Returning to Work during the Coronavirus Disease 2019（COVID-19） Epidemic:Immediate Mental Health and Sleep Status of Chinese Workforce after Strict Quarantine Measures in Chongqing,China
作者单位：重庆两江新区第一人民医院 Department of NeurologyDaping HospitalArmy Medical University The China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity Think Tank Institute for Health Innovation and Technology(iHealthtech)National University of Singapore
会议名称：《中国睡眠研究会第七届西部睡眠医学大会》
会议日期：2020年
学科分类：1004[医学-公共卫生与预防医学(可授医学、理学学位)] 100401[医学-流行病与卫生统计学] 10[医学]
关 键 词：anxiety COVID-19 coronavirus depression epidemic insomnia occupational health mental health quarantine PTSD stress suicide workers workforce
摘 要：Background:The uncertainty of coronavirus disease 2019（COVID-19） might lead to fear and perception of occupational risk when returned to work.There has been no research focusing on the mental health of workforce who returned to work during the COVID-19 epidemic.Workers might suffer from posttraumatic stress symptomatology,depression,anxiety,stress and insomnia.Factors affecting mental health of employees who returned to work during the COVID-19 epidemic have not been fully elucidated.The objective of this study was to quantify the immediate psychological effects of a workforce who returned to work during the COVID-19 epidemic after strict quarantine and lockdown.Methods:At the peak of the COVID-19 epidemic,members of the workforce who received the approval to return to work in Chongqing,China was invited to participate in this study.Respondents completed a questionnaire regarding their attitude toward the COVID-19 epidemic and return-to-work along with the Impact of Event Scale-Revised,Depression,Anxiety,Stress Scale-21（DASS-21） and Insomnia Severity Index（ISI）,Results:From 673 valid questionnaires,we found that 10.8% of respondents met the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder（PTSD） after returning to work.The respondents reported a low prevalence of anxiety（3.8%）,depression（3.7%）,stress（1.5%） and insomnia（2.3%） when returning to work during the COVID-19 epidemic.There were no significant differences in the severity of psychiatric symptoms between workers/technicians and executives/managers.More than 95% reported good ventilation in the workplace and wore a face mask as protective measures.Factors that were associated with the severity of psychiatric symptoms in the workforce were the following:marital status such as divorced,separated or widowed,presence of physical symptom and poor physical health,not yet or recently returning to work within a week and viewing return to work as a health hazard.In contrast,personal protection measures including hand hygiene and wearing face masks as well as occupational health measures including significant improvement of workplace hygiene and concerns from the company on physical health status were associated with less severe psychiatric symptoms Conclusion:Our study,we believe,is the first to report on the mental health and associated factors of employees who returned to work during the COVID-19 epidemic.Contrary to expectations,returning to work had not caused a high level of psychiatric symptoms in the workforce.The low prevalence of psychiatric symptoms could be due to confidence instilled by strict quarantine and lockdown before the resumption of work.Our findings would provide information for other countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.