Medisur (Nov 2020)
Psychological state of health personnel in direct care of people infected with COVID-19
Abstract
Background: the care of health professionals and support personnel who are on the first line of assistance to patients and suspects of COVID-19, occupies health psychologists, in response to the strategy developed by the Republic of Cuba Ministry of Public Health.Objective: to identify the psychological state of health workers when they leave the first line of work with patients with COVID-19.Methods: a descriptive study was carried out with 52 health workers who completed their period of isolation, in a center authorized for this activity in the Sancti Spíritus province. To identify needs for psychological support, Screening was used in health personnel working with suspects and patients with COVID-19; To identify emotional impacts, the checklist, the Secondary Traumatic Stress Questionnaire and the semi-structured interview were used.Results: there were no warning signs suggesting the need for specialized psychological care; although anxiety stood out as a common state for all the professionals surveyed. Of the four dimensions explored by the Secondary Traumatic Stress Questionnaire, personological resources were the ones that prevailed (12.02%).Conclusion: the health personnel who worked directly in the care of people infected with COVID-19, upon leaving this first line of care, expressed anxiety associated with the fact of continuing in isolation and the desire to meet again with the family; in no case was said anxiety related to reactions motivated by the fulfilled work.
