Return to Work of Healthcare Workers after Sars-CoV-2 Infection

Determinants of Physical and Mental Health

Bibliographic Data

ID15460536
AuthorsMaddalena Grazzini (0000-0003-4094-4551, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi), Lucrezia Ginevra Lulli (0000-0003-4342-966X, University of Florence, corresponding author), Nicola Mucci (0000-0003-0579-1035, University of Florence), Diana Paolini (0000-0001-8062-5710, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi), Antonio Baldassarre (0000-0002-6124-3570, University of Florence), Veronica Gallinoro (0000-0002-4015-3402, University of Florence), Annarita Chiarelli (Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi), Fabrizio Niccolini (Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi), Giulio Arcangeli (0000-0002-0094-0399, University of Florence)
Year2022
Volume19
Issue11
Pages6811-6811
Publication date2022-06-02
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph19116811
PMID35682394
OpenAlexW4281617904
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited42

Introduction. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has involved healthcare workers (HCWs) both as caregivers and as patients. This study is a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of the HCWs working in a third-level hospital in Central Italy who were infected with COVID-19 from March 2020 to April 2021. This research aims at identifying the physical and mental health outcomes of HCWs infected with COVID-19 who returned to work after the infection, the determinants of those outcomes, such as age and sex, and the identification of possible vulnerable professional groups. Methods. A questionnaire about the acute illness, the experience of returning to work, and health perceptions after the disease was administered to 427 healthcare workers 3 months after recovering from the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results. The majority interviewed (84.5%) reported symptoms at the time of the positive test, with no significant differences regarding age or sex, while a significant difference in the mean age was found regarding hospitalization (p < 0.001). At 3 months after the infection, females (p = 0.001), older workers (p < 0.001), and healthcare assistants (p < 0.001) were more likely to report persistent symptoms. Sex (p = 0.02) and age (p = 0.006) influenced the quality of sleep after the infection. At work, the nurses group reported increase in workload (p = 0.03) and worse relationships (p = 0.028). At 3 months after the infection, female workers perceived worse physical (p = 0.002) and mental (p < 0.001) health status according to the SF-12. A negative correlation was found between age and PCS score (p < 0.001) but not MCS score (p = 0.86). A significant difference in PCS score was found between nurses and physicians (p = 0.04) and between residents and all other groups (p < 0.001). Finally, the group of workers reporting sleep alterations showed lower PCS and MCS scores (p < 0.001) and working relationships had an impact on MCS scores (p < 0.001). Conclusions. Age, sex, and type of job had an impact on physical and mental outcomes. Organizing specific interventions, also tailored to professional sub-groups, should be a target for healthcare systems to protect and boost the physical and mental health of their workers

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Cross-sectional study · Disease · Health care · Infectious disease (medical specialty · Mental health · Pandemic · Psychiatry · Workload · COVID-19 and healthcare impacts · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 · Medicine · Internal Medicine

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