Abstract
BackgroundPsychological support was provided by the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Integrative Group Treatment Protocol (EMDR-IGTP) within the hospitals in the Northern Italy in favor of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of treatment in terms of (a) symptomatology reduction related to peri- and post-traumatic stress; (b) clinical improvement over time; and (c) the maintenance of the achieved outcome over time.MethodsThe population was composed of healthcare workers who spontaneously requested psychological intervention in both the first and the second emergency waves. Statistical analyses were carried out to highlight the differences in Impact of Event-Revised (IES-R) and Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) before and after the group intervention.ResultsIn both the first and the second waves, pre-treatment values are higher than post-treatment values for all dimensions of the IES-R. The results show that there are no significant differences between the first and the second wave with regard to the treatment effect. Healthcare workers maintained positive changes over time despite their prolonged exposure to an emergency and the possibility of retraumatization at the onset of a new emergency phase, irrespective of their working place. Healthcare workers who were treated in the first wave showed at the beginning of the second emergency wave less vulnerability and more resilience than those who were treated only in the second wave.Pre-treatment scores of healthcare workers affected by COVID-19 are discussed.ConclusionCOVID-19 had a significant impact on the well-being of healthcare workers who were working in hospitals. Psychological support in case of emergency is needed.
Highlights
In early 2020, when the issue of public health emergency due to a new pandemic outbreak (COVID-19) (World Health Organization, 2020a,b) was faced by communities and services, there was a reorganization of hospital facilities aiming at containing and managing the pandemic emergency
The main aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of treatment with EMDR-IGTP addressed to healthcare workers during the first and second wave of coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 emergency in terms of (a) the reduction of symptoms related to traumatic stress reactions and (b) clinical improvement over time
The COVID-19 public health emergency had a significant impact on the well-being of healthcare workers who were working in hospitals and mandated the need for mental health protection, support, and treatment
Summary
In early 2020, when the issue of public health emergency due to a new pandemic outbreak (COVID-19) (World Health Organization, 2020a,b) was faced by communities and services, there was a reorganization of hospital facilities aiming at containing and managing the pandemic emergency. The most significant changes concerned were the professional and personal lives of healthcare workers (World Health Organization, 2020c) and of all workers who, in hospital settings, found themselves working in contexts of uncertainty, powerlessness, and the lack of control; and the conditions that were aggravated by exposure to the risk of infection for themselves and their families and colleagues and that could be induced with a high probability of the onset of burnout (Giusti et al, 2020; Liu et al, 2020; Ornell et al, 2020; Ran et al, 2020). This study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of treatment in terms of (a) symptomatology reduction related to peri- and post-traumatic stress; (b) clinical improvement over time; and (c) the maintenance of the achieved outcome over time
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
