Abstract
BackgroundIn September 2017, the Hurricane Irma devastated the islands of Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthelemy (French West Indies). This was a particularly distressing time for the local healthcare staff in charge of rescuing the population. The aim of this study was to identify the explanatory factors of post-traumatic distress and burnout in hospital staff.MethodsAn anonymous questionnaire was sent to all 509 hospital workers of Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthelemy. Post-traumatic distress and burnout was assessed using the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL-S) and Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) scales. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine the explanatory variables for these two psychological disorders.ResultsTwo hundred and sixty-two questionnaires were completed (response rate of 51.7%). The explanatory factors of post-traumatic distress were female gender (OR = 12.93, 95% CI: 2.70–232.10), electricity shortages (OR = 2.92, 95% CI: 1.13–8.19) and home damage (OR = 1.16, 95% CI [1.02–1.33]). In parallel, the explanatory factors of burnout were post-traumatic distress (OR: 10.42, 95% CI: 4.72–25.58), female gender (OR = 2,41, 95% CI: 1.24–5.02) and paramedical staff (OR = 2,53, 95% CI: 1.15–6.21). In the multivariate analysis, only burnout was significantly associated with post-traumatic distress (OR = 9.26, 95% CI: 4.11–23.14).ConclusionsSix months after Irma, post-traumatic distress among hospital staff was strongly linked to burnout. This study revealed the lack of electricity as a new factor related to post-traumatic distress. It also suggested that psychological intervention should be strengthened.
Highlights
Irma was one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean
The explanatory factors of post-traumatic distress were female gender (OR = 12.93, 95% CI: 2.70–232.10), electricity shortages (OR = 2.92, 95% CI: 1.13–8.19) and home damage (OR = 1.16, 95% CI [1.02–1.33])
Explanatory factors of post-traumatic distress and Burnout after Irma among hospital staff analysis, only burnout was significantly associated with post-traumatic distress (OR = 9.26, 95% CI: 4.11–23.14)
Summary
Irma was one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean. It emerged from a tropical depression off the West African coast on August 27, 2017, which gradually strengthened to stage 5 on the Saffir-Sympson scale on 4 September. The immediate damage was considerable, depriving the whole population of electricity, clean water, communication systems and airport and maritime routes for disaster recovery response. This isolation lasted several days because of the uncertain trajectory of hurricane Josenear the two islands on September 9 [2]. In September 2017, the Hurricane Irma devastated the islands of Saint-Martin and SaintBarthelemy (French West Indies). This was a distressing time for the local healthcare staff in charge of rescuing the population. The aim of this study was to identify the explanatory factors of post-traumatic distress and burnout in hospital staff
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