Tags

Type your tag names separated by a space and hit enter

The Psychological Experience of Obstetric Patients and Health Care Workers after Implementation of Universal SARS-CoV-2 Testing.
Am J Perinatol. 2020 10; 37(12):1271-1279.AJ

Abstract

OBJECTIVE

This study was aimed to describe the hospitalization and early postpartum psychological experience for asymptomatic obstetric patients tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) as part of a universal testing program and report the impact of this program on labor and delivery health care workers' job satisfaction and workplace anxiety.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a cohort study of asymptomatic pregnant women who underwent SARS-CoV-2 testing between April 13, 2020 and April 26, 2020. Semistructured interviews were conducted via telephone at 1 and 2 weeks posthospitalization to assess maternal mental health. Depression screening was conducted using the patient health questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2). An online survey of labor and delivery health care workers assessed job satisfaction and job-related anxiety before and during the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, as well as employees' subjective experience with universal testing. Patient and employee responses were analyzed for recurring themes.

RESULTS

A total of 318 asymptomatic women underwent SARS-CoV-2 testing during this 2-week period. Six of the eight women (75%) who tested positive reported negative in-hospital experiences secondary to perceived lack of provider and partner support and neonatal separation after birth. Among the 310 women who tested negative, 34.4% of multiparous women reported increased postpartum anxiety compared with their prior deliveries due to concerns about infectious exposure in the hospital and lack of social support. Only 27.6% of women, tested negative, found their test result to be reassuring. Job satisfaction and job-related anxiety among health care workers were negatively affected. Universal testing was viewed favorably by the majority of health care workers despite concerns about delays or alterations in patient care and maternal and neonatal separation.

CONCLUSION

Universal testing for SARS-CoV-2 in obstetric units has mixed effects on maternal mental health but is viewed favorably by labor and delivery employees. Ongoing evaluation of new testing protocols is paramount to balance staff and patient safety with quality and equality of care.

KEY POINTS

· Women with SARS-CoV-2 had a negative hospital experience.. · A negative SARS-CoV-2 test was not reassuring for patients.. · COVID-19 negatively impacts healthcare workers' well-being..

Links

PMC Free PDF

Authors+Show Affiliations

Bender WR
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Maternal and Child Health Research Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Srinivas S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Maternal and Child Health Research Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Coutifaris P
Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Acker A
Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Hirshberg A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Maternal and Child Health Research Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

MeSH

AdultAnxietyAsymptomatic InfectionsAttitude of Health PersonnelAttitude to HealthBetacoronavirusCOVID-19COVID-19 TestingClinical Laboratory TechniquesCoronavirus InfectionsFemaleHealth PersonnelHospitalizationHumansInfant, NewbornJob SatisfactionMass ScreeningMidwiferyNursesObstetric NursingOccupational StressPandemicsParturitionPatient Health QuestionnairePatient IsolationPhysiciansPneumonia, ViralPostpartum PeriodPregnancyPregnant WomenSARS-CoV-2Social Support

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

32757185

Citation

Bender, Whitney R., et al. "The Psychological Experience of Obstetric Patients and Health Care Workers After Implementation of Universal SARS-CoV-2 Testing." American Journal of Perinatology, vol. 37, no. 12, 2020, pp. 1271-1279.
Bender WR, Srinivas S, Coutifaris P, et al. The Psychological Experience of Obstetric Patients and Health Care Workers after Implementation of Universal SARS-CoV-2 Testing. Am J Perinatol. 2020;37(12):1271-1279.
Bender, W. R., Srinivas, S., Coutifaris, P., Acker, A., & Hirshberg, A. (2020). The Psychological Experience of Obstetric Patients and Health Care Workers after Implementation of Universal SARS-CoV-2 Testing. American Journal of Perinatology, 37(12), 1271-1279. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0040-1715505
Bender WR, et al. The Psychological Experience of Obstetric Patients and Health Care Workers After Implementation of Universal SARS-CoV-2 Testing. Am J Perinatol. 2020;37(12):1271-1279. PubMed PMID: 32757185.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - The Psychological Experience of Obstetric Patients and Health Care Workers after Implementation of Universal SARS-CoV-2 Testing. AU - Bender,Whitney R, AU - Srinivas,Sindhu, AU - Coutifaris,Paulina, AU - Acker,Alexandra, AU - Hirshberg,Adi, Y1 - 2020/08/05/ PY - 2020/8/7/pubmed PY - 2020/10/21/medline PY - 2020/8/7/entrez SP - 1271 EP - 1279 JF - American journal of perinatology JO - Am J Perinatol VL - 37 IS - 12 N2 - OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to describe the hospitalization and early postpartum psychological experience for asymptomatic obstetric patients tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) as part of a universal testing program and report the impact of this program on labor and delivery health care workers' job satisfaction and workplace anxiety. STUDY DESIGN: This is a cohort study of asymptomatic pregnant women who underwent SARS-CoV-2 testing between April 13, 2020 and April 26, 2020. Semistructured interviews were conducted via telephone at 1 and 2 weeks posthospitalization to assess maternal mental health. Depression screening was conducted using the patient health questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2). An online survey of labor and delivery health care workers assessed job satisfaction and job-related anxiety before and during the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, as well as employees' subjective experience with universal testing. Patient and employee responses were analyzed for recurring themes. RESULTS: A total of 318 asymptomatic women underwent SARS-CoV-2 testing during this 2-week period. Six of the eight women (75%) who tested positive reported negative in-hospital experiences secondary to perceived lack of provider and partner support and neonatal separation after birth. Among the 310 women who tested negative, 34.4% of multiparous women reported increased postpartum anxiety compared with their prior deliveries due to concerns about infectious exposure in the hospital and lack of social support. Only 27.6% of women, tested negative, found their test result to be reassuring. Job satisfaction and job-related anxiety among health care workers were negatively affected. Universal testing was viewed favorably by the majority of health care workers despite concerns about delays or alterations in patient care and maternal and neonatal separation. CONCLUSION: Universal testing for SARS-CoV-2 in obstetric units has mixed effects on maternal mental health but is viewed favorably by labor and delivery employees. Ongoing evaluation of new testing protocols is paramount to balance staff and patient safety with quality and equality of care. KEY POINTS: · Women with SARS-CoV-2 had a negative hospital experience.. · A negative SARS-CoV-2 test was not reassuring for patients.. · COVID-19 negatively impacts healthcare workers' well-being.. SN - 1098-8785 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/32757185/The_Psychological_Experience_of_Obstetric_Patients_and_Health_Care_Workers_after_Implementation_of_Universal_SARS_CoV_2_Testing_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -