Proximity to COVID-19 patients and role-specific mental health outcomes of healthcare professionals

Background Healthcare professionals (HCPs) experience extreme hardships and challenges during the time of COVID-19, due to their professional roles. At the same time, HCPs may experience a feeling of importance as contributing members of the community, which could enhance their well-being alongside COVID-19-work-related stressors. Aims This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between HCPs' proximity to COVID-19 patients and role-specific fears of COVID-19 and sense of emotional, social and psychological well-being. Methods Participants (N = 1,378) included: HCPs who treated COVID-19 patients (frontliners, n = 188), HCPs that did not work directly with COVID-19 patients (secondliners, n = 524), and a group of non-HCPs who served as the comparison group (n = 666). Participants completed the Depression and Anxiety Stress Scale-21; Fear of COVID-19 Scale; Fear of COVID-19 Familial Infection Scale; and the Mental Health Continuum Short-Form. Results Results indicate that the comparison group reported higher levels of fear of COVID-19 compared to secondliners, while frontliners reported the highest levels of fear of infecting their families. Frontliners and secondliners HCPs reported significantly higher levels of social and psychological well-being compared to the non-HCP group. Conclusions This study indicates that there are role-specific mental health outcomes related to HCP's proximity to COVID-19 patients.