148987 Psychological impact of an infectious disease outbreak on health care workers: Lessons from SARS

Tuesday, November 6, 2007: 5:30 PM

Ping Wu, PhD , Departments of Psychiatry and Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, NY
Yunyun Fang, BS , Department of Health Administration, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
Zhiqiang Guan, MD , National Institute for Social Insurance, Beijing, China
Bin Fan, MD , Child Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY
Junhui Kong, MD , Department of Health Administration, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
Zhongling Yao, MD , Peking University First School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing, China
Xinhua Liu, PhD , Department of Biostatistics, Columbia University, New York, NY
Cordelia J. Fuller, MS , Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY
Jin Lu, MBA , Peking University First School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing, China
Qun Wang, MS , Peking University First School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing, China
Christina W. Hoven, DrPH , Director, Child Psychiatry Epidemiology Group, Columbia University/NYS Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY
        
Background: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) was the first newly emerging infectious disease of the 21st century. With its rapid spread and high mortality rate, SARS caused considerable panic and anxiety in the world, especially among health care workers.

Methods: A survey was conducted among 549 randomly selected health care workers (HCWs) in Beijing, China, regarding the psychological impact of the 2003 SARS outbreak. Subjects were assessed on types of exposure to the outbreak, PTSD symptoms, risk perception, and fear of future infectious disease outbreaks.

Results: The study found that HCWs who had been quarantined, or worked in high-risk locations such as SARS wards, fever clinics, or an Emergency Room during the outbreak, were about twice as likely to have probable PTSD as other HCWs. Those with family members or friends or close acquaintances who contracted SARS were about three times more likely than others to have to have probable PTSD. Subjects' attitudes towards SARS-related risks were significantly associated with PTSD. When perceptions of risk were included in the analyses, the impact of work exposure or being quarantined became non-significant, indicating that these attitudes mediated the effects of exposure. Acceptance of the SARS risks, on the other hand, was negatively related to PTSD.

Conclusion: The findings are important for our understanding of the range of possible psychological impacts that an infectious disease outbreak may have, and to assist policy makers and health professionals concerned with reducing the negative psychological impact of potential future outbreaks of severe infectious diseases.

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify several types of event exposure which may occur during an outbreak of infectious disease, and which individuals may experience as traumatic. 2. Identify socio-demographic factors which may affect the relationship between exposure to an infectious disease outbreak and the subsequent development of PTSD symptoms 3. Evaluate the impact of attitudes towards risk on post-outbreak psychiatric problems as well on post-outbreak levels of fear regarding the possibility of another outbreak of an infectious disease such as SARS or avian flu.

Keywords: Infectious Diseases, Mental Disorders

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Mental Health and Trauma
See more of: Mental Health