Coping strategies among medical and paramedic frontline healthcare workers during the coronavirus pandemic

Introduction The epidemic of COVID-19 has affected the psychological health of people, especially frontline medical and paramedical staff. Several coping strategies have been used to combat the impact of this virus on their lives. Objectives Describe the impact of coronavirus on mental health and...

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Main Authors: I. Kammoun, O. Maatouk, R. Kammoun, M. Shiri, H. Nefzi, K. Ben Salah, M. Karoui, F. Ellouz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2022-06-01
Series:European Psychiatry
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822013013/type/journal_article
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author I. Kammoun
O. Maatouk
R. Kammoun
M. Shiri
H. Nefzi
K. Ben Salah
M. Karoui
F. Ellouz
author_facet I. Kammoun
O. Maatouk
R. Kammoun
M. Shiri
H. Nefzi
K. Ben Salah
M. Karoui
F. Ellouz
author_sort I. Kammoun
collection DOAJ
description Introduction The epidemic of COVID-19 has affected the psychological health of people, especially frontline medical and paramedical staff. Several coping strategies have been used to combat the impact of this virus on their lives. Objectives Describe the impact of coronavirus on mental health and identify coping strategies Methods We carried out a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study, conducted over a period of two months ( september and october 2020), in 22 hospitals in Tunisia, including frontline medical and paramedical staff. To evaluate anxiety and depression, we used the Beck Inventory. To identify coping strategies, we used the Brief COPE. Results We collected 78 professionals. The mean age was 29.86+-5.4. The majority were medical residents (67.9%) working in covid units in 39.7% of cases. The rythm of work was daily in almost half of the cases, giving direct care to the patients tested positive in 76.9%. More than half had not received adequate training, and protective equipment was available in only 50% of cases. We found 35.9% of the staff who had to move for fear of infecting their families. More than half of the frontline staff were victims of stigma (57.7%). Depression and anxiety were tested minor in 40%. The most used coping strategy in the face of this distressing virus was social support (64.1%) followed by emotion-focused mechanisms (53,8%). Social support strategy was significantly correlated with prevention of anxiety (p=0.048) Conclusions Participants practiced and recommended various coping strategies to deal with stress, depression and anxiety emerging from COVID-19 pandemic. Disclosure No significant relationships.
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spelling doaj.art-4b7c3f19ffe2478e818c0dd632e70adb2023-11-17T05:05:34ZengCambridge University PressEuropean Psychiatry0924-93381778-35852022-06-0165S511S51110.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.1301Coping strategies among medical and paramedic frontline healthcare workers during the coronavirus pandemicI. Kammoun0O. Maatouk1R. Kammoun2M. Shiri3H. Nefzi4K. Ben Salah5M. Karoui6F. Ellouz7Razi hospital, Psychiatry G Department, Mannouba, TunisiaRazi hospital, Psychiatry G Department, Mannouba, TunisiaRazi hospital, Psychiatry G Department, Mannouba, TunisiaRazi hospital, Psychiatry G Department, Mannouba, TunisiaRazi hospital, Psychiatry G Department, Mannouba, TunisiaRazi hospital, Psychiatry G Department, Mannouba, TunisiaRazi hospital, Psychiatry G Department, Mannouba, TunisiaRazi hospital, Psychiatry G Department, Mannouba, Tunisia Introduction The epidemic of COVID-19 has affected the psychological health of people, especially frontline medical and paramedical staff. Several coping strategies have been used to combat the impact of this virus on their lives. Objectives Describe the impact of coronavirus on mental health and identify coping strategies Methods We carried out a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study, conducted over a period of two months ( september and october 2020), in 22 hospitals in Tunisia, including frontline medical and paramedical staff. To evaluate anxiety and depression, we used the Beck Inventory. To identify coping strategies, we used the Brief COPE. Results We collected 78 professionals. The mean age was 29.86+-5.4. The majority were medical residents (67.9%) working in covid units in 39.7% of cases. The rythm of work was daily in almost half of the cases, giving direct care to the patients tested positive in 76.9%. More than half had not received adequate training, and protective equipment was available in only 50% of cases. We found 35.9% of the staff who had to move for fear of infecting their families. More than half of the frontline staff were victims of stigma (57.7%). Depression and anxiety were tested minor in 40%. The most used coping strategy in the face of this distressing virus was social support (64.1%) followed by emotion-focused mechanisms (53,8%). Social support strategy was significantly correlated with prevention of anxiety (p=0.048) Conclusions Participants practiced and recommended various coping strategies to deal with stress, depression and anxiety emerging from COVID-19 pandemic. Disclosure No significant relationships. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822013013/type/journal_articlecovid 19coping strategieshealthcare workersAnxiety and depression
spellingShingle I. Kammoun
O. Maatouk
R. Kammoun
M. Shiri
H. Nefzi
K. Ben Salah
M. Karoui
F. Ellouz
Coping strategies among medical and paramedic frontline healthcare workers during the coronavirus pandemic
European Psychiatry
covid 19
coping strategies
healthcare workers
Anxiety and depression
title Coping strategies among medical and paramedic frontline healthcare workers during the coronavirus pandemic
title_full Coping strategies among medical and paramedic frontline healthcare workers during the coronavirus pandemic
title_fullStr Coping strategies among medical and paramedic frontline healthcare workers during the coronavirus pandemic
title_full_unstemmed Coping strategies among medical and paramedic frontline healthcare workers during the coronavirus pandemic
title_short Coping strategies among medical and paramedic frontline healthcare workers during the coronavirus pandemic
title_sort coping strategies among medical and paramedic frontline healthcare workers during the coronavirus pandemic
topic covid 19
coping strategies
healthcare workers
Anxiety and depression
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933822013013/type/journal_article
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