TRAUMATIC STRESS AND HEALTH ANXIETY IN INTENSIVECARE WORKERS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

Aims: Intensive care professionals are the individuals who are most exposed to the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic
 The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the, traumatic stress symptoms and health anxiety in intensive care unit (ICU) workers and non-ICU workers who have been playing an active role in caring for COVID-19 patients.
 Method: The sociodemographic characteristics of all the healthcare professionals working in the ICU and other units, were recorded. In addition, their history of COVID-19 infection, living with an elderly person, intensive care hospitalization history of relatives, and death status of relatives due to COVID-19 were recorded. The participants were divided into two groups, namely ICU workers and non-ICU workers. The Health Anxiety Inventory (HAI)and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) scales were applied to all the participants.
 Results: Of the 150 healthcare workers initially identified, 116 agreed to participate in this study. Sixty-nine (59.5%) of them were working in the ICU, while 47 (40.5%) were in non-ICU. 
 The mean IES-R score of all participants was 40.19 ± 15.73. When the IES-R scores and ICU results with non-ICUs were compared, the healthcare workers who work in ICU had significantly higher total IES-R scores (42.83 ± 14.65, p