Key Messages

Our preliminary findings show that women HCWs are at increased risk for stress, burnout, and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. More specifically, younger women and mid-career women are more vulnerable to anxiety, stress, depression and burnout. These negative outcomes are triggered by individual-, organizational-, and systems-level factors. There is a limited amount of evidence on effective interventions that prevents anxiety, stress, burnout and depression during a pandemic

Keywords

• Coronavirus
• COVID-19
• Women in health care
• Stress
• Burnout
• Depression

Author(s)

• Nominated Principal Applicant: Abi Sriharan, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto
• Savithiri Ratnapalan, Department of Pediatrics and Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto.  Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto
•  Andrea Tricco, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto; Epidemiology Division and Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Queen’s Collaboration for Health Care Quality Joanna Briggs Institute Centre of Excellence, Queen’s University
• Doina Lupea, Physician Health Program, Ontario Medical Association

For more information, please contact: Abi Sriharan, abi.sriharan@utoronto.ca

Related Syntheses

• The GID-COVID Project: Gender and Intervention in Addiction with Individuals in Situations of Social Precarity in the Context of a Pandemic
• What is the impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic on the mental health of children aged 5–12, and what are the specific issues faced by children with a disability or chronic illness? A scoping review of problems experienced and promising avenues for intervention
• An Evidence Synthesis Service to Support Ontario’s Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence

Supplemental Links

• Webinar: Pandemic, Stress and Burnout Among Female Health Care Workers

Population

Vulnerable or At-Risk Populations, Healthcare, Front-line Workers and Public Safety Personnel

Language

To ensure the rapid dissemination of this critical information, information is published in the language in which it was submitted. Please contact us for French or English translations.