METHODS
A prospective study was performed on HCWs at a tertiary-level university
hospital in Dublin, Ireland. The Coombe Women and Infants University
Hospital (CWIUH) is one of the largest providers of women’s healthcare
in Europe, delivering almost 9000 babies annually and serving the
diverse urban population of this European capital city.
The anonymous online survey was distributed to HCWs in all departments
of the hospital.
The Generalized-Anxiety-Disorder-7(GAD-7)5 and
Patient-Health-Questionnaire-9(PHQ-9)6 scores were
used to analyze severity of anxiety and depression (A&D). The composite
questionnaire included questions assessing previous mental health
status, coping strategies and support mechanisms.
Survey responses were analyzed using statistical software
(IBM-SPSS-Version-24.0). Median and range PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores were
compared using Mann-Whitney-U or Kruskal-Wallis-H tests. Due to rapid
emergence of the pandemic, the study had executive ethical approval.