THE IMPACT OF THE COVID PANDEMIC ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS IN THE COVID DEPARTMENT

UVOD: Pandemija COVID-19 dovela je do svjetske krize, virus je već izravno utjecao na tjelesno zdravlje milijuna ljudi, a predstavlja i veliku prijetnju mentalnom zdravlju na globalnoj razini. CILJ: Cilj istraživanja bio je utvrditi postoji li utjecaj pandemije COVID 19 na mentalno zdravlje zdravstvenih djelatnika koji su radili na COVID odjelima. Istraživano je postoji li utjecaj pandemije na anksioznost, depresiju, doživljeno traumatsko iskustvo te konzumaciju alkohola uz subjektivni doživljaj mentalnog blagostanja. METODE: Izrađen je anketni upitnik sastavljen iz pet standardiziranih upitnika za ispitivanje prisutnosti simptoma depresije, anksioznosti, posttraumatskog stresnog poremećaja, mentalnog blagostanja te korištenja alkohola (GAD-7, PHQ-9, Harvardski upitnik za traumu, AUDIT test i WEMWBS). Anketirani su zdravstveni djelatnici na COVID odjelima u razdoblju od 01.05.-01.06.2021. godine u 6 bolničkih ustanova u Hrvatskoj. Upitnici su ispunjavani anonimno i dobrovoljno. Podaci koji su prikupljeni statistički su analizirani u IBM programu SPSS 23. Rad prikazuje deskriptivne podatke uzorka i standardiziranih upitnika. REZULTATI: Prema rezultatima može se vidjeti da 24,5% zdravstvenih djelatnika iz istraživanja pokazuju barem neke simptome anksioznosti varirajući od umjerenih do ozbiljnih simptoma, dok njih 54,1% pokazuje od blagih do ozbiljnih simptoma anksioznosti. Simptome depresije od blagih do teških pokazuju barem 55,1% zdravstvenih djelatnika Statistički je značajna negativna povezanost između procjene mentalnog blagostanja te simptoma depresije i anksioznosti. Zdravstveni radnici s većim/težim simptomima depresije i anksioznosti statistički značajno niže procjenjuju svoje mentalno blagostanje (kvalitetu života). Dobivena je i statistički značajna pozitivna povezanost između simptoma depresije, anksioznosti, traume i konzumacije alkohola. Oni zdravstveni radnici koji pokazuju veće simptome anksioznosti pokazuju i teže simptome depresije, traume i imaju veći rizik za opasnu i štetnu konzumaciju alkohola. Nije dobivena statistički značajna povezanost između simptoma depresije, anksioznosti i traume sa spolom, dobi i razinom obrazovanja sudionika istraživanja. 45 ZAKLJUČAK: Prema rezultatima može se zaključiti da pandemija ima značajan utjecaj na mentalno zdravlje zdravstvenih radnika, samim time potrebno je osmisliti strategiju za ublažavanje posljedica, te pokrenuti akcije za pomoć zdravstvenim djelatnicima.BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a global crisis, the virus has already directly affected the physical health of millions of people, and poses a major threat to mental health globally. It affects the mental health of the population which includes health professionals. AIM: The aim of the study was to determine whether there is an impact of the COVID 19 pandemic on the mental health of health professionals working in COVID wards. It was investigated whether there is an impact of the pandemic on anxiety, depression, traumatic experience and alcohol consumption with a subjective experience of mental well-being. METHODS: A survey questionnaire was developed consisting of five standardized questionnaires to examine the presence of symptoms of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, mental well-being, and alcohol use (GAD-7, PHQ-9, Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, AUDIT test, and WEMWBS). Health professionals at COVID departments were surveyed in the period from 01.05.-01.06.2021. in 6 hospitals in Croatia. Questionnaires were completed anonymously and voluntarily. The data collected were statistically analyzed in IBM SPSS 23. The paper presents descriptive data from the sample and standardized questionnaires. RESULTS: According to the results, 24.5% of health professionals from the study show at least some symptoms of anxiety ranging from moderate to severe symptoms, while 54.1% of them show from mild to severe symptoms of anxiety. Symptoms of depression from mild to severe show at least 55.1% of health professionals There is a statistically significant negative association between the assessment of mental well-being and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Healthcare workers with higher / more severe symptoms of depression and anxiety have a statistically significantly lower assessment of their mental well-being (quality of life). A statistically significant positive association between symptoms of depression, anxiety, trauma, and alcohol consumption was also obtained. Those health professionals who show greater symptoms of anxiety also show more severe symptoms of depression, trauma and have a higher risk of dangerous and harmful alcohol consumption. No statistically significant association was found between symptoms of depression, anxiety, and trauma with gender, age, and level of education of study participants. 47 CONCLUSION: According to the results, it can be concluded that the pandemic has a significant impact on the mental health of health workers, therefore it is necessary to devise a strategy to mitigate the consequences, and initiate actions to help health workers