The Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Worker Wellness: A Scoping Review

West J Emerg Med. 2020 Aug 17;21(5):1059-1066. doi: 10.5811/westjem.2020.7.48684.

Abstract

At the heart of the unparalleled crisis of COVID-19, healthcare workers (HCWs) face several challenges treating patients with COVID-19: reducing the spread of infection; developing suitable short-term strategies; and formulating long-term plans. The psychological burden and overall wellness of HCWs has received heightened awareness in news and research publications. The purpose of this study was to provide a review on current publications measuring the effects of COVID-19 on wellness of healthcare providers to inform interventional strategies. Between April 6-May 17, 2020, we conducted systematic searches using combinations of these keywords and synonyms in conjunction with the controlled vocabulary of the database: "physician," "wellness, "wellbeing," "stress," "burnout," "COVID-19," and "SARS-CoV-2." We excluded articles without original data, research studies regarding the wellness of non-healthcare occupations or the general public exclusively, other outbreaks, or wellness as an epidemic. A total of 37 studies were included in this review. The review of literature revealed consistent reports of stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms in HCWs as a result of COVID-19. We describe published data on HCW distress and burnout but urge future research on strategies to enhance HCW well-being.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anxiety / epidemiology
  • Anxiety / etiology*
  • Anxiety / prevention & control
  • Anxiety / psychology
  • Betacoronavirus*
  • Burnout, Professional / epidemiology
  • Burnout, Professional / etiology*
  • Burnout, Professional / prevention & control
  • Burnout, Professional / psychology
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections* / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Infections* / psychology
  • Coronavirus Infections* / therapy
  • Cost of Illness
  • Depression / epidemiology
  • Depression / etiology*
  • Depression / prevention & control
  • Depression / psychology
  • Global Health / statistics & numerical data
  • Health Personnel / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Pandemics*
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / psychology
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / therapy
  • Risk Factors
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / epidemiology
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / etiology*
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / prevention & control
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / psychology