Influence of Previous Mental State on Psychological Outcomes of Spanish Out-of-Hospital Professionals during the COVID-19 Pandemic

María Molina-Oliva, Rafael Martín-Sánchez, Elena Pastor-Benito, Raúl Soto-Cámara (), Rosa M. Cárdaba-García (), Israel John Thuissard, Juan José Fernández-Domínguez, María Paz Matellán-Hernández, Susana Navalpotro-Pascual and Almudena Morales-Sánchez
Additional contact information
María Molina-Oliva: Emergency Medical Service of Castilla y León–Sacyl, 47007 Valladolid, Spain
Rafael Martín-Sánchez: Emergency Medical Service of Castilla y León–Sacyl, 47007 Valladolid, Spain
Elena Pastor-Benito: Red de Investigación de Emergencias Prehospitalarias (RINVEMER), Sociedad Española de Urgencias y Emergencias (SEMES), 28020 Madrid, Spain
Raúl Soto-Cámara: Emergency Medical Service of Castilla y León–Sacyl, 47007 Valladolid, Spain
Rosa M. Cárdaba-García: Emergency Medical Service of Castilla y León–Sacyl, 47007 Valladolid, Spain
Israel John Thuissard: Red de Investigación de Emergencias Prehospitalarias (RINVEMER), Sociedad Española de Urgencias y Emergencias (SEMES), 28020 Madrid, Spain
Juan José Fernández-Domínguez: Red de Investigación de Emergencias Prehospitalarias (RINVEMER), Sociedad Española de Urgencias y Emergencias (SEMES), 28020 Madrid, Spain
María Paz Matellán-Hernández: Emergency Medical Service of Castilla y León–Sacyl, 47007 Valladolid, Spain
Susana Navalpotro-Pascual: Red de Investigación de Emergencias Prehospitalarias (RINVEMER), Sociedad Española de Urgencias y Emergencias (SEMES), 28020 Madrid, Spain
Almudena Morales-Sánchez: Emergency Medical Service of Castilla y León–Sacyl, 47007 Valladolid, Spain

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-16

Abstract: This study aimed to describe factors relating to the psychological distress of healthcare workers (HCWs) in Spanish out-of-hospital emergency medical services (EMS), according to the previous or non-use of psychotropic drugs or psychotherapy. A multicentre, cross-sectional descriptive study was designed. The study population were all physicians, nurses, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) working in any Spanish out-of-hospital EMS between February and April 2021. The main outcomes were the levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and self-efficacy, assessed by DASS-21 and G-SES. Differences in levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and self-efficacy, according to sex, age, previous use of psychotropic drug or psychotherapy, work experience, professional category, type of work, and modification of working conditions were measured using the Student’s t -test for independent samples, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, or 2-factor analysis of covariance. A total of 1636 HCWs were included, of whom one in three had severe mental disorders because of the pandemic. The interaction of the previous or non-use of psychotropic drugs or psychotherapy with the rest of the factors considered did not modify the levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and self-efficacy. However, HCWs with a history of psychotropic drug or psychotherapy use had a more intense negative emotional response and lower self-efficacy, regardless of their sex, professional category, type of work, or change in the working conditions. These HCWs are considered particularly vulnerable to the development or recurrence of new disorders or other comorbidities; therefore, the implementation of monitoring and follow-up strategies should be a priority.

Keywords: COVID-19; health personnel; emergency medical services; psychological stress; anxiety; depression; self-efficacy; psychotropic drug; psychotherapy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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