Healthcare professionals' perspective on psychosocial support: Lessons learned during a pandemic

Area of Science:

• Medical and Health Sciences
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Assessing psychosocial support for healthcare workers (HCWs) is critical for their well-being and performance.
• The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the mental health of HCWs globally.
• Understanding the effectiveness of existing support systems is essential for improving HCW welfare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the psychosocial support provided to HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To analyze the effectiveness of this support on HCW mental health and performance.
• To identify factors influencing HCW well-being in a major Saudi Arabian hospital.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional analytic study was conducted with 380 HCWs from various specialties.
• The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) were utilized.
• Data were collected to assess institutional support, depression, anxiety, and stress levels.

Main Results:

• Most HCWs experienced increased working hours and anxiety, reporting a lack of institutional support.
• Female HCWs exhibited significantly higher levels of stress and anxiety compared to males.
• Support from family and friends was frequently reported, while institutional support was largely absent.

Conclusions:

• A marginal association exists between psychosocial support and HCW mental health during COVID-19.
• Targeted interventions and the presence of supervisors showed a slightly favorable effect on a minority of HCWs.
• Further research is needed to optimize psychosocial support strategies for HCWs.