Cross-Sectional Study of the Psychological Well-Being of Healthcare Workers in a Large European University Hospital after the COVID-19 Initial Wave

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic greatly impacted healthcare workers (HCWs) dedicated to COVID-19 patients. A cross-sectional investigation was conducted in a large European hospital to study the psychological distress of HCWs engaged in COVID-19 wards in the early phase of the pandemic.Methods: A questionnaire was sent to 1229 HCWs to collect the following information: i) sociodemographic data; ii) depression, anxiety, and stress scales (DASS-21); iii) event impact scale (IES-R); iv) perceived stress scale (PSS); and v) work interface analysis. Regardless of the outcome of the questionnaire, all subjects were oTered psychological support voluntarily.Results: Approximately two-thirds of the workers reported no symptoms according to the DASS-21 scales, the corresponding figures for the IES-R and PSS scales being 36% and 43%, respectively. There were no diTerences in the levels of depression investigated through the diTerent scales in the various occupational categories. Symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression were more pronounced in women, whereas the highest stress levels were observed in the younger age groups. The highest scores were observed on the DAS-21 scales of anxiety and IES-R but not on the others. Only 51 workers, most with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, sought clinical psychological counseling, and more than half received subsequent psychological support. Conclusions. Our results agree with most of the literature data that anxiety, depression, and stress are associated with gender (female), age (18-44 vs. over 55), and having cared for patients with COVID-19.