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

Abigail M Ross; Serine Ramlawi; Romina Fakhraei; Malia Sq Murphy; Robin Ducharme; Alysha Lj Dingwall-Harvey; Ruth Rennicks White; Kerri Ritchie; Katherine Muldoon; Darine El-Chaâr

doi:10.1177/17455057221103101

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

Womens Health (Lond). 2022 Jan-Dec:18:17455057221103101. doi: 10.1177/17455057221103101.

Authors

Abigail M Ross¹, Serine Ramlawi², Romina Fakhraei², Malia Sq Murphy², Robin Ducharme², Alysha Lj Dingwall-Harvey², Ruth Rennicks White^{2

3}, Kerri Ritchie^{4

5}, Katherine Muldoon^{2

6}, Darine El-Chaâr^{2

3

6}

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
² Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
³ Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Care, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
⁴ Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Psychiatry, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
⁵ School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
⁶ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; healthcare worker; obstetrics; pregnancy; universal testing.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

COVID-19 Testing
COVID-19* / diagnosis
COVID-19* / epidemiology
Female
Health Personnel / psychology
Humans
Occupational Stress*
Pandemics
Pregnancy
SARS-CoV-2

Grants and funding

VR4-172760/CIHR/Canada