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Healthcare
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Mental Health in Healthcare Workers
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Mental Health in Healthcare Workers

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2024) | Viewed by 12333

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Róisín O'Donovan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centre for Positive Psychology and Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, D02 YN77 Dublin, Ireland
Interests: wellbeing; psychological safety

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

To create and maintain effective, efficient and compassionate healthcare services, it is vital that we protect the well-being of Healthcare Workers (HCWs). HCWs are exposed to multiple stressors in their work, including heavy workloads, lack of psychological safety, and workplace bullying. As a result, they often experience poor well-being, high levels of work-related stress and burnout. However, there remains a lack of direction and limited evidence on potential solutions and approaches to improving HCW well-being. There is a need to identify, understand and implement approaches to improving and maintaining HCWs’ well-being.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue on Mental Health and Well-Being in HCWs. This Special Issue aims to publish original studies and reviews that examine the well-being or mental health of HCWs. We will consider narrative, systematic, and meta-analysis reviews that examine specific review questions related to improving HCWs’ mental health and well-being. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: examining the effectiveness and feasibility of well-being interventions; implementation of interventions to cultivate well-being; cultivating resilience in Healthcare teams and organizations.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Róisín O'Donovan
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • healthcare workers
  • mental health
  • wellbeing
  • interventions

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 416 KiB  
Article
Caring for the Caregivers: Improving Mental Health among Health Professionals Using the Behavioral Health Professional Workforce Resilience ECHO Program
by Jeffrey W. Katzman, Laura E. Tomedi, Navin Pandey, Kimble Richardson, Stephen N. Xenakis, Sarah Heines, Linda Grabbe, Yasmin Magdaleno, Ankit Mehta, Randon Welton, Kelly Lister, Kelly Seis, Antoinette Wright, Shannon McCoy-Hayes and Joanna G. Katzman
Healthcare 2024, 12(17), 1741; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12171741 - 31 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1148
Abstract
Behavioral health professionals are at high risk for burnout and poor mental health. Our objective was to understand the impact of the Behavioral Health Providers Workforce Resiliency (BHPWR) ECHO Program on the resilience and burnout of participating behavioral health professionals. We assessed the [...] Read more.
Behavioral health professionals are at high risk for burnout and poor mental health. Our objective was to understand the impact of the Behavioral Health Providers Workforce Resiliency (BHPWR) ECHO Program on the resilience and burnout of participating behavioral health professionals. We assessed the first two years (March 2022 to March 2024) of the BHPWR ECHO, a national program operating from the University of New Mexico (N = 1585 attendees), using a mixed-methods design. We used a retrospective pre/post survey (n = 53 respondents) and focus interviews with 1–3 participants (n = 9 participants) to assess for changes in knowledge and confidence and assess changes in burnout and resilience. We found that participants increased their knowledge of how to respond when (1) their workload was more than they could manage, (2) they felt that they lacked control, (3) their work did not feel rewarding, and (4) they were experiencing compassion fatigue. They increased their confidence in (1) building a support system and (2) using the wellness tools taught in the course. Respondents were less burnt out (score: 26.0 versus 17.8, p < 0.01) and more resilient (29.9 versus 34.9, p < 0.01) compared to when they started attending the program. Tele-mentoring programs like the BHPWR ECHO Program may improve wellness among health care professionals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health in Healthcare Workers)
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14 pages, 722 KiB  
Article
Exploring Personality Traits, Values, and Attitudes toward Professionalism: Implications for the Promotion of Mental Health and Functioning in Medical Students
by Polona Selič-Zupančič, Davorina Petek and Nina Jerala
Healthcare 2024, 12(17), 1732; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12171732 - 30 Aug 2024
Viewed by 837
Abstract
Healthcare workers face significant mental health challenges, including stress, burnout, and psychological distress, leading to high rates of mental health symptoms and even suicide attempts, as well as an increase in medication errors and unprofessional behavior. Targeted interventions are needed to address these [...] Read more.
Healthcare workers face significant mental health challenges, including stress, burnout, and psychological distress, leading to high rates of mental health symptoms and even suicide attempts, as well as an increase in medication errors and unprofessional behavior. Targeted interventions are needed to address these issues. However, promoting healthier traits in medical students or refining selection could also prove beneficial, as research shows that mental health is significantly influenced by personality traits and personal values. This study examines the relationship between personality traits, values, and attitudes toward professionalism among medical students in Slovenia. A total of 996 participants were examined in three data collections from the academic years 2015–2016 to 2019–2020 using the Big Five Questionnaire, the Personal Values Scale, and the Attitude Toward Professionalism Scale. Hierarchical linear regression analysis was conducted to examine the factors associated with professionalism. The results showed that attitudes toward professionalism were stable over the years, with higher scores consistently associated with the female gender, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Conversely, material value orientation had a negative impact on professionalism. In addition, we examine the associations between mental health and personality traits, personal values, and attitudes toward professionalism to illustrate the importance of selecting and nurturing medical students, based on traits that promote mental health and professional behavior. These findings may lead to improvements in medical education and selection processes to improve the well-being and functioning of future medical professionals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health in Healthcare Workers)
