Not Just a ‘Breath of Death’: Indirect Consequences of Working in a COVID-19 Unit

Anasuya Guha, Petr Schalek, Martin Chovanec, Pavel Kraml, Jakub Bala and Jan Plzak
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Anasuya Guha: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, General University Hospital in Prague, 128 08 Prague, Czech Republic
Petr Schalek: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Kralovske Vinohrady, 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 100 34 Prague, Czech Republic
Martin Chovanec: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Kralovske Vinohrady, 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 100 34 Prague, Czech Republic
Pavel Kraml: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Kralovske Vinohrady, 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 100 34 Prague, Czech Republic
Jakub Bala: Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitation, University Hospital Bulovka, 180 81 Prague, Czech Republic
Jan Plzak: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Motol, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 150 06 Prague, Czech Republic

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 20, 1-10

Abstract: We carried out a survey in the Czech Republic between January and February 2021 to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on doctors working in the COVID-19 unit. A rise in 250,000 cases were seen in the Czech Republic during the time of the survey. The indirect impact of the disease on doctors working in COVID-19 units and strategies to control the situation in the Czech Republic were evaluated here. About 35% doctors were concerned with health issues, 40% had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 antigen, 51% reported lack of support for those who had contracted COVID-19 and 163 agreed that medical, psychological counselling and financial services should be provided. Most doctors experienced moderate and severe degrees of psychological impact. Doctors with the least working experience and those with at least 21 to 35 years were most affected. Mental fatigue was the most common reported psychosomatic effect. The effects were higher in doctors who were more concerned about working in COVID-19 units. Around 87% agreed that the best strategy in controlling the situation in the Czech Republic would be ‘preventive measures in combination with vaccination’. History shows us that pandemics can occur in multiple waves. Subsequent waves, inadequate support as well as unparalleled workload can lead to a serious rise in psychological disorders amongst HCWs worldwide.

Keywords: COVID-19; COVID-19 unit; frontiers; psychosomatic problems; mental fatigue (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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