EXAMINATION OF CHALLENGES, ANXIETY AND BURNOUT AMONG FAMILY PHYSICIANS DUE TO CORONA VIRUS OUTBREAK

Abstract

Objective: The new type of corona virus (SARS-Cov2, COVID-19) pandemic has brought many difficulties that will affect healthcare professionals both physically and mentally all over the world. The aim of this study is to evaluate the difficulties faced by family physicians involved in the COVID-19 pandemic process, anxiety-causing conditions, anxiety, depression and burn out syndrome and related factors and to present a framework for risk factors. Method: Our study is an online survey study and was conducted with family physicians working in Mersin city. Sociodemographic data and COVID-19 pandemic experiences questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire-4 and Maslach Burnout Inventory Scale were used in the survey. Results: 146 family physicians completed the survey. We found that 78.08% (n=114) of the respondents experienced anxiety and 71.23% (n=104) experienced depression. Average scores on burnout subscales were 21.49 (±6.39) for “emotional exhaustion,” 10.86 (±3.72) for “desensitization,” and 16.71 (±5.60) for “personal achievement”. The frequency of contactwithCOVID-19 patients, living in the same house with individuals over 65 or with chronic diseases, positive test result for COVID-19, problem access to personal protective equipment, lack of support perceived by administrators, lack of social support, stigma and excessive social media use to learn about SARS-Cov2 were found to be risk factors for depression, anxiety and burnout. Conclusion: The effective and high quality maintenance of health services during the pandemic process is directly related to the well-being of health workers both physically and spiritually. Early detection and prevention of progression of mental disorders that may arise due to the difficulties of the process in primary care physicians working under high risk with great devotion during this process; it is extremely important to identify risk factors and to implement the necessary interventions at an early stage, in order to continue the effective fight against the pandemic.

Keywords

• pandemics
• familiy physicians
• primary care
• anxiety
• depression
• burnout

AİLE HEKİMLERİNDE KORONA VİRÜS SALGINI NEDENİYLE YAŞANILAN ZORLUKLAR, KAYGI VE TÜKENMİŞLİK DURUMLARININ İNCELENMESİ

Abstract

Amaç: Yeni tip koronavirüs (SARS-Cov2, COVID-19) pandemisi tüm dünyada sağlık çalışanlarını gerek fiziksel gerekse ruhsal açıdan etkileyecek birçok zorluğu beraberinde getirmiştir. Bu çalışmada amaç, COVID-19pandemisi sürecinde görev alan aile hekimlerinin karşılaştıkları zorlukların, kaygı yaratan durumlar ile anksiyete, depresyon ve tükenmişlik sendromu ve ilişkili faktörlerin değerlendirilmesi ve risk faktörleri için bir çerçeve sunulmasıdır. Metot: Çalışmamız internet üzerinden uygulanan bir anket çalışması olup, Mersin ilinde görevli aile hekimleri ile yapılmıştır. Ankette sosyodemografik veriler ve COVID-19 pandemisi deneyimleri soru formu, Hasta Sağlık Anketi-4 ve Maslach Tükenmişlik Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Yüz kırk altı aile hekimi anketi tamamladı. Ankete katılanların %78,08’inin (n=114) anksiyete, %71,23’ünün (n=104) depresyon yaşadığını saptadık. Tükenmişlik alt ölçeklerinde ortalama puanlar “duygusal tükenme” için 21,49 (±6,39), “duyarsızlaşma” için 10,86 (±3,72) ve “kişisel başarı” için 16,71 (±5,60) idi. COVID-19 hastaları ile temas sıklığı, aynı evde 65 yaş üstü veya kronik hastalığı olan bireylerle yaşamak, SARS-Cov2 için pozitif test sonucu, kişisel koruyucu ekipmanlara erişim sorunu, idareciler tarafından algılanan destek eksikliği, sosyal destek eksikliği, damgalanma ve COVID-19 konusunda bilgi edinmek amaçlı aşırı sosyal medya kullanımının depresyon, anksiyete ve tükenmişlik için risk faktörü olduğu saptanmıştır. Sonuç: Pandemi sürecinde sağlık hizmetlerinin etkin ve kaliteli bir şekilde sürdürülmesi, sağlık çalışanlarının gerek fiziksel gerekse ruhsal açıdan iyi oluş hali ile doğrudan ilişkilidir. Bu süreçte büyük özveri ile yüksek risk altında çalışan birinci basamak hekimlerinde, sürecin zorluklarına bağlı ortaya çıkması olası ruhsal bozuklukların erken dönemde tespiti ve ilerlemesinin önlenmesi; risk faktörlerinin tespit edilip gerekli müdahalelerin erken dönemde hayata geçirilebilmesi, pandemi ile mücadelenin etkin bir şekilde sürdürülmesi için son derece önemlidir.

Keywords

• pandemi
• aile hekimi
• birinci basamak
• anksiyete
• depresyon
• tükenmişlik

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