Title

Responding to Health Care Professionals' Mental Health Needs During COVID-19 Through the Rapid Implementation of Project ECHO.

Authors

Sanjeev Sockalingam, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine; Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Chantalle Clarkin, Virtual Mental Health and Outreach, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Eva Serhal, Virtual Mental Health and Outreach, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Cheryl Pereira, ECHO Ontario Mental Health, Virtual Mental Health and Outreach, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Allison Crawford, Department of Psychiatry; Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Virtual Mental Health and Outreach, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2020

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic can cause significant mental health distress among health care professionals (HCPs). We describe the psychological needs of HCPs during COVID-19 and the implementation of Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) Coping with COVID (ECHO-CWC) to help HCPs manage COVID-19 distress.

METHODS: We used an established rapid implementation approach to accelerate the development and delivery of ECHO-CWC to address the emerging needs of HCPs. Participants' needs were identified using a 10-question survey of participants' perceived risk of COVID-19 and a five-item self-efficacy measure. Implementation outcomes consisted of participant engagement and session satisfaction scores using a five-point Likert scale.

RESULTS: A total of 426 participants registered for ECHO-CWC. Needs assessment data (n = 129) showed that most participants reported feeling increased stress at work (84.5%), fear of infecting others (75.2%), and fear of falling ill (70.5%) from COVID-19, yet most participants accepted the risk associated with work during this time (59.7%). Participants were highly satisfied with the initial five sessions (mean = 4.26).

DISCUSSION: HCPs reported the greatest concern with fears of infection and infecting others during the acute phase of the pandemic. Using an iterative curriculum design approach and existing implementation frameworks, the ECHO tele-education model can be rapidly mobilized to address HCPs' mental health needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recommended Citation

Sockalingam S, Clarkin C, Serhal E, Pereira C, Crawford A. Responding to Health Care Professionals' Mental Health Needs During COVID-19 Through the Rapid Implementation of Project ECHO. J Contin Educ Health Prof. 2020 Summer;40(3):211-214. doi: 10.1097/CEH.0000000000000311. PMID: 32658015.