Abstract
Background: Frontline healthcare providers are consistently exposed to potentially traumatic events while assisting patients with COVID-19. Post-traumatic growth (PTG) happens when a person can transform trauma and use adversity in one’s advantage. In response to limited studies on positive outcomes that may occur from the pandemic; this study aimed to elucidate the positive impact of coping with COVID-19 outbreak on mental health, such as PTG.Methodology: The study comprised a sample of 691 healthcare providers 59% female, including physicians (n = 138) and nurses (n = 550), working in public health facilities in Kosovo, with an average age of 41.6 years (SD = 10.79). They were asked to complete a questionnaire with four parts: Socio-demographic, GHQ-28, COPE and PTGI. A deterioration of mental health with somatic symptoms leading to the escalation due to COVID-19 outbreak was found.Results: Female healthcare providers reported more clinical symptoms as well as higher coping skills scores than men. The domains in which positive changes were most frequently observed were Relating to Others, New Possibilities and Personal Strength. There was no significant direct effect of mental health on PTG in the mediation model, though a significant indirect effect was observed for coping skills.Conclusion: The results suggest that levels of mental health exacerbation do not play a conclusive role in determining levels of PTG, as long coping mechanisms are in place. The development and implementation of interventions to minimize COVID-19-related mental health consequences, by fostering PTG among healthcare providers could be highly beneficial in pandemic response work.
Highlights
The global spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), resulting in the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring COVID-19 as a pandemic, has become a medical serious concern across more than 200 countries worldwide (Wang et al, 2020; World Health Organization [WHO], 2020)
This study employed a cross-sectional and correlational research design to explore the impact of coping skills in developing Post-traumatic growth (PTG) among healthcare providers
Kruskal Wallis analysis showed no statistical differences for all PTG subscales according to symptom severity, and no statistical differences for coping skills (χ2 = 59.12, p = 0.403)
Summary
The global spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), resulting in the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring COVID-19 as a pandemic, has become a medical serious concern across more than 200 countries worldwide (Wang et al, 2020; World Health Organization [WHO], 2020). By December 22, 2020, in the time when the study was initiated, in Kosovo there were 49,169 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 173,145 suspected and tested and 1,262 deaths (National Institute of Public Health [NIPH], 2020). Recent studies provide evidence of unprecedented psychological impact of COVID-19 on healthcare providers engaged in the diagnosis, treatment, and care for patients with COVID-19 due to restrictions and the work under stressful conditions (lack of hospital facilities, fear of contagion and spreading the virus, working over-time, wearing personal protection equipment— PPE-, restraining from food, drinks, and the toilet during working hours due to PPE, and more) while managing critical issues daily (Barello et al, 2020; Gupta et al, 2020; Kalaitzaki et al, 2020; Lai et al, 2020). In response to limited studies on positive outcomes that may occur from the pandemic; this study aimed to elucidate the positive impact of coping with COVID-19 outbreak on mental health, such as PTG
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