Post-specific difference in mental health among medical staff in Beijing during COVID-19 epidemic: an online survey

  Objective  To analyze the difference in mental health status among medical staff working at different posts in Beijing city during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic.

  Methods  An online questionnaire survey was conducted among 5 230 medical staff recruited with random cluster sampling at 22 public hospitals in Beijing city during October – November 2020. Psychological status of the stuff working at different posts during the COVID-19 epidemic was assessed with Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), 7-Item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)．Descriptive analysis and one-way analysis of variance were adopted in data analyses.

  Results  Of the 4 931 staff with valid responses, 1 603 (32.51%) were assessed as having anxiety, 1 729 (35.06%) having depressive symptoms, 933 (18.92%) having insomnia during the epidemic period. The detection rate of anxiety, depression and insomnia differed significantly among the staff working at second-/front-line posts in their hospitals formerly belonged to and the staff dispatched to other medical institutions for anti-epidemic work (P < 0.05). The results of logistic regression analysis showed that the type of working post and age were influencing factors of anxiety and depression; while the type of working post, age and education were the influencing factors of insomnia.

  Conclusion  The mental health status varied among medical staff working at different posts in Beijing city during COVID-19 epidemic and poor mental health could be detected most frequently among the staff working at front-line posts in their original hospitals.