Peritraumatic Distress in Healthcare Personnel as a Sequelae of COVID-19

Torres-Caceres F.S.; Arellano E.G.R.; Cuadros M.J.L.; Cheng-Rivadeneira A.E.; Casimiro M.C.A. · Revista Cubana de Investigaciones Biomedicas (2023)

Resumen

Objective: To compare the level of peri-traumatic distress in healthcare personnel from a Peruvian hospital as a consequence of COVID-19, considering variables such as gender and age among different health professionals in a public hospital. Methods: Applied study with a descriptive-comparative and cross-sectional design. Participants included 17 doctors, 47 non-medical professionals, and 37 technicians. A questionnaire based on the Peri-traumatic Distress Index related to COVID-19 was used. Results: 46.8% of non-medical professionals exhibited medium distress, contrasting with 70.6% of doctors indicating a low level. Gender-wise, 39.7% of females showed medium distress against 60.5% of males with a low level. Age-wise, 56% of personnel over 40 years exhibited medium distress, while 77.3% of those aged 36 to 40 presented a low level. A significant difference (p=0.044) in distress was noted between doctors, non-medical professionals, and technicians. However, no notable differences were found between genders or age groups (p=0.983 and p=0.022, respectively). Conclusions: COVID-19 emphasizes the need for holistic support for healthcare staff, highlighting robust psychological care tailored to the specific needs of each professional group. The study underscores the urgency of establishing suitable support systems in the face of large-scale traumatic events.

Instituciones: Universidad Privada San Juan Bautista; Universidad César Vallejo