Special Collection - Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for wellbeing in the healthcare workforce

This Special Collection is one of a series of collections on COVID-19, and it will be updated if additional reviews are published.

Many healthcare workers are at the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic, delivering emergency and critical care, while others continue to deliver the broader services of the health system in hospitals, clinics, offices, communities, and homes. Working under difficult and stressful circumstances that are likely to continue for some time, exacerbates existing risk factors such as occupational stress and shift work. Supporting the wellbeing of healthcare workers is crucial to sustaining our health systems during and beyond the current crisis.

This Special Collection brings together Cochrane evidence on interventions that may help support the wellbeing of the healthcare workforce and reducing occupational stress.

These reviews have been produced Cochrane Review Groups in three Networks: Cochrane Mental Health and Neuroscience; Cochrane Musculoskeletal, Oral, Skin and Sensory; and Cochrane Public Health and Health Systems. Some reviews in this collection have associated Cochrane Clinical Answers.

Please note that the reviews included in this Special Collection summarize evidence, and their inclusion does not mean that the interventions reviewed have been shown to be effective.

Interventions for occupational stress

Psychological interventions to foster resilience in healthcare professionals

Resilience can be defined as the maintenance or quick recovery of mental health during or after periods of stress, resulting from a potentially traumatising event, challenging life circumstances, a critical life transition phase, or physical illness. Healthcare professionals are exposed to various work‐related stressors and are at increased risk of developing mental disorders. This review assesses interventions to foster resilience in healthcare staff delivering medical and allied healthcare.

Psychological interventions to foster resilience in healthcare students

Resilience can be defined as maintaining or regaining mental health during or after significant adversities such as a potentially traumatising event, challenging life circumstances, a critical life transition or physical illness. Healthcare students are exposed to various study‐ and work‐related stressors, and are at increased risk of developing symptoms of burnout or mental disorders. This review assesses the effects of interventions to foster resilience in students training for health professions, delivering medical and allied healthcare.

Computer‐based versus in‐person interventions for preventing and reducing stress in workers

Free access

In‐person and computer‐based (web or mobile) stress management interventions have been shown to be effective in reducing stress in employees compared to no intervention. Computer‐based interventions may be more accessible, convenient, and cost‐effective. This review aims to compare the effects of computer‐based interventions versus in‐person interventions for preventing and reducing stress in workers.

Human resource management training of supervisors for improving health and well‐being of employees

Leadership behaviour can influence the wellbeing of employees. This review aims to assess the effect of human resource management training for supervisors on employees' stress, absenteeism, and wellbeing, including training aimed at improving supervisor‐employee interaction and training aimed at improving the work environment.

Ethical case interventions for adult patients

Free access

Decisions in clinical medicine can be associated with ethical challenges. Ethical case interventions (e.g. ethics committee, moral case deliberation) identify and analyse ethical conflicts that occur within the context of care for patients, and they may involve ethical experts and healthcare professionals as well as patients and their families. This review aims to assess the effectiveness of ethical case interventions. Associated Cochrane Clinical Answer: How do proactive and request‐based ethical case interventions compare with usual care for adults in intensive care units?

Interventions for physical safety and capacity to work

Work‐break schedules for preventing musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders in healthy workers

Free access

Work‐related musculoskeletal disorders are one of the most common groups of disorders related to occupational sick leave worldwide. This review aims to compare the effectiveness of different work‐break schedules for preventing work‐related musculoskeletal symptoms and disorders in healthy workers.

Interventions for preventing occupational irritant hand dermatitis

Free access

Occupational irritant hand dermatitis (OIHD) causes significant functional impairment, disruption of work, and discomfort. This review aims to assess the effects of primary preventive interventions and strategies (physical and behavioural) for preventing OIHD in people who work in occupations where the skin is at risk of damage due to contact with water, detergents, chemicals, or other irritants, or from wearing gloves. Associated Cochrane Clinical Answer: Is there randomized controlled trial evidence to support the use of interventions for preventing occupational irritant hand dermatitis?

Person‐directed, non‐pharmacological interventions for sleepiness at work and sleep disturbances caused by shift work

Free access

Shift work results in sleep‐wake disturbances, which cause sleepiness during night shifts and reduce sleep length and quality in daytime sleep after the night shift. This review aims to assess the effects of person‐directed, non‐pharmacological interventions for reducing sleepiness at work and improving the length and quality of sleep between shifts for shift workers.

About this Special Collection

Acknowledgements

This Special Collection was developed by Miranda Cumpston (Editor, Cochrane Public Health), working with Monaz Mehta (Editor, Cochrane Editorial and Methods Department) and Katherine Jones (NIHR Network Support Fellow, Cochrane Mental Health and Neuroscience). Colleagues from Cochrane Developmental, Psychosocial and Learning Problems, Cochrane Public Health, Cochrane Skin, and Cochrane Injuries, and Alex Pollock and Margaret Maxwell of Glasgow Caledonian University provided input on the selection of reviews.

Image credit

Getty Images/Fuse

Contact

Cochrane Editorial and Methods Department (emd@cochrane.org)