The association between the perceived adequacy of workplace infection control procedures and personal protective equipment with mental health symptoms: A cross-sectional survey of Canadian health-care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To examine the relationship between perceived adequacy of personal protective equipment (PPE) and workplace-based infection control procedures (ICP) and mental health symptoms among a sample of health-care workers in Canada within the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A convenience-based internet survey of health-care workers in Canada was facilitated through various labor organizations between April 7 and May 13, 2020. A total of 7,298 respondents started the survey, of which 5,988 reported information on the main exposures and outcomes. Anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-2) screener, and depression symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) screener. We assessed the perceived need and adequacy of 8 types of PPE and 10 different ICP. Regression analyses examined the proportion of GAD-2 and PHQ-2 scores of 3 and higher across levels of PPE and ICP, adjusted for a range of demographic, occupation, workplace, and COVID-19-specific measures. Results: A total of 54.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 53.5% to 56.1%) of the sample had GAD-2 scores of 3 and higher, and 42.3% (95% CI, 41.0% to 43.6%) of the sample had PHQ-2 scores of 3 and higher. Absolute differences of 18% (95% CI, 12% to 23%) and 17% (95% CI, 12% to 22%) were observed in the prevalence of GAD-2 scores of 3 and higher between workers whose perceived PPE needs and ICP needs were met compared to those who needs were not met. Differences of between 11% (95% CI, 6% to 17%) and 19% (95% CI, 14% to 24%) were observed in PHQ-2 scores of 3 and higher across these same PPE and ICP categories. Conclusions: Our results suggest strengthening employer-based infection control strategies likely has important implications for the mental health symptoms among health-care workers in Canada. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) (French) Objectifs Examiner la relation entre le caractere adequat percu de l'equipement de protection personnel (EPP) et les procedures de controle des infections (PCI) en milieu de travail et les symptomes de sante mentale au sein d'un echantillon de travailleurs de la sante du Canada, dans le contexte de la pandemie COVID-19 en cours. Methodes Un sondage de commodite sur Internet des travailleurs de la sante du Canada auquel ont collabore diverses organisations professionnelles entre le 7 avril et le 13 mai 2020. En tout, 7 298 repondants ont commence le sondage, et 5 988 d'entre eux ont donne de l'information sur les expositions principales et les resultats. Les symptomes anxieux etaient evalues a l'aide du depisteur du trouble d'anxiete generalisee (GAD-2), et les symptomes de depression, a l'aide du questionnaire sur la sante du patient (PHQ-2). Nous avons evalue le besoin et le caractere adequat percus de 8 types d'EPP, et de 10 PCI differentes. Des analyses de regression ont examine la proportion des scores au GAD-2 et au PHQ-2 de 3 et plus eleves pour les niveaux d'EPP et de PCI, ajustes pour une serie de donnees demographiques, d'occupations, de milieux de travail, et de mesures specifiques pour la COVID-19. Resultats Un total de 54,8% (intervalle de confiance a 95% 53,5% a 56,1%) de l'echantillon avait des scores au GAD-2 de trois et plus, et 42,3% (IC a 95% 41,0% a 43,6%) de l'echantillon avait des scores au PHQ-2 de trois et plus. Des differences absolues de 18% (IC a 95% 12% a 23%) et de 17% (IC a 95% 12% a 22%) ont ete observees dans la prevalence des scores au GAD-2 de trois et plus entre les travailleurs qui percevaient que leurs besoins d'EPP et de PCI etaient combles, compare a ceux dont les besoins n'etaient pas combles. Des differences entre 11% (IC a 95% 6% a 17%) et 19% (IC a 95% 14% a 24%) ont ete observees dans les scores au PHQ-2 de trois et plus dans les memes categories d'EPP et de PCI. Conclusions: Nos resultats suggerent qu'un resserrement des strategies de controle des infections par l'employeur a probablement des implications importantes pour les symptomes de sante mentale chez les travailleurs de la sante du Canada. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)