Background: Health personnel who demonstrated close contact with patients with COVID-19, might experience a higher risk of infection and psychological problems. This study aims to explore depressive, anxiety, and burnout symptoms among health care personnel with a higher risk for psychological trauma.
Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study using secondary data from an online assessment, which was conducted one month after the COVID-19 outbreak. A total of 544 respondents from 21 provinces in Indonesia were included. Data on depressive, anxiety, and burnout symptoms were transformed using the Rasch model. Data from health professionals in the higher risk group and the lower risk group were analyzed.
Results: A higher percentage of health professionals experiencing depressive symptoms (22.8%), anxiety (28.1%), and burnout (26.8%) are found in the higher risk group. The chance for the higher risk group’s personnel to present with moderate and severe depressive symptoms, anxiety, and burnout are 5.3 (p < 0.05), 1.36 (p > 0.05), and 3.92 (p < 0.05) times higher, respectively. The probability for patient-induced burnout is 2.13 (p < 0.05) times higher and highest among the other burn out dimensions. The depressive symptoms complained were similar between groups: loneliness, sleep disturbances, difficulty concentrating, and inability to initiate activities. Loneliness demonstrates the highest logit value among the symptoms.
Conclusions: Health professionals with direct contact and responsibility to treat COVID-19 patients exhibit a higher risk to experience depressive symptoms and burnout. Communication with peers and staying in contact with family needs to be encouraged. Physiological well-being should be considered for high-risk health personnel. Incentive or insurance guaranteed by the government or institution is essential as a reward and compensation during this period.