Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health of Oncology Healthcare Workers and Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Abstract

The 2019 coronavirus pandemic has caused serious health crises around the world such as psychological reactions of health workers. The way we work (stress, anxiety) and the activities assigned to pharmacists, such as vaccination, have changed. In addition to these problems, numerous ethical questions and moral doubts are increasingly emerging are inevitable during the treatment and care of patients in this extremely difficult situation. Work in the oncology department is stressful even when there is no epidemic/pandemic. Constant changes in hospital protocols, reorganization of work, influx of patients, work in intensive conditions and other new challenges of adaptation to the new situation affect both the physical and mental health of healthcare workers. Together with physicians and nurses, pharmacists were one of the professional categories most exposed to the risk of SARS- CoV-2 infection since the pandemic onset. Together with this crisis, pharmaceutical care entered a new phase demonstrating the ability of pharmacists to be competent and accessible providers of public health. Preserving the mental health of healthcare workers are very important so that they can perform their work with quality and conscientiousness. Health care corporations should consider providing coverage for mental health treatment for employees who experience COVID-19 traumas.