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Physicians’ Distress Related to Moral Issues and Mental Health In-Between Two Late Waves of COVID-19 Contagions

Author

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  • Davis Cooper-Bribiesca

    (Unidad de Investigación Médica en Otoneurología, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Ciudad de México 06720, Mexico
    Departamento de Psiquiatría, Hospital de Especialidades del Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Ciudad de México 06720, Mexico)

  • Dulce María Rascón-Martínez

    (Departamento de Anestesiología, Hospital de Especialidades del Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Ciudad de México 06720, Mexico)

  • José Adan Miguel-Puga

    (Unidad de Investigación Médica en Otoneurología, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Ciudad de México 06720, Mexico)

  • María Karen Juárez-Carreón

    (Departamento de Psiquiatría, Hospital de Especialidades del Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Ciudad de México 06720, Mexico)

  • Luis Alejandro Sánchez-Hurtado

    (Departamento de Terapia Intensiva, Hospital de Especialidades del Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Ciudad de México 06720, Mexico)

  • Tania Colin-Martinez

    (Departamento de Admisión Continua, Hospital de Especialidades del Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Ciudad de México 06720, Mexico)

  • Juan Carlos Anda-Garay

    (Departamento de Medicina Interna, Hospital de Especialidades del Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Ciudad de México 06720, Mexico)

  • Eliseo Espinosa-Poblano

    (Departamento de Inhaloterapia y Neumología, Hospital de Especialidades del Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Ciudad de México 06720, Mexico)

  • Kathrine Jáuregui-Renaud

    (Unidad de Investigación Médica en Otoneurología, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Ciudad de México 06720, Mexico)

Abstract

In addition to the sanitary constrains implemented due to the pandemic, frontline physicians have faced increased workloads with insufficient resources, and the responsibility to make extraordinary clinical decisions. In 108 physicians who were at the forefront of care of patients with COVID-19 during the first two years of the pandemic, mental health, moral distress, and moral injury were assessed twice, in between two late waves of COVID-19 contagions, according to their adverse psychological reactions, in-hospital experience, sick leave due to COVID-19, quality of sleep, moral sensitivity, clinical empathy, resilience, and sense of coherence. Three months after the wave of contagions, the adverse emotional reactions and moral distress decreased, while moral injury persisted. Moral distress was related to clinical empathy, with influence from burnout and sick leave due to COVID-19, and moral injury was related to the sense of coherence, while recovery from moral distress was related to resilience. The results suggest that measures to prevent physician infection, as well as strengthening resilience and a sense of coherence, may be helpful to prevent persistent mental damage after exposure to a sanitary crisis.

Suggested Citation

  • Davis Cooper-Bribiesca & Dulce María Rascón-Martínez & José Adan Miguel-Puga & María Karen Juárez-Carreón & Luis Alejandro Sánchez-Hurtado & Tania Colin-Martinez & Juan Carlos Anda-Garay & Eliseo Espi, 2023. "Physicians’ Distress Related to Moral Issues and Mental Health In-Between Two Late Waves of COVID-19 Contagions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-19, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:5:p:3989-:d:1078073
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Stella E. Hines & Katherine H. Chin & Danielle R. Glick & Emerson M. Wickwire, 2021. "Trends in Moral Injury, Distress, and Resilience Factors among Healthcare Workers at the Beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-11, January.
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    4. Giulia Lamiani & Davide Biscardi & Elaine C. Meyer & Alberto Giannini & Elena Vegni, 2021. "Moral Distress Trajectories of Physicians 1 Year after the COVID-19 Outbreak: A Grounded Theory Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-10, December.
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