The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and a SARS-CoV-2 testing programme on obstetric patients and healthcare workers

• Published in: Women's health (London, England) England), 2022, Vol.18, p.17455057221103101-17455057221103101
• Main Authors: Ross, Abigail M, Ramlawi, Serine, Fakhraei, Romina, Murphy, Malia SQ, Ducharme, Robin, Dingwall-Harvey, Alysha LJ, White, Ruth Rennicks, Ritchie, Kerri, Muldoon, Katherine, El-Chaâr, Darine
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - diagnosis; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 Testing; Female; Health care; Health Personnel - psychology; Humans; Maternal Health Considerations: Psychological Physiological Wellbeing; Medical personnel; Obstetrics; Occupational health; Occupational Stress; Pandemics; Patients; Pregnancy; Psychological factors; Psychological stress; Psychology; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Stress; Surveys; Well being; Workers
• ISSN: 1745-5057; 1745-5065
• DOI: 10.1177/17455057221103101

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the specific impact of a universal SARS-CoV-2 testing programme on obstetric patients and healthcare workers at The Ottawa Hospital. Methods: This was a follow-up survey study of obstetric healthcare workers and then-pregnant patients who participated in a SARS-CoV-2 testing programme conducted in The Ottawa Hospital obstetrical triage units from 19 October to 17 November 2020. Surveys explored the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the testing programme on participants’ psychological well-being. Responses were collected from April to September 2021. Descriptive summary statistics were calculated for both groups. Results: During hospitalization for delivery, obstetric patients (n = 143) worried about giving COVID-19 to their new baby (88.11%), catching COVID-19 (83.22%), and giving COVID-19 to their partner (76.22%). Patients felt relief at being tested for COVID-19 during the universal testing programme (24.65%) and at getting their results (28.87%). Patients also believed that universal SARS-CoV-2 testing was a good way to slow COVID-19 spread (79.72%), reduce anxiety (75.52%), and increase relief (76.22%). In addition, patients felt good about participating in research that could help others (91.61%). Among obstetric healthcare workers (n = 94), job satisfaction decreased and job stress increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The universal testing programme led to minor increases in healthcare worker job stress and burden, particularly among nurses, but the majority (85.23%) believed it was a valuable research initiative. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative psychological impact on obstetric patients and healthcare workers. Universal SARS-CoV-2 testing was generally viewed favourably and may serve as an effective strategy for estimating COVID-19 prevalence without adding undue stress onto patients and healthcare workers during the pandemic.