Telework is a work organization in which a task that could have been performed on the employer’s worksite is performed by an employee outside of these offices, using information and communication technologies. COVID-19 pandemic has strengthened digitalization as the result of social distancing and lockdown. However, teleworking can lead to different risks for employees mental health.

Evaluation of the psychosocial impact of telework during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Tunisia

Descriptive cross-sectional study carried out from17 to 22 May 2021. It included workers who teleworked during the first lockdown. The data collection was performed with a self-administered online questionnaire specifying the socio-medical, occupational and psychosocial characteristics.

A total of 612 teleworkers were included. The mean age was 33±6.9 years. Sex ratio (M/F) was 0.32. The main sectors of activity were telecommunications and information technology (31.6%), legal and financial services (19%) and administration and organizations (16.5%). The teleworkers were operating in the private sector in 91.6% of the cases. Teleworking had been practiced before the health confinement by 55.6% of the cases and 86.3% had never received teleworking training. Psychosocial repercussions were noticed among 92.2%. During confinement, teleworkers reported a mood sadness in 36.4%, persistent anxiety in 27.8% and constant exhaustion in 43.3%. Sleep disorders were reported by 65.5%. They were difficulty in getting to sleep in 42.5% and a difficult morning awakening in 51.8%. The absence of work organization was significantly correlated with mood sadness (p<0.001), chronic anxiety (p=0.01), sleep disorders (p=0.03), and constant exhaustion (p=0.001). Spending breaks in front of the television and on social networks was significantly correlated with sadness of mood (p=0.04), anxiety (p=0.009), and sleep disorders (p=0.04).

Psychological impact of teleworking during health confinement at the COVID-19 pandemic was significant. Therefore, the role of the occupational physician is important in the detection and the prevention of health consequences.

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Stress is an integral part of the profession of health care personnel (HCP) and manifests in higher rates of depressive and anxiety disorders (ADD).

Screening of anxiety and depressive disorders factors among HCPs

A descriptive cross-sectional study in two university hospitals in Ariana was carried out ont september 2022. It included HCP who were examined for medical periodic visit. Data was collect from medical records, anxiety and depression Scale (HAD) and somnolence questionnaire (Epworth).

One hundred and nine HCP were included in the study. Women represented 87.2% of cases. The average age was 38 ±10.7 years. The average occupational seniority varied between one to 38 years. Nurses represented 38.5%, technicians 24% and doctors 7%. They had night work in 12% of cases. Depression and anxiety were found for 20% and 31% of cases respectively. Successive daytime sleepiness was found in 7% of cases. A statistically significant relationship was found between excessive daytime sleepiness and anxiety (p=0.005) and between depression (p=0.002).

Anxiety and depressive disorders in HCP were considerable. they were assiciated with sleepiness disorder. Night or day time shift wasn’t statistically correlated with ADD. Referral to psychiatric consultations after psychological opinion was done in order garantee therapeutic support and decide fitness to work.

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The COVID 19 pandemic had a significant psychological impact worldwide. Health care workers (HCWs) were the most affected because of the pandemic burden and occupational exigencies.

To describe epidemiological characteristics of HCWs with post COVID19 anxiodepressive disorders.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out. It included HCWs of a university hospital who consulted the Occupational Medicine Clinics for the three-month post-COVID‘s medical visit. The study was carried out during the period March 2020 to January 2022. The data was collected using a questionnaire including socio-occupational and medical characteristics. Psychometric evaluation was carried out using « the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale »

We have collected 164 HCWs. The sex ratio (M/F) was 0.29. The average age was 41±9.8 years. They belonged to the pneumology (27%), intensive care (11%) and biology laboratory (11%). The prevalence of anxiety and depression was 34% and 30% respectively. We found an association between sleep disorders and anxiety (p=0.000), OR=5 IC95%[2.4-10.3] and depression (p=0.000), OR= 4 IC 95%[2.0-9.3]. We found an association between anxiety and persistent fatigue (p=0,000), OR=4[2,0-8,6], anxiety and concentration and memory difficulties (p=0,000), OR=3 IC 95%[1,7-6,9]. Referral to psychiatric consultations were done in 16% of the cases.

Post-COVID anxiety disorders were frequent among HCWs and associated with neurocognitive disorders. Psychiatric support and early treatment are necessary to prevent mental deterioration.

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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was described among patients with COVID-19, health professionals (HP), and the population at large. HP were in the front-line managing this pandemic which put them at a higher risk to develop such trouble.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of work circumstances on the mental health of HP.

Cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out. It included HP at Abdurrahman Mami Hospital who had a positive RT-PCR test of SARS-CoV-2 on a nasopharyngeal swab over the 10-month period from January to October 2021. Data collection was performed three months after the resumption using the PCL-5 questionnaire .

Seventy six HP was included in our study. PTSD incidence was 30%. Age average was 41 ± 9 years. Women represented 84%. Seventy eight percent of the HP were married and 71% were living with their children. The average number of persons in the family was 4 ± 1. Intensive care unit was the department of origin for 17% of the HP, the laboratory in 8% of the cases, the emergency room in 3% and the Covid-19 hospitalization services in 24%. The most affected occupational category was nurses (39%), laboratory technicians (14%), and physicians (8%). General difficulties with tasks usually performed was found in 35% of HP suffering from PTSD (p=0.012). It appears that limiting the time spent at work had a protective role for PTSD with an OR of 0.25 (p=0.002).

Handling COVID-19 health issues was the concern of all medical departments. This study highlights the impact of work circumstances on the mental health of workers. PTSD was prevalent among HP according to our study. PTSD may have an impact on work ability, which should be further explored by other studies. Other psychiatric disorders should also be investigated.

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Bipolar disorder or manic-depressive psychosis is a severe recurrent psychiatric disorder that, if left untreated, can lead to severe social harm, disability and neurotrophic changes in the brain. However, social and psychological factors play a key role in the onset and progression of the disorder. Therefore, a bio-psycho-social therapeutic approach in the form of an integrated model of “Collaborative Care” is recommended.

Determining the main factors interfering with the decision of fitness to work in bipolar disorders according to work requirements.

Clinical cases including health professionals (HP) was carried out. Cases were examinated at a specialized occupational health Clinics including HP between 2018 and 2022. Data was collected from medical records and by questioning patients directly in case of missing data.

Four HP were included in the study. All suffering from bipolar disorder. The average age was 37 years [28,49]. All were women. Two were divorced and one single. Two anesthesia technicians, a nurse and a cleaner. Two were smokers. Two were transferred to another department because non psycho-education of colleagues at work, dealing with patients, verbal and physical agressivness and cognitive disorders. The two anesthesia technicians were judged unfit for work because of their work responsability and the need for the integrity of all cognitive faculties in the workplace.

In order to decide the fitness to work, occupational physician must consider both bipolar disorder impact and workplace exigency. The adequacy between disease stability and others security is iteratively revised.

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Work addiction is currently an increasingly frequent phenomenon in several sectors of activity, particullarly the engineering sector, given the importance of technological advances and the development of organizational climates favoring competition.

To describe work addiction impact among tunisian computer engineers.

A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out from September first, 2020 to December 31st, 2020 including computer engineers working in several private engineering companies located at Grand Tunis area. Data collection was done through an online self-administered questionnaire. The level of work addiction was assessed by the Work Addiction Risk Test (WRAT) in its French version validated with 25 items evaluating five dimensions namely : Compulsive tendencies, control, lack of communication, inability to delegate and self-esteem. Burnout was identified by The Maslach Burnout Inventory.

A total of 92 computer engineers were included. The average age was 27 ± 4.7 years with extremes ranging from 23 to 55 years. The sex ratio (M / F) was equal to 1.48. Sixty-nine percent (69%) of engineers considered that their work takes so much energy and time that it had a negative impact on their private lives (less time spent with family, more marital conflicts, etc…). Fifty-four percent (54%) of engineers suffered from sleep disorders (difficulty falling asleep, repetitive nocturnal awakenings, etc). The results of the WART questionnaire showed that 58% of engineers were at risk of work addiction, of which 27% had a high risk. This group of engineers with a medium to high risk of work addiction had an average age of 26 ± 3.6 years with extremes ranging from 23 to 42 years. The sex ratio was equal to 1.52. They reported more negative impact of their work on their personal lives (p=0.010) and more reproaches from family members (p= 0.038). They were at risk of burnout syndrome (p=0.038). No statistically significant relationship between the risk of work addiction and the occupational characteristics (occupational category, seniority in the engineering position, number of hours spent at work / week, etc.) was found.

The occupational physician has a crucial role in screening work addiction and its consequences among engineers. Early detection among at-risk populations must be carried out by a multidisciplinary team for appropriate management of workaholic employees.

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