| Review |
Pandemic/epidemic studied |
Stated review aim |
Number of included studies |
Description of interventions included in review |
Key findings relevant to mental health & resilience |
Notes |
| Bell 2020 |
Virus epidemics or pandemics |
We aimed to estimate the additional burden of working directly with infected patients during epidemic and pandemic health emergencies. |
74 |
"In terms of protective factors that reduced the chance of poor mental health or psychological distress, social support, team cohesion or organisational support were identified by numerous studies" |
"Although a recent anecdotal report noted clinicians did not find mental health support particularly useful during COVID‐19 response (Chen et al 2020) several studies found that participants reported formal psychological support services to be a useful source of support (Goulia et al 2010; Lee et al 2005; Meyer et al 2018; Smith et al 2017; von Strauss et al 2017). One study specifically asked whether staff needed ‘psychological treatment’ and 8.6% of healthcare workers dealing with COVID‐19 reported they did (Liu et al 2020). Conversely, however, Chung and Yeung (2020) reported that only 2% of staff responding to COVID‐19 requested psychological support and all “were reassured after a single phone contact by the psychiatric nurse” although this was a notably small study with just 69 participants." |
'Rapid' review |
| Cenat 2020 |
Ebola |
To describe mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) programmes implemented following past EVD outbreaks that have ended To study the effectiveness and the relevance of MHPSS programmes To provide relevant data to improve mental health services focused on populations affected by EVD |
11 (11 programmes identified) |
11 mental health and psychological support programmes were identified; 4 programmes were aimed at staff and volunteers; 2 programmes were in Ebola treatment centres and 1 in the community. The activities of the programmes varied greatly, including training, support and supervision. |
At least 3 of the identified programmes were focused on frontline workers but others were community/paediatric based. Concludes that culturally adapted MHPSS programmes may have positive effects both for adults and children affected by EVD, as well as the relation between emotional impacts of EVD and the implementation of preventive measures. |
|
| Devnani 2012 |
Influenza and SARS |
To determine the state of the evidence concerning the willingness of healthcare professionals to work during an influenza public health emergency, to identify the gaps for future investigation, and to facilitate evidence‐based influenza public health emergency planning. |
32 |
Interventions to improve willingness to work in a pandemic |
Factors associated with a willingness to work during an influenza public health emergency include: being male, being a doctor or nurse, working in a clinical or emergency department, working full‐time, prior influenza education and training, prior experience working during an influenza emergency, the perception of value in response, the belief in duty, the availability of PPE, and confidence in one’s employer. Factors found to be associated with less willingness were: being female, being in a supportive staff position, working part‐time, the peak phase of the influenza emergency, concern for family and loved ones, and personal obligations. Interventions that resulted in the greatest increase in
the healthcare professional’s willingness to work were preferential access to Tamiflu for the healthcare professional and his/ her family, and the provision of a vaccine for the individual and his/her family. |
|
| Koh 2010 |
Acute respiratory infectious diseases |
To synthesise evidence relating to the risk perceptions and workplace strategies of HCWs to EARIDs in acute hospital and community healthcare settings; and to make recommendation for practice that will protect them and their patients/clients. |
16 (2 qualitative, 14 quantitative) |
One paper is reported as finding that: “57.1% of the respondents perceived psychological support during the outbreak to be important and around 60% perceived psychological support after the event to be important” |
Quant ‐ Concerned with 3 categories of risk perception: health, social and acceptance of risk. Strategies employed to mitigate risk were behaviour towards patients, compliance towards preventative measures and organisational strategies. Qualitative ‐ similar to quantitative. Risks to personal health, social but HCWs were still willing to care for patients. |
Joanna Briggs review |
| Muller 2020 |
COVID‐19 |
To identify, assess and summarise available research on the mental health impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on HCWs, including a) changes over time, b) prevalence of mental health problems and risk/resilience factors, c) strategies and resources used by healthcare providers to protect their own mental health, d) perceived need and preferences for interventions, and e) healthcare workers’ understandings of their own mental health during the pandemic. Our second aim was to describe the interventions assessed in the literature to prevent or reduce negative mental health impacts on healthcare workers who are at work during the covid‐19 pandemic. |
