Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37291553›Full record

ArticleBMC health services research2023

Exploring the psychological impact of contact tracing work on staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hugh Fulham-McQuillan, Róisín O'Donovan, Claire M Buckley, Philip Crowley, Brynne Gilmore, Jennifer Martin, Eilish McAuliffe, Gregory Martin, Gemma Moore, Mary Morrissey and 7 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC health services research, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
1.6field-weighted citation impact, top 18% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors at 6 institutions in 1 country.

Hugh Fulham-McQuillanUCD Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, Education, and Innovation in Health Systems (UCD IRIS), School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland. fulhammh@tcd.ie.
Róisín O'DonovanCentre for Positive Psychology and Health, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), Dublin 2, Ireland.
Claire M BuckleySchool of Public Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Philip CrowleyTeam Strategy and Research Directorate, Health Service Executive, Dublin, Ireland.
Brynne GilmoreUCD Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, Education, and Innovation in Health Systems (UCD IRIS), School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Jennifer MartinNational Quality and Patient Safety Directorate, Health Service Executive, Dublin, Ireland.
Eilish McAuliffeUCD Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, Education, and Innovation in Health Systems (UCD IRIS), School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Gregory MartinHealth Protection Surveillance Centre, Health Service Executive, Dublin, Ireland.
Gemma MooreTeam Strategy and Research Directorate, Health Service Executive, Dublin, Ireland.
Mary MorrisseyNational Health Intelligence Unit, Research & Evidence, Health Service Executive, Dublin, Ireland.
Emma NicholsonUCD Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, Education, and Innovation in Health Systems (UCD IRIS), School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Éidín Ní ShéGraduate School of Healthcare Management, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), Dublin 2, Ireland.
Mary Clare O'HaraResearch and Development, Strategy and Research, Health Service Executive, Dublin, Ireland.
Ricardo SeguradoSchool of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Mary Rose SweeneySchool of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland.
Patrick WallSchool of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Aoife De BrúnUCD Centre for Interdisciplinary Research, Education, and Innovation in Health Systems (UCD IRIS), School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
University College Dublin · IEHealth Service Executive · IERoyal College of Surgeons in Ireland · IEDublin City University · IEHealth Protection Surveillance Centre · IEUniversity College Cork · IE

Funding

Health Research Board and Irish Research Council under the COVID-19 Pandemic Rapid Response Funding Call [COV19-2020-016]
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundContact tracing is a key control measure in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. While quantitative research has been conducted on the psychological impact of the pandemic on other frontline healthcare workers, none has explored the impact on contact tracing staff.

methodsA longitudinal study was conducted using two repeated measures with contact tracing staff employed in Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic using two-tailed independent samples t tests and exploratory linear mixed models.

resultsThe study sample included 137 contact tracers in March 2021 (T1) and 218 in September 2021 (T3). There was an increase from T1 to T3 in burnout related exhaustion (p < 0·001), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom scores (p < 0·001), mental distress (p < 0·01), perceived stress (p < 0·001) and tension and pressure (p < 0·001). In those aged 18-30, there was an increase in exhaustion related burnout (p < 0·01), PTSD symptoms (p < 0·05), and tension and pressure scores (p < 0·05). Additionally, participants with a background in healthcare showed an increase in PTSD symptom scores by T3 (p < 0·001), reaching mean scores equivalent to those of participants who did not have a background in healthcare.

conclusionsContact tracing staff working during the COVID-19 pandemic experienced an increase in adverse psychological outcomes. These findings highlight a need for further research on psychological supports required by contact tracing staff with differing demographic profiles.

Indexed as

COVID-19Burnout, PsychologicalContact TracingHealth PersonnelHumansLongitudinal StudiesPandemicsBurnoutContact tracing staffcovid-19Health services researchMental distressMental healthPerceived stressPsychological impactPTSD

Identifiers

PMID37291553
PMCPMC10250071
OpenAlexW4379791086

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.