Unraveling the fear of COVID-19 reinfection: insights from frontline doctors in China

Considering the end of global emergency status of Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) and the persistent risk of reinfection for healthcare workers (HCWs), it is important to evaluate the attitude of the HCWs toward reinfecting with COVID-19. To gather information about participants' concerns regarding reinfection with COVID-19, a comprehensive online questionnaire was administered to all individuals involved in the study. DASS-21 was used to assess their mental health. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the factors associated with fear of reinfection. A total of 982 questionnaires were collected for this study, with only 503 questionnaires included in the final analysis. Of the 503 respondents, 201 (39.96%) feared reinfection with COVID-19. Three factors emerged as significantly associated with the fear of reinfection: (a) having been infected with COVID-19 before, (b) feeling that COVID-19 had a lasting effect on one's life, and (c) experiencing anxiety. The most common factors reported by those who feared reinfection were: concern about the negative effects of reinfection on their physical health, worry about the possible long-term complications of reinfection, and belief that reinfection would not have a big impact. And the mental state of HCWs has improved and become more optimistic. Although the morale of HCWs has improved, it remains evident that a significant portion of them still have concerns about reinfection and continue to experience anxiety. Moving forward, it is crucial to provide timely psychological care and support to HCWs, alongside reinforcing efforts in epidemic management.