On the Frontlines in Shanghai: Stress, Burnout, and Perceived Benefit Among COVID-19 Testers and Other Personnel During the Omicron Wave Lockdown.

Abstract

COVID-19 (COronaVIrus Disease-19) control measure stringency, including testing, has been among the highest globally in China. Psychosocial impact on pandemic workers in Shanghai and their pandemic-related attitudes were investigated. Participants in this cross-sectional study were health care providers (HCPs) and other pandemic workers. A Mandarin online survey was administered between April and June 2022 during the omicron-wave lockdown. The Perceived Stress Scale and Maslach Burnout Inventory were administered. Eight hundred eighty-seven workers participated, of which 691 (77.9%) were HCPs. They were working 6.25 ± 1.24 days per week for 9.77 ± 4.28 hours per day. Most participants were burned out, with 143 (16.1%) moderately and 98 (11.0%) seriously. The Perceived Stress Scale score was 26.85 ± 9.92 of 56, with 353 participants (39.8%) having elevated stress. Many workers perceived benefits: cohesive relationships (n = 581 [65.5%]), resilience (n = 693 [78.1%]), and honor (n = 747 [84.2%]). In adjusted analyses, those perceiving benefits showed significantly less burnout (odds ratio, 0.573; 95% confidence interval, 0.411 to 0.799), among other correlates. Pandemic work, including among non-HCPs, is highly stressful, but some can derive benefits.