The nexus of mental health and COVID-19-related duties among medical laboratory professionals: the mediating role of resilience

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a huge mental health burden on healthcare workers. Evidence suggests that medical laboratory professionals have been particularly susceptible to experiencing psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: This study aimed to assess the association between psychological distress, burnout, and resilience among medical laboratory professionals in Ghana during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A nationally stratified anonymous online cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess psychological distress, burnout, and resilience among 483 laboratorians. Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 was used to measure psychological distress. Burnout symptoms were assessed with the 14-item Shirom Melamed Burnout Measure tool. Resilience was assessed using the 10-item Connor Davidson Resilience Scale. Mediation analysis using structural equation modelling and linear regression analysis were adopted to assess the mediation and strength of association, respectively. In all analyses, a p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The overall mean ± standard deviation for psychological distress, burnout, and resilience were 14.19 ± 7.60, 35.35 ± 16.44, and 26.75 ± 7.97 respectively. There was a positive significant relationship between psychological distress and burnout [correlation coefficient (r_s) = 0.72, p ≤ 0.001) whereas a negative relationship was observed between psychological distress and resilience (r_s =-0.16; p < 0.001) and burnout and resilience (r_s =-0.18, p < 0.001). Resilience served as a mediator between burnout and psychological distress with a significant indirect effect [Sobel z-score = 3.35; p = 0.001). An increased unit of psychological distress and burnout score, significantly decreased resilience score by approximately 11 and 5 points respectively [adjusted beta (aβ) =-11.23; 95% confidence interval (CI) =-16.81 – 5.67 versus aβ =-4.85; 95% CI =-6.97 – 2.73] Conclusion: Medical laboratory professionals in Ghana are at heightened risk of impaired mental health as they perform their duties during the COVID-19 pandemic. Supporting the psychological needs of this cadre of health staff is an essential component in combatting the pandemic. National and institutional policy and structural modifications required to enhance resilience among health providers will be key to controlling the current and future pandemics.