Among 1139 healthcare workers in Oman, 32.3% reported depression during the pandemic.
Frontline healthcare workers were 1.5 times more likely to report anxiety compared to non-frontline workers.
Frontline workers also had 1.5 times higher likelihood of experiencing stress.
Insomnia was reported by 1.6 times more frontline workers than their non-frontline counterparts.
No significant differences in depression rates were observed between the two groups.
The study highlights the heightened mental health challenges faced by frontline healthcare workers during the pandemic.
Simplified
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess and compare demographic and psychological factors and sleep status of frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) in relation to non-frontline HCWs.
DESIGN, SETTINGS, PARTICIPANTS AND OUTCOMES: This cross-sectional study was conducted from 8 April 2020 to 17 April 2020 using an online survey across varied healthcare settings in Oman accruing 1139 HCWs.The primary and secondary outcomes were mental health status and sociodemographic data, respectively. Mental health status was assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (), and insomnia was evaluated by the . Samples were categorised into the frontline and non-frontline groups. χand t-tests were used to compare groups by demographic data. The Mantel-Haenszel OR was used to compare groups by mental health outcomes adjusted by all sociodemographic factors. 2
RESULTS: This study included 1139 HCWs working in Oman. While working during the pandemic period, a total of 368 (32.3%), 388 (34.1%), 271 (23.8%) and 211 (18.5%) respondents were reported to have depression, anxiety, stress and insomnia, respectively. HCWs in the frontline group were 1.5 times more likely to report anxiety (OR=1.557, p=0.004), stress (OR=1.506, p=0.016) and insomnia (OR=1.586, p=0.013) as compared with those in the non-frontline group. No significant differences in depression status were found between the frontline and non-frontline groups (p=0.201).
CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first study to explore the differential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on different grades of HCWs. This study suggests that frontline HCWs are disproportionally affected compared to non-frontline HCWs, with managing sleep-wake cycles and anxiety symptoms being highly endorsed among frontline HCWs. As psychosocial interventions are likely to be constrained owing to the pandemic, mental healthcare must first be directed to frontline HCWs.
Key numbers
1.557
Increase in Anxiety Symptoms
Odds Ratio for anxiety among frontline HCWs vs. non-frontline HCWs
1.506
Increase in Stress Symptoms
Odds Ratio for stress among frontline HCWs vs. non-frontline HCWs
1.586
Increase in Insomnia Symptoms
Odds Ratio for insomnia among frontline HCWs vs. non-frontline HCWs
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