Mental Health Status of Medical Staff in Emergency Departments During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Epidemic in China

Background: The emergency department is considered to be a high-risk area, as it is often the first stop for febrile patients who are subsequently diagnosed with Coronavirus disease 2019. This study aimed to assess the mental health of emergency department medical staff during the epidemic in China. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from February 28, 2020 to March 18, 2020. Demographic data and mental health measurements were collected by electronic questionnaires. Outcomes: A total of 14,825 doctors and nurses in 31 provinces of mainland China completed the survey. The prevalence of depressive symptoms and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were 25.2% and 9.1%. Men were more likely to have depressive symptoms and PTSD than women. Those with middle age, the fewer years working, longer daily work time and lower levels of social support had higher risk to have depressive symptoms and PTSD. Working in Hubei province was associated with a higher risk of depressive symptoms, while those working in Hubei province but who came from another province had a lower risk of depressive symptoms and PTSD. Being a nurse was associated with a higher risk of PTSD. Interpretation: Targeted psychological interventions to promote the mental health of medical staff with psychological problems needs to be immediately implemented. Special attention should be paid to local medical staff in Hubei. Funding Statement: This study was supported by Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences (2019-I2M-5-023), Hainan Provincial Science and Technology Major Project (ZDKJ201804) and Hainan Social Development Fund (ZDYFXGFY2020004). Declaration of Interests: The authors report no conflicts with any product mentioned or concept discussed in this article. Ethics Approval Statement: The study was approved by the institutional ethics board of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University (No. 2020R011).