EXAMINATION OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON MEDICAL PERSONNEL WORKING IN THE FILIATION TEAM: A MIXED METHOD STUDY

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the psychological effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on medical personnel working in the filtration team, and to examine the possible effects in depth. Methods: The research was conducted using the exploratory sequential mixed pattern between February 2022 and February 2023 on the medical personnel working in the filiation team in A District Health Directorate. In the quantitative stage of the research, the population consisted of 248 medical personnel working in the filiation team, and the sample consisted of 181 participants who met the inclusion criteria and agreed to participate in the study. The quantitative data of the research were collected using the “Personal Information Form” and the “Impact of Event Scale”, and the qualitative data were collected using the “Semi-Structured Interview Form”. Results: In the study, it was found that 30.4% of the medical personnel working during the filiation process were psychologically affected. In the in-depth interviews, it was determined that there were categories of fear, anxiety, loneliness, sleep problems, stigma, trauma, changes in affectivity, stress, deterioration in social relationships, fatigue and strain under the theme of psychological effects. Conclusions: The study found that about a third of the medical personnel working in the filiation process were psychologically affected by the pandemic, and they experienced psychological effects such as fear, anxiety, loneliness, sleep problems, stigma, trauma, changes in affectivity, stress, deterioration in social relationships, fatigue and strain.