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17 pages, 369 KiB  
Article
Positive Mental Health Questionnaire (PMHQ) for Healthcare Workers: A Psychometric Evaluation
by Juan José Luis Sienra-Monge, David Luna, Rosa Paola Figuerola-Escoto, Itzihuari Iratzi Montufar-Burgos, Alejandra Hernández-Roque, Arturo Soria-Magaña and Filiberto Toledano-Toledano
Healthcare 2023, 11(23), 3041; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11233041 - 26 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2699
Abstract
The Positive Mental Health Questionnaire (PMHQ) has been validated across various populations but has displayed diverse psychometric structures depending on the procedures used. The original version of the PMHQ includes 39 items organized into 6 factors, although there are reports that indicate a [...] Read more.
The Positive Mental Health Questionnaire (PMHQ) has been validated across various populations but has displayed diverse psychometric structures depending on the procedures used. The original version of the PMHQ includes 39 items organized into 6 factors, although there are reports that indicate a reduced structure of between 1 and 4 factors. The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the PMHQ with 1, 4 and 6 factors. A total of 360 healthcare workers aged 23 to 77 (M = 37.06; SD = 10.79) participated. Construct validity was assessed through confirmatory factor analysis using weighted root mean square residual. The original 6-factor (χ2/df: 3.40; RMSEA: 0.085; CFI: 0.913; TLI: 0.906) and a reduced 4-factor (χ2/df: 2.90; RMSEA: 0.072; CFI: 0.931; TLI: 0.926) structure showed acceptable fit. The fit of the 1-factor model was unacceptable. The internal consistency was evaluated through McDonald’s ω, and it was acceptable for 4 of 6 factors of the original structure and for 3 of 4 factors of the reduced structure. In conclusion, these findings suggest that the 6-factor and 4-factor models are valid for measuring positive mental health. However, issues with internal consistency must be investigated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health in Healthcare Workers)
22 pages, 677 KiB  
Article
Digitalization in Urology—A Multimethod Study of the Relationships between Physicians’ Technostress, Burnout, Work Engagement and Job Satisfaction
by Clara Bail, Volker Harth and Stefanie Mache
Healthcare 2023, 11(16), 2255; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11162255 - 10 Aug 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2637
Abstract
The potential influences of digitization on the mental health of personnel in the healthcare sector are increasingly coming into the scientific focus in the healthcare sector, especially in terms of the use of information and communication technologies. To date, there have been no [...] Read more.
The potential influences of digitization on the mental health of personnel in the healthcare sector are increasingly coming into the scientific focus in the healthcare sector, especially in terms of the use of information and communication technologies. To date, there have been no German studies of the effects of technostress in healthcare. This cross-sectional study examined the relationships between technostress, burnout, work engagement, and job satisfaction among physicians in the field of urology. Data were collected via an online survey based on the job demands–resources model and the concept of technostress. The survey was sent to German urologists working in inpatient clinics. The participating physicians experienced moderate levels of technostress (M = 2.67, SD = 0.69). The results, based on a general linear model analysis, showed that technostress is significantly positively associated with burnout (β = 0.293; p < 0.001) and negatively associated with work engagement (β = −0.175; p < 0.001) and job satisfaction (β = −0.206; p < 0.001). This study also identified stress and strain factors associated with the use of ICT and assessed institutional support offers as coping mechanisms. The results of this study and its formulated practical implications can serve as a basis for discussing sustainable digitalization strategies in hospitals, taking into consideration technostress and its impact on physicians’ burnout, work engagement and job satisfaction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health in Healthcare Workers)
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14 pages, 952 KiB  
Article
The Role of Subjective Wellbeing in Mediating Social Trust to the Mental Health of Health Workers
by Change Xiong, Yanqiu Yao, Tong Hu, Jing Cheng, Shandan Xu and Chaojie Liu
Healthcare 2023, 11(9), 1327; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11091327 - 5 May 2023
Viewed by 2085
Abstract
Mental health problems of health workers are attracting increasing concerns in China and the world. A trustful relationship between health workers and patients is the foundation of quality patient care, which is currently under serious threat. This study aimed to determine the associations [...] Read more.
Mental health problems of health workers are attracting increasing concerns in China and the world. A trustful relationship between health workers and patients is the foundation of quality patient care, which is currently under serious threat. This study aimed to determine the associations of social trust on subjective wellbeing and mental health of health workers. Using the survey data of 262 health workers extracted from the 2018 Chinese Family Panel Studies, a structural equation model with partial least square approach was established. The results showed that social trust was linked to both subjective wellbeing (β = 0.251, p < 0.01) and mental health (β = −0.210, p < 0.01). The effect of social trust on mental health was partially mediated by subjective wellbeing (51.87%). The association between social trust and subjective wellbeing was moderated by socioeconomic status: social trust has a stronger effect on subjective wellbeing in those with higher socioeconomic status. Erosion of social trust may present a serious risk to mental health and subjective wellbeing of health workers. High socioeconomic status can amplify the effect of social trust. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health in Healthcare Workers)
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Other

