Investigation of the Levels of Traumatic Stress and Alexitimia in Healthcare Workers in the Covid-19 Pandemic: An Example from Ordu Province

Öz

Aim: In this study, we aimed to examine the traumatic stress levels caused by the Covid-19 pandemic in healthcare workers and the relationship between traumatic stress levels and alexithymia Material and Methods: The study is cross-sectional and descriptive. In the study, we included 252 healthcare professionals who was working in Ordu province and filled out the online questionnaire on a voluntary basis. Participants were all administered Sociodemographic data form, Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and Impact of Events Scale (IES) online. Results: Of 252 people included in the study, 60.3% were female, 39.6% were male. Of all the participants, 67.8% were doctors, 20.8% were nurses/health officers, and 2% were medical secretaries. According to the scores of TAS-total and IES, the participants scored between 32 to 77 and between 0 to 79, respectively. There was no difference between genders regarding TAS (p>0.05). As for IES, women were found out to get higher scores (p<0.05). A corelation was found between the scores of TAS-A and TAS-Total and the scores of IES. Conclusion: In our study, female healthcare workers were reported to have higher levels of traumatic stress during the Covid-19 pandemic, and alexithymia and trauma scores had a positive relationship. Our study showed that gender has an effect on traumatic stress. Getting psychological support is vital for healthcare workers for them to work more efficiently during an pandemic period such as Covid-19.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• covid 19
• healthcare workers
• alexitimia

Covid-19 Pandemisinde Sağlık Çalışanlarında Travmatik Stres ve Aleksitimi Düzeylerinin Araştırılması: Ordu İli Örneği

Öz

Amaç: Bu çalışmada yeni korona virüs hastalığı 2019 (Covid-19) salgınının sağlık çalışanları üzerinde oluşturduğu travmatik stres düzeylerini ve travmatik stres düzeyleri ile aleksitimi arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemeyi amaçladık. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Bu araştırma kesitsel tipte ve tanımlayıcı bir çalışmadır. Araştırmaya gönüllülük ilkesiyle, çevrimiçi anket formunu dolduran, Ordu ilinde görev yapan 252 sağlık çalışanı dahil edilmiştir. Tüm katılımcılara sosyodemografik veri formu, Toronto Aleksitmi Ölçeği (TAÖ-20), Olayların Etkisi Ölçeği (OEÖ) online ortamda uygulanmıştır. Bulgular: Çalışmaya alınan 252 katılımcıdan %60,3’si kadın, %39,6’si erkekti. Ayrıca mesleki durumlarına göre değerlendirildiğinde katılımcıların %67,8’si doktor, %20,8’si hemşire/sağlık memuru ve %2’si ise tıbbi sekreterdi. TAÖ-toplam skoru için katılımcılar 32-77 arasında skor alırken; OEÖ için ise 0-79 arası skorlar elde edilmiştir. TAÖ için cinsiyetler arası farklılık saptanmadı (p>0,05). OEÖ için ise; kadınların daha yüksek skorlar aldığı görüldü (p<0,05). TAS-A ve TAS-Toplam skoru ile OEÖ skorlarının korelasyonuna bakıldığında iki ölçek arasında ilişki olduğu görüldü (p<0.05). Sonuç: Çalışmamızda kadın sağlık çalışanlarının Covid-19 salgını sırasında daha fazla travmatik stres düzeylerine sahip oldukları, aleksitimi ve travma skorları arasında pozitif yönde ilişki olduğu saptandı. Çalışmamız cinsiyetin travmatik stres üzerinde etkisi olduğunu göstermiştir. Covid-19 gibi salgın döneminde sağlık çalışanlarının psikolojik olarak desteklenmeleri daha verimli çalışabilmeleri açısından oldukça önemli bir husustur.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• covid 19
• stres
• sağlık çalışanları

Kaynakça

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