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The Need for Psychological Support of Health Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Influence on Their Work

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  • Borja Nicolás Santana-López

    (Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Doctor Negrín, 35010 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
    Nursing Department, Universitat Jaume I, 12006 Castellón de la Plana, Spain)

  • Yeray Gabriel Santana-Padilla

    (Emergency Surgery Unit, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular Materno-Infantil de Gran Canaria, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain)

  • María Desamparados Bernat-Adell

    (Nursing Department, Universitat Jaume I, 12006 Castellón de la Plana, Spain)

  • Jesús María González-Martín

    (Research Support Unit, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular Materno-Infantil de Gran Canaria, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain)

  • Luciano Santana-Cabrera

    (Intensive Care Unit, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular Materno-Infantil de Gran Canaria, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain)

Abstract

The aim of this research was to analyze how the need for psychological support of health workers (HCWs) influenced the beliefs, perceptions and attitudes towards their work during the COVID-19 pandemic and to predict the need of psychological assistance. A descriptive transversal study was conducted based on a self-administered questionnaire distributed to health professionals working in the Canary Islands, Spain. The data were analyzed using Pearson’s chi-squared test and the linear trend test. The correlation test between ordinal and frequency variables was applied using Kendall’s Tau B. Multiple logistic regression was used to predict dichotomous variables. The sample included 783 health professionals: 17.8% ( n = 139) of them needed psychological or psychiatric support. Being redeployed to other services influenced the predisposition to request psychological help, and HCWs who required psychological support had more negative attitudes and perceptions towards their work. After five waves of COVID-19, these HCWs reported to be physically, psychologically and emotionally exhausted or even “burned out”; they did not feel supported by their institutions. The commitment of health personnel to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic decreased after the five waves, especially among professionals who required psychological support.

Suggested Citation

  • Borja Nicolás Santana-López & Yeray Gabriel Santana-Padilla & María Desamparados Bernat-Adell & Jesús María González-Martín & Luciano Santana-Cabrera, 2022. "The Need for Psychological Support of Health Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Influence on Their Work," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-18, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:15:p:8970-:d:869941
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    References listed on IDEAS

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