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8 pages, 231 KiB  
Opinion
Research Directions for Leveraging and Supporting the Lived Experience of Mental Illness within Psychology
by Darren Haywood, Frank D. Baughman, Peter Bosanac, Kim Johnston, Inge Gnatt, Jennifer Haywood, Judith Gullifer and Susan Rossell
Healthcare 2023, 11(16), 2318; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11162318 - 17 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2146
Abstract
This paper explores the lived experience of mental illness within the field of psychology across higher education and the mental health workforce. There is a high prevalence of mental health issues among psychology students and practitioners, and it is critical not only to [...] Read more.
This paper explores the lived experience of mental illness within the field of psychology across higher education and the mental health workforce. There is a high prevalence of mental health issues among psychology students and practitioners, and it is critical not only to provide support for these populations, but also to acknowledge the value of leveraging their lived experience within their education and practice. There has been increased interest in and advocacy for the involvement of those with lived experience of mental illness within mental healthcare service provision to improve patient experiences and outcomes. However, there have been limited acknowledgement and research regarding the role of psychologists with personal lived experiences of mental illness, and how to leverage this experience. Further, there are challenges faced by both psychology students and practising psychologists with lived experience that act as barriers to leveraging their unique skills and experiences. Psychology students with lived experience face stigma, inadequate support, and incongruence between the course material and their personal experiences. Similarly, practising psychologists with lived experience encounter stigma and isolation, indicating the need for a culture change that promotes transparency and understanding. The paper calls for research in five key directions to provide evidence that can be used to support and leverage lived experience in psychology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health in Healthcare Workers)
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