Frontiers in Psychology (Oct 2020)

2020s Heroes Are Not Fearless: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Wellbeing and Emotions of Italian Health Care Workers During Italy Phase 1

  • Giulia Marton,
  • Giulia Marton,
  • Laura Vergani,
  • Laura Vergani,
  • Ketti Mazzocco,
  • Ketti Mazzocco,
  • Marina Chiara Garassino,
  • Gabriella Pravettoni,
  • Gabriella Pravettoni

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.588762
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11

Abstract

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ObjectiveThe study aimed to investigate the mental health and emotional reaction of physicians working during phase 1 of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy.MethodsA total of 458 Italian Health Care Workers (HCWs) working during phases 1 of the COVID-19 outbreak were voluntarily enlisted in the study and recruited with the snowball technique through an online survey. We examined our variables with the General Health Questionnaire – 12 and with Visual Analog Scales.ResultsThe sample has a high level of psychological distress 21.26 (SD = 4.46), the emotional reaction was characterized by high level of fear for family members and cohabitants (M = 77.67, SD = 27.16) and patients (M = 67.16, SD = 27.71). Perceived control, fear for patients, and for family members and cohabitants, feeling alone and anger all contribute to a decreased mental health in Italian physicians (R2 = 0.285, p < 0.001).ConclusionItalian HCWs’ mental health and emotional reaction have to be considered to prevent high risk of burnout and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It becomes pivotal in the next months to implement a tailored psychological intervention to take care of HCWs and to prevent costly consequences for them, patients, and the healthcare system.

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