ORIGINAL PAPER
Working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic in primary and tertiary healthcare: a comparative cross-sectional study
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1
Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
(COVID19VATEHY Research Group, Head and Neck Center)
2
University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
(Doctoral Programme in Clinical Research)
3
Joint Municipal Authority for Social and Healthcare in Central Uusimaa (Keusote), Hyvinkää, Finland
4
Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Finland
(Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Phoniatrics – Head and Neck Surgery)
5
Aalto University, Helsinki, Finland
(School of Business)
6
Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
(Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases)
Online publication date: 2023-02-14
Corresponding author
Ida Aulanko
Helsinki University Hospital, COVID19VATEHY Research Group, Head and Neck Center, P.O. Box 250, FI-00029 HUS, Finland
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(1):139-50
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ABSTRACT
Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has globally affected healthcare workers’ (HCWs) health and wellbeing. Most studies on COVID-19 have
focused on tertiary healthcare. The aim of this study was to increase the knowledge on the effects of the pandemic on working conditions in tertiary
and primary healthcare. Material and Methods: The comparative cross-sectional study consisted of an online questionnaire sent to HCWs of the City
of Helsinki (primary healthcare) and Helsinki University Hospital (tertiary healthcare). Altogether 1580 HCWs with direct patient contact participated
in the study: 895 from tertiary and 685 from primary healthcare. Statistical analysis used SPSS 25 from IBM. The tests used were the χ2 test, Fisher’s exact test, and binary logistic regression analysis. Results: Primary HCWs were less likely to treat COVID-19 patients (OR = 0.45, 95% CI:
0.37–0.56). However, both groups reported a similar number of COVID-19 infections, primary HCWs 4.9% and tertiary HCWs 5.0%, and workrelated
quarantine was significantly more prevalent (OR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.38–2.79) among primary HCWs. In addition, work-related wellbeing was
poorer among primary HCWs than tertiary HCWs in terms of feeling more stressed at work (OR = 3.20, 95% CI: 2.55–4.02), not recovering from
work (OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.39–0.62), reported mental wellbeing below normal levels (OR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.26–2.00), and increased working hours
(OR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.25–2.12). Conclusions: The study demonstrates how the pandemic has affected the wellbeing and working conditions of not only tertiary but also less studied primary HCWs. The authors’ findings suggest that the challenges identified during the COVID-19 pandemic in the health
and wellbeing of healthcare workers are even greater in primary care than in tertiary care. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(1):139–50