Personnel well-being and potentially traumatic COVID-19 pandemic related events (PTES) in the hus helsinki university hospital – baseline results

Abstract

Introduction A majority of the Finnish COVID-19 pandemic patients have been cared for in the HUS Helsinki University Hospital since March 2020. Objectives June 2020 baseline results of an ongoing prospective cohort study are reported. Methods An electronic survey was created to assess potentially traumatic COVID-19 pandemic related events (PTEs) of the HUS personnel. Results The survey was sent to 25494 HUS employees, and 4804 (19%) answered. Out of the respondents, 62% were nursing staff, 9% medical doctors, and the rest special employees or other personnel. Mean age was 44 years, 88% were female. PTEs were more common in the personnel directly caring for COVID-19 patients than other personnel (p< 0.001). PTEs predicted psychological distress among all personnel (OR 5.05; 95%CI 4.26–6.00). Table. Potentially traumatic events (PTEs) among HUS personnel, June 2020. One respondent may have one or more PTEs. In direct care of COVID-19 patients PTE11 PTE22 PTE33 PTE44 Respondents Yes (N; %) 325 (26.6%) 358 (29.3%) 46 (3.8%) 9 (0.7%) 532 No (N; %) 281 (8.2%) 574 (16.6%) 88 (2.5%) 30 (0.9%) 760 1Has your work with COVID-19 patients or suspected patients included exceptionally disturbing or distressing assignments? 2Have you had strong anxiety due to your own or close one’s risk of contracting serious illness for your work with COVID-19 patients or suspected patients? 3Have you or your close one contracted a hospital care requiring serious COVID-19? 4Has a close one to you died of COVID-19? Conclusions Our data highlight the need to ensure psychosocial support services to HUS personnel with PTEs. Conflict of interest No significant relationships.