Factors associated with anxiety disorders among healthcare workers (HCWS) involved in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: In a context of reorganization of the activity, of increase of the psychological, emotional and physical constraints of the nursing staff induced by the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, an increase of the anxiety disorders could occur.

Objective: This study aims to assess the prevalence of anxiety disorders in healthcare workers (HCWs) by wards and to investigate medical, personal, and occupational factors associated with anxiety disorder.

Methods: In France, in May 2020, a monocentric observational cross-sectional study was proposed to 285 HCWs of the University Hospital of Saint Etienne, working in 3 types of randomly selected care wards. Information was collected using an anonymous self-questionnaire offered to eligible HCWs. Validated questionnaires were used to assess anxiety (Hospital anxiety and Depression Scale) and burnout (Maslach Burnout Inventory).

Results: Of the 164 HCWs who participated in the study (57% participation rate), 69 (42%) caregivers had anxious symptomatology. The prevalence of anxiety disorders did not differ significantly by type of wards. Anxiety disorders are significantly associated with occupational factors (increased COVID-19 stress level, increased emotional load, increased mental load, high work/life stress during confinement, emotional exhaustion and loss of empathy), with medical factors (medical history of anxiety disorders, psychotropic treatment and impaired sleep quality) and personal factors (concern about working conditions and/or media reports).

Conclusions: Preventive actions focusing on organizational factors could be carried out to reduce the emotional and mental load, the level of stress and the burnout of HCWs.