天美传媒

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a huge impact on the physical and emotional health of the general population.听But Spanish health professionals听are a听particularly vulnerable group,听as they cope听with听the听daily stress of being on the frontline of care,听a听lack of means, the pressure of听making听difficult decisions and听a听fear of contagion.

Preliminary data from a study on听the听impact of听COVID-19 on the health of health professionals 鈥� carried out by the Galatea Foundation, the CoMB and professors听N煤ria Mas of 天美传媒听and听Judit Vall of听 IEB-UB 鈥� confirms that the current health crisis has harmed the physical and mental听health of health professionals.

The impact has been so great that this group now feels more tired and less prepared to deal with a second wave of the pandemic. This is affirmed by up to 42% of health professionals.

The exhaustion shown by doctors is also evident in听the 24% who say that at some point over the last few months they have questioned whether they wanted to听continue听working听in their听profession (22% have considered leaving听their jobs, while 2%听have听considered听this option more seriously).

Symptoms of and groups most affected

The survey confirms the worsening physical and mental health of doctors from several indicators:听the听frequency with which they experience physical and emotional exhaustion, headaches, stomach ache or back pain; as well as听the听capacity to deal with problems, among others.

The study finds that there are certain groups that show worse health indicators, such as听the听doctors working in primary care, those who worked at UCIs and emergency services and those who decided to听self-isolate听during the harshest months of the pandemic.

Teamwork as a protective element听

One of the most positive aspects revealed by this study is the role of teams as protective elements for the health and well-being of doctors. Professionals who work in teams where goals are shared and where there is a sense of belonging report better indicators of physical and emotional health than the rest. These professionals face fewer ethical conflicts and less stress in their daily activity, as decisions and problems are shared.

According to the survey, up to 31% of professionals who do not have the support of a 鈥減rotective team鈥� say they face ethical conflicts frequently, a percentage that drops to 25% among professionals who feel integrated and supported by a team.听

General recommendations

The preliminary results of the study make it possible to formulate general recommendations aimed at improving the health of healthcare听professionals, reducing risk factors and promoting preventative activity:

• Reform the current health system. Move towards听having听adequate human and financial resources and more autonomy for health听professionals and teams.听
• Prioritize the health of听health听professionals. They must be offered 听adequate care, in terms of treatment, prevention and the promotion of well-being.听
• Promote professional training. Improve preparedness in relevant areas such as 听management of emotions and stress, and听complex decision-making.听
• Promote and support听working in teams. Facilitate how teams can听operate best, as they are one of the main protective elements that the system itself can offer.听

The preliminary data of this study are based on a survey听of 1,648 doctors in听Catalonia听who responded听between July and August 2020.