Depression in healthcare workers: results from the nationwide AMADEUS survey

Elsevier

Available online 23 July 2022, 104328

International Journal of Nursing StudiesAbstractBackground

There is now a wealth of evidence showing that work is a major determinant of physical and mental health. Recent studies have suggested increased rates of depression in healthcare workers (HCWs) in the context of the Covid-19 pandemics, with direct impact on care quality and productivity.

Aim

To determine the rate of clinical depression in a national sample of HCWs in France during the post-Covid-19 area and to identify related factors (professional, individual and health-related risk behaviours) using a structural equation modelling analysis.

Method

A survey comprising of a number of standardized scales was sent to public and private national healthcare facilities through the mail or disseminated through emails from professional associations and social networks.

Results

10325 participants were recruited; 3122 (30.2%, 95% confidence interval [29.4-31.1]) met likely diagnostic criteria for clinical depression. Professional factors had the largest total effect (β = 0.57) (burn-out :β = 0.74, sustained bullying at the workplace β = 0.48 and decision-making latitude β =-0.47). followed by individual factors (β = 0.30) (the main individual factor was recurrent major depression, path coefficient = 0.67).

Professional factors had both direct (path coefficient = 0.38) and indirect (through health risk behaviours, path coefficient = 0.19) effect on depression. Individual factors had a direct (path coefficient 0.21) and indirect (through health risk behaviours (path coefficient = 0.09) effect on depression. Health risk behaviours had a direct effect on depression (path coefficient = 0.31).

Interpretation

These results provide potential explanations for the likely causes of poor psychological health amongst HCWs. We propose several potential interventions related to professional factors and health risk behaviours. Our results suggest that improving organizational issues, reducing exposure to potentially morally injurious events, promoting brief naps at work and provision of evidence-based prevention approaches have been reported to be helpful in supporting the mental health of hospital staff (not only relaxation or stress management but training in leadership aspects, increasing the knowledge and practice of giving efficient performance feedback, reducing conflicting demands and peer support programs such as Trauma Risk Management. Our data suggest that developing caregivers reported experience and outcomes measures (CREMs/CROMs) would be helpful to monitor work environment and its effect on depression in healthcare workers.

Keywords

mental health

psychiatry

public health

health services research

depression

depressive disorders

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