59 |
"Six studies reported on the implementation of interventions to prevent or reduce mental health problems caused by the covid‐19 pandemic among healthcare workers": 2 involved a series of "organisational adjustments" including shortened shifts and a telephone hotline; 1 was a telephone hotline to provide immediate psychological support; 1 "collegial support and building individual strategies through one‐hour video “support calls”"; 1 was an online app that allowed requests for psychological support; and 1 was an "onsite, in‐person psychological crisis measure". |
Most studies did not report comparative data on mental health symptoms before the pandemic or in the general population. There seems to be a mismatch between risk factors for adverse mental
health outcomes among HCWs in the current pandemic, their needs and preferences, and the individual psychopathology focus of current interventions. |
'Rapid' review |
| Cabello 2020 |
Virus epidemics or pandemics |
To examine the impact of providing healthcare during or after health emergencies caused by viral epidemic outbreaks on HCWs' mental health, and to assess the available evidence base regarding interventions to reduce such impact. |
61 |
5 intervention studies: educational interventions (2 studies), multifaceted interventions combining training and implementation of organisational changes (2 studies), provision of psychological support (1 study) |
HCWs commonly present high levels of anxiety, depression, PTSD, acute disorder and burnout, both during and after the outbreaks. 5 interventions identified but low evidence that they mitigate development of mental health problems |
'Rapid' review |
| Robertson 2020 |
Virus epidemics or pandemics |
a) What may be expected regarding the psychological impact of the COVID‐19 outbreak on HCWs?
b) What interventions could be considered in order to protect and support the mental health and well‐being of HCWs during the crisis? |
32 |
Psychological support, organisational interventions |
"We did not identify any effectiveness studies in our literature search. Rather, interventions were recommended according to identified needs and coping strategies, risk and protective factors, and experience, and therefore were all SORT level 3 evidence. While some articles prioritised early recognition and individual psychological support, others placed emphasis on organisational interventions to support HCWs." |
'Rapid' review |
| Spoorthy 2020 |
COVID‐19 |
This review aimed to review the literature about mental health problems faced by HCW during the COVID‐19 pandemic. |
6 |
Factors responsible for the reduction in stress included personal and organisational factors; coping measures are briefly outlined. |
Current research focused on assessing several aspects of mental health affected in HCW due to COVID‐19. Several sociodemographic variables like gender, profession, age, place of work, department of work and psychological variables like poor social support, self‐efficacy were associated with increased stress, anxiety, depressive symptoms, insomnia in HCW. There is increasing evidence that suggests that COVID‐19 can be an independent risk factor for stress in HCW. |
|
| Stuijfzand 2020 |
Virus epidemics or pandemics |
This rapid review synthesises the evidence on the psychological impact of pandemics/epidemics on the mental health of HCPs, what factors predict this impact, and the evidence of prevention/intervention strategies to reduce this impact. |
48 |
Five studies investigating the effect of preventative programmes or interventions addressing mental health outcomes in HCPs were included. These included preventative program, computerised simulation sessions, computer‐based resilience training, psychological first aid training, and brief CBT group program. |
Results show that exposed HCPs working with patients during an epidemic/pandemic are at heightened risk of mental health problems in the short and longer term, particularly: psychological distress, insomnia, alcohol/drug misuse, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, burnout, anger, and higher perceived stress. These mental health problems are predicted by organizational, social, personal, and psychological factors and may interfere with the quality of patient care. Few evidence‐based early interventions exist so far. |
'Rapid' review |
|
EARID: emerging acute respiratory infectious diseases; EVD: Ebola virus disease; HCP: healthcare provider/professional; HCW: healthcare worker; MHPSS: mental health and psychosocial support; PTSD: post‐traumatic stress disorder; PPE: personal protective equipment; SARS: severe acute respiratory syndrome; SORT: Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy |
