Correlation analysis of risk factors and GSI score of a medical team assisting Wuhan city during the epidemic of COVID-19 in China -A cohort study
Authors: Wang Cheng , Zhang Jinlong , Lu Zhaohui , Wang Jingquan , Fang Yunyun , Wang Yanlin , Chen Xia , Hong Na , Jing Xiaolei 
Published: May 2020

Importance

There are few studies on the psychological status of medical staff during the COVID-19 outbreak. This study is the first in the world about the psychological status of the medical team during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Objective

To study the correlation between risk factors and general symptom index (GSI) score of medical team members who support Wuhan against COVID-19.

Design

Cohort study.

Setting

Population-based.

Participants

Anhui Province sent a total of eight medical teams, including 1382 members, to support Hubei Province. We adopted a stratified sampling method and selected the fourth team sent by Anhui Provincial Hospital, with a total of 137 members as our subjects.

Exposures

Four main exposures were collected, including basic information, preparations before going to Wuhan, life issues and working issues after going to Wuhan.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The GSI score of SCL-90 scale was used to reflect the frequency and intensity of psychological symptoms. We made the hypothesis of this study before data collection.

Results

110(80.29%) members completed the questionnaire, of which, 77(70.00%) female and 33(30.00%) male. When adjusted age, gender and covariates, DC, LCWT had a positive correlations with GSI score(β was10.17, 95%CI was 3.30 to 17.04 for DC, P=0.00<0.05; β was 11.55, 95%CI was 0.40 to 22.71 for LCWT, P =0.04<0.05;respectively), RBT had a negative positive correlation with GSI score (β was -28.09, 95%CI was -45.79 to -10.40, P=0.00<0.05), AoBI did not had a correlation with GSI score (β was 11.55, 95%CI was 0.40 to 22.71, P=0.16>0.05). When adjusted covariates, DC had a positive and RBT had a negative correlation with GSI score of female (β was 13.20, 95%CI was 4.55 to 21.85, P=0.00<0.05; β was -57.85, 95%CI was -94.52 to -21.18, P=0.00<0.05; respectively), but for male was not (P=0.59>0.05, P=0.08>0.05, respectively), LCWT and AoBI didn’t had correlation with GSI score between genders (P>0.05).

Conclusions and Relevance

Improving DC, RBT and decreasing LCWT can reduce the GSI score. AoBI didn’t affect the psychological status; male members have a more stable mood than female. Whether other countries medical team has the same result still needs further research.

Key Points

Question

What is the correlation between risk factors and general symptom index (GSI) score of medical team members who support Wuhan against COVID-19?

Findings

Dietary conditions (DC) had a positive and relationship between team (RBT) had a negative correlation with GSI score of female, but for male was not (P=0.59>0.05, P=0.08>0.05, respectively), lacking communication with teams (LCWT) and afraid of being infected (AoBI) didn’t had correlation with GSI score between genders, a significant difference.

Meaning

Improving DC, RBT and decreasing LCWT between team members can reduce the GSI score. Whether they are AoBI, didn’t affect the psychological status, male members have a more stable mood than female.