Impact of COVID-19 pandemic outbreak on mental health of the hospital front-line healthcare workers in Chile: a difference-in-differences approach

Background Most of the evidence about impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs) comes from symptom questionnaires. It is important to evaluate main mental health diagnoses in hospital front-line HCW's during the early acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile. Methods An individual-level cross-sectional study using administrative data was conducted. A Difference-in-Difference (DiD) approach was used to estimate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sick leave rates of depression, anxiety and acute stress reaction among hospital front-line HCW's in comparison with other private insured workers. Results DiD estimates showed a significant reduction of depression (17%), anxiety (8%) and acute stress reaction (8%) sick leave rate, in the front-line HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reduction of the three mental disorders sick leave rates was higher in men than women. Except for depression, front-line HCW's from the Santiago region's sick leave rates of anxiety and acute stress reaction decreased more than other regions'. Conclusion Opposite to our hypothesis the results suggests a remarkable resilience level and compromise of front-line HCW's. To address threats to the mental health of HCW's is key to promotes programs for their psychological well-being and safety.