Mental well-being of healthcare workers in two hospital districts with differing COVID-19 incidence

Abstract Objectives Healthcare systems and healthcare workers have been under considerable strain during the COVID-19 pandemic in many countries. Our study aimed to assess the mental well-being of Finnish healthcare workers from two hospital districts with differing COVID-19 incidence rates (HUS, Hospital district of Helsinki and Uusimaa/Helsinki University Hospital; and Kymsote, Social and Health services in Kymenlaakso region) during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020. Material and methods The data of this prospective survey study was collected during summer 2020, and a total of 996 healthcare workers (HUS N = 862, Kymsote N = 134) participated. Mental health symptoms were self-reported, and symptom criteria followed ICD-10 classification, excluding duration criteria. We divided participants into symptom categories “often/sometimes” (those who met the diagnostic criteria), and “rarely/never” (those not meeting the diagnostic criteria), and compared these groups to sociodemographic factors and factors related to work, workload, and well-being. Results Despite differences in COVID-19 incidence, the degree of mental health symptoms did not differ between HUS and Kymsote districts (p = 1). A significant relationship was found between self-reported diagnostic mental health symptoms and experiences of insufficient instructions for protection against COVID-19 (in HUS cohort, p < 0.001), insufficient recovery from work (p < 0.001), and subjective increased workload (p < 0.001). Conclusions These findings show the importance of sufficient, well-designed instructions for protection from SARS-CoV-2 for healthcare workers, indicating their need to feel safe and protected at work. The workload of healthcare workers should be carefully monitored to keep it moderate and ensure their adequate recovery from work. Sufficient control of the epidemic to keep the burden of the healthcare system as low as possible is essential for healthcare workers’ well-being. Key messages Workload of healthcare workers should be carefully monitored during a pandemic to keep it moderate and ensure adequate recovery in all regions, regardless of the local disease burden. The importance of sufficient, well-designed instructions for healthcare workers and their need to feel safe and protected at work.


Objectives:
Healthcare systems and healthcare workers have been under considerable strain during the COVID-19 pandemic in many countries. Our study aimed to assess the mental well-being of Finnish healthcare workers from two hospital districts with differing COVID-19 incidence rates (HUS, Hospital district of Helsinki and Uusimaa/Helsinki University Hospital; and Kymsote, Social and Health services in Kymenlaakso region) during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020.

Material and methods:
The data of this prospective survey study was collected during summer 2020, and a total of 996 healthcare workers (HUS N = 862, Kymsote N = 134) participated. Mental health symptoms were self-reported, and symptom criteria followed ICD-10 classification, excluding duration criteria. We divided participants into symptom categories ''often/sometimes'' (those who met the diagnostic criteria), and ''rarely/never'' (those not meeting the diagnostic criteria), and compared these groups to sociodemographic factors and factors related to work, workload, and well-being.

Results:
Despite differences in COVID-19 incidence, the degree of mental health symptoms did not differ between HUS and Kymsote districts (p = 1). A significant relationship was found between self-reported diagnostic mental health symptoms and experiences of insufficient instructions for protection against COVID-19 (in HUS cohort, p < 0.001), insufficient recovery from work (p < 0.001), and subjective increased workload (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:
These findings show the importance of sufficient, welldesigned instructions for protection from SARS-CoV-2 for healthcare workers, indicating their need to feel safe and protected at work. The workload of healthcare workers should be carefully monitored to keep it moderate and ensure their adequate recovery from work. Sufficient control of the epidemic to keep the burden of the healthcare system as low as possible is essential for healthcare workers' well-being. Key messages: Workload of healthcare workers should be carefully monitored during a pandemic to keep it moderate and ensure adequate recovery in all regions, regardless of the local disease burden. The importance of sufficient, well-designed instructions for healthcare workers and their need to feel safe and protected at work.

Background: Primary health care (PHC) is built on interprofessional collaboration (IPC) between health and social professions.
According to international frameworks, interprofessional communication, client-centred care, collaborative leadership, role clarification, team functioning and interprofessional conflict resolution are essential for IPC. As of April 2022, 36 PHC units were registered in Austria. This study aims to explore the perspectives of health care professionals on IPC in PHC in Austria.

Methods:
Between October 2021 and March 2022, 15 guided group interviews were conducted with a total of 57 representatives of the professional groups biomedical analytics, dietetics, medical training therapy, medicine, midwifery, nursing, occupational therapy, office assistance, orthoptics, pharmacy, physiotherapy, psychotherapy, radiology technology, social work and speech therapy. The data was analysed using qualitative content analysis according to Mayring.

Results:
Interdisciplinary counselling and prevention services, monitoring, acute interventions and treatment of chronic diseases are seen as fields of action for increased IPC in PHC. Interprofessional relationships are established during joint home visits and weekly multiprofessional meetings, when communication is collegial. Challenges mentioned for the IPC in PHC were i.e. role ambiguity, lack of time for networking or unclear legal regulations. Taking over responsibility as well as the ability to delegate and to deal with conflict, a sense of justice and willingness to accept criticism are core competences required for IPC in PHC.

Conclusions:
The interviewees aim to get more involved in PHC, but not all feel optimally prepared for the necessary collaboration in this setting. In their view, specific training content, focusing on the unique structure of PHC, the roles of all the involved professional groups and conflict management, is necessary to successfully shape IPC in the interest of the clients. Key messages: Austrian health care professionals desire specific training content for interprofessional collaboration in primary health care.
15th European Public Health Conference 2022 iii371