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Psychological impact of the covid-19 pandemic on health care personnel working in COVID settings

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2023

W. Ayed*
Affiliation:
Occupational pathology and fitness for work, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia
D. Brahim
Affiliation:
Occupational pathology and fitness for work, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia
N. Mechergui
Affiliation:
Occupational pathology and fitness for work, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia
H. Ben Said
Affiliation:
Occupational pathology and fitness for work, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia
M. Mersni
Affiliation:
Occupational pathology and fitness for work, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia
S. Ernez
Affiliation:
Occupational pathology and fitness for work, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia
I. Youssef
Affiliation:
Occupational pathology and fitness for work, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia
N. Ladhari
Affiliation:
Occupational pathology and fitness for work, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

COVID19 pandemic had a significant psychological impact on the population worldwide. However, health care workers have been the most exposed to psychological effects.

Objectives

To determine the psychological impact of the covid19 pandemic on health care professionals (HCPs) who were working in the covid19 setting.

Methods

Descriptive cross-sectional study carried out in May 2020, having interested the HCPs of the Charles Nicolle hospital who were working in the COVID19 settings .The data collection was carried out with a pre-established questionnaire .The visual analog scale of B. Chini was used to assess the level of work stress. This assessment was undertaken at three points in time: during the work, during the confinement period and post confinement .

Results

Seventy five nurses participated to the study. The average age was 39.7±9.6 years. The sex ratio was 0.74. The average professional seniority was 11.6±8.14 years. During the confinement, a feeling of anxiety and apprehension of danger to others were reported by 96% of the participants. In addition, sleep disorders and irritability were noticed in 65% and 92% of cases respectively. At the end of the confinement period, 77% of the cases reported neuropsychological complaints: feelings of anxiety (57%), mood disorders (49%), a sleep disorders (32%) and concentration disorders (20%). The average level of stress was evaluated at 7.54 during the work, 7.36 during confinement and 5.28 after confinement. Faced with this psychological suffering, 88% of the cases noted the absence of psychological support or assistance.

Conclusions

Psychological support and early screening in psychiatry and occupational medicine are necessary to prevent any deterioration in their mental health.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Type
Abstract
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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