Impacts for health and care workers of Covid-19 and other public health emergencies of international concern: living systematic review, meta-analysis and policy recommendations.

Journal: Human resources for health

Volume: 22

Issue: 1

Year of Publication: 2024

Affiliated Institutions:  Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua da Junqueira, , -, Lisbon, Portugal. ines.fronteira@ensp.unl.pt. School of Public, Health University of the Western Cape, South Africa, Private Bag X, Bellville, , Republic of South Africa. Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sérgio Arouca, Fundação Osvaldo Cruz, Rua Leopoldo Bulhões, - Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Instituto de Medicina Social, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rua São Francisco Xavier - º andar, Blocos D e E - Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, -, Brazil. Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua da Junqueira, , -, Lisbon, Portugal. Instituto Nacional de Cancer, Ministério da Saúde, Rua Marquês de Pombal, , Centro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, , Brazil. Health Workforce Department, World Health Organization, Av. Appia , , Geneva, Switzerland.

Abstract summary 

Health and care workers (HCW) faced the double burden of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: as members of a society affected by a public health emergency and as HWC who experienced fear of becoming infected and of infecting others, stigma, violence, increased workloads, changes in scope of practice, among others. To understand the short and long-term impacts in terms of the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health emergencies of international concern (PHEICs) on HCW and relevant interventions to address them, we designed and conducted a living systematic review (LSR).We reviewed literature retrieved from MEDLINE-PubMed, Embase, SCOPUS, LILACS, the World Health Organization COVID-19 database, the ClinicalTrials.org and the ILO database, published from January 2000 until December 2021. We included quantitative observational studies, experimental studies, quasi-experimental, mixed methods or qualitative studies; addressing mental, physical health and well-being and quality of life. The review targeted HCW; and interventions and exposures, implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic or other PHEICs. To assess the risk of bias of included studies, we used the Johanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Tools. Data were qualitatively synthetized using meta-aggregation and meta-analysis was performed to estimate pooled prevalence of some of the outcomes.The 1013 studies included in the review were mainly quantitative research, cross-sectional, with medium risk of bias/quality, addressing at least one of the following: mental health issue, violence, physical health and well-being, and quality of life. Additionally, interventions to address short- and long-term impact of PHEICs on HCW included in the review, although scarce, were mainly behavioral and individual oriented, aimed at improving mental health through the development of individual interventions. A lack of interventions addressing organizational or systemic bottlenecks was noted.PHEICs impacted the mental and physical health of HCW with the greatest toll on mental health. The impact PHEICs are intricate and complex. The review revealed the consequences for health and care service delivery, with increased unplanned absenteeism, service disruption and occupation turnover that subvert the capacity to answer to the PHEICs, specifically challenging the resilience of health systems.

Authors & Co-authors:  Fronteira Inês I Mathews Verona V Dos Santos Ranailla Lima Bandeira RLB Matsumoto Karen K Amde Woldekidan W Pereira Alessandra A de Oliveira Ana Paula Cavalcante APC Craveiro Isabel I Chança Raphael R Boniol Mathieu M Ferrinho Paulo P Poz Mario Roberto Dal MRD

Study Outcome 

Source Link: Visit source

Statistics
Citations :  United Nations, editor. International standard industrial classification of all economic activities (ISIC), (Statistical papers. Series M). Rev. 4. New York: United Nations; 2008. p. 291.
Authors :  12
Identifiers
Doi : 10
SSN : 1478-4491
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Humans
Other Terms
COVID-19;Ebola;Health and care workers;Influenza;Living systematic review;MERS;Mental health physical health;Meta-analysis;Public health emergencies of international concern;SARS;SARS-CoV-2
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Quantitative,Qualitative,Mixed Methods,Systemic Review
Country of Study
Publication Country
England