Socio-labor, health, and organizational factors as predictors of perceived high mental load in healthcare personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND: Health care personnel providing direct care to COVID-19 patients may perceive high mental load. In this study, we aimed to determine the mental workload perceived by the workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and its relationship with different variables. METHODS: Cross-sectional study carried out in Chile that included 411 health care professionals. The following data were collected by means of an on-line questionnaire: sociodemographic, work-related, health, and psychological mediators and perception of the organizational conditions. The Subjective Mental Workload Scale (SCAM) -a 1 to 5 rating instrument- was applied. Scores >3 indicated high perceived mental load. We determined the independent predictors of perceived high mental load. RESULTS: Health care workers perceived medium-high mental load, 3.69 (IQR = 3.35-4.05);78.4% of these professionals perceived high mental load. Several variables, mainly related to the organizational conditions of their job, acted as independent predictors for high mental load: being a nurse, having been in the job <6 years, had been working in hospital care, had had symptoms of stress and inadequate sleep, having a low perception regarding access to personal protection equipment and psychological support at their work site. CONCLUSION: In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, health care workers perceive high mental burden, mainly associated to the organizational conditions of their job.