ACTA FAC MED NAISS 2023;40(4):456-466

 

Original article

UDC: 614.253.1/.5:616.89‑008.441:[616.98:578.834
DOI:
10.5937/afmnai40-42652

 

Running title: Psychoeducational Training for Healthcare Workers

 

Psychoeducational Training for Reducing the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Healthcare Workers

Dmytro I. Boiko, Oksana V. Mats, Liliia V. Zhyvotovska, Larysa O. Herasymenko,
Andrii M. Skrypnikov

 

Department of Psychiatry, Narcology and Medical Psychology, Poltava State Medical University, Ukraine

 

 SUMMARY

Introduction. Healthcare workers are increasingly exposed to long-term traumatic events in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods. We conducted a study that included 100 healthcare workers and 50 healthy individuals. We used the Perceived Stress Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Global Patient Impression for Improvement in the assessment of the psychological condition of respondents. To improve the psychoemotional state of health care workers, we proposed a program of psychoeducational training that was conducted at the workplace. After it, we reassessed the level of perceived stress, anxiety, and depression.

Results. During the COVID-19 pandemic, in healthcare workers, the level of stress and anxiety was higher than in non-medical specialties, and the level of depression was not significantly different. The reduction of stress and anxiety was found. The subjective assessment of the improvement of the general condition indicates its positive dynamics after the psychoeducational training in both doctors and nurses.

Conclusion. We showed the effectiveness of the proposed psychoeducational methodology for improving the psychoemotional condition of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Keywords: health personnel, COVID-19