The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on ICU Healthcare Professionals: A Mixed Methods Study

Cristina Moreno-Mulet, Noemí Sansó, Alba Carrero-Planells, Camelia López-Deflory, Laura Galiana, Patricia García-Pazo, Maria Magdalena Borràs-Mateu and Margalida Miró-Bonet
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Cristina Moreno-Mulet: Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, Spain
Noemí Sansó: Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, Spain
Alba Carrero-Planells: Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, Spain
Camelia López-Deflory: Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, Spain
Laura Galiana: Department of Methodology for the Behavioral Sciences, University of Valencia, 46003 Valencia, Spain
Patricia García-Pazo: Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, Spain
Maria Magdalena Borràs-Mateu: Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, Spain
Margalida Miró-Bonet: Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma, Spain

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

Abstract: The large numbers of patients admitted to intensive care units due to COVID-19 has had a major impact on healthcare professionals. The incidence of mental health disorders among these professionals has increased considerably and their professional quality of life has suffered during the pandemic. This study aims to explore the impact of the provision of COVID-19 patient care on ICU healthcare professionals. A mixed methods study with an exploratory concurrent design was conducted between June and November 2020 in the Balearic Islands, Spain. Data were collected using a self-report online survey ( n = 122) based on three validated questionnaires, and individual semi-structured in-depth online interviews ( n = 11). Respondents scored 2.5 out of 5 on the moral distress scale, moderate/high on the compassion satisfaction scale, and moderate on the burnout and compassion fatigue subscales. Age was significantly and negatively related to professional quality of life but was positively related to workload and unavailability of protective equipment. Three main groups of themes relating to the impact of the pandemic emerged from the in-depth interviews: (a) clinical, (b) professional, and (c) personal and family impacts in the two waves. ICU healthcare professionals should be viewed as second victims of the COVID-19 pandemic as they have suffered significant psychological, professional, and moral harm.

Keywords: COVID-19; mixed methods; ICU healthcare professionals; moral distress; professional quality of life (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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