Analyzing the Impact of COVID-19 Trauma on Developing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among Emergency Medical Workers in Spain

Carmen M. Martínez-Caballero, Rosa M. Cárdaba-García, Rocío Varas-Manovel, Laura M. García-Sanz, Jorge Martínez-Piedra, Juan J. Fernández-Carbajo, Lucía Pérez-Pérez, Miguel A. Madrigal-Fernández, M. Ángeles Barba-Pérez, Elena Olea, Carlos Durantez-Fernández and M. Teresa Herrero-Frutos
Additional contact information
Carmen M. Martínez-Caballero: Emergencies Management (SACYL), 40002 Segovia, Spain
Rosa M. Cárdaba-García: Emergencies Management (SACYL), 40002 Segovia, Spain
Rocío Varas-Manovel: Emergencies Management (SACYL), 40002 Segovia, Spain
Laura M. García-Sanz: Emergencies Management (SACYL), 40002 Segovia, Spain
Jorge Martínez-Piedra: Health Transportation Group, 40195 Segovia, Spain
Juan J. Fernández-Carbajo: Emergencies Management (SACYL), 40002 Segovia, Spain
Lucía Pérez-Pérez: Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, University of Valladolid, 47005 Valladolid, Spain
Miguel A. Madrigal-Fernández: Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, University of Valladolid, 47005 Valladolid, Spain
M. Ángeles Barba-Pérez: Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, University of Valladolid, 47005 Valladolid, Spain
Elena Olea: Nursing Department, Faculty of Nursing, University of Valladolid, 47005 Valladolid, Spain
Carlos Durantez-Fernández: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 45600 Talavera de la Reina, Spain
M. Teresa Herrero-Frutos: Emergencies Management (SACYL), 40002 Segovia, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 17, 1-18

Abstract: The early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic presented the characteristics of a traumatic event that could trigger post-traumatic stress disorder. Emergency Medical Services workers are already a high-risk group due to their professional development. The research project aimed to analyse the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on EMS professionals in terms of their mental health. For this purpose, we present a descriptive crosssectional study with survey methodology. A total of 317 EMS workers (doctors, nurses, and emergency medical technicians) were recruited voluntarily. Psychological distress, post-traumatic stress disorder, and insomnia were assessed. The instruments were the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12), the Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS-8), and the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS-8). We found that 36% of respondents had psychological distress, 30.9% potentially had PTSD, and 60.9% experienced insomnia. Years of work experience were found to be positively correlated, albeit with low effect, with the PTSD score ( r = 0.133). Finally, it can be stated that the COVID-19 pandemic has been a traumatic event for EMS workers. The number of professionals presenting psychological distress, possible PTSD, or insomnia increased dramatically during the early phases of the pandemic. This study highlights the need for mental health disorder prevention programmes for EMS workers in the face of a pandemic.

Keywords: emergency medical services; post-traumatic stress disorder; mental status; sleep disorders; COVID-19 pandemic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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