein (2021) and has identified factors such as gender, mean age, and institutional level. Khajuria et al. (2021), in turn, discussed factors such as poor or unsatisfactory training, poor support system, as well as those related to redeployment. A study by Kapetanos et al. (2021) focused on factors that contributed to the mental health of hospital staff in Cyprus. The researchers have studied different categories of health professionals and identified factors such as “working longer hours, spending time in isolation, and being separated from family” (Kapetanos et al., 2021, p. 2).
Strategies to Address Mental Health Issues in Health Workers
The third theme that was identified by this literature review is the variety and the combination of strategies used in healthcare facilities to address mental health issues in staff members. Billings et al. (2020) and Labrague (2020) have stated that these strategies should be developed in a way that ensures that the needs of the staff are met. According to Billings et al., these include safety, food and hydration, rest, and sleep. Tahara et al. (2020), in turn, have stated that the escape-avoidance mechanism is one of the most ineffective coping mechanisms and may even adversely affect the mental health of hospital staff working with COVID patients.
Studies by Schwartz et al. (2020) and Leodoro (2021) have emphasized the importance of resilience in creating effective coping techniques. In addition, they have discussed the importance of social support in addressing mental health issues effectively and timely. Other strategies discussed in these studies include recognition from leadership and clear communication with it. In another study on the same topic, Su et al. (2020) have developed several steps to address the issue. These included establishing a task force and management algorithm, involving education and policy communication, monitoring mental and physical health statuses, and providing help and support from executive hospital administrators.
Conclusion
It can be concluded that the current literature review has allowed addressing all aspects of the inquiry question. The main findings were divided into three categories: symptoms, factors, and strategies related to the issue of mental health problems in hospital staff members during a pandemic. Arguably, the most important information was about the factors that contributed to increasing rates of mental health issues. The most serious factors involved included previous history of mood change disorders, specific personality traits, and environmental characteristics. In turn, the most effective coping strategies were based on resilience, support from colleagues and leadership, and sufficient requirements satisfaction.
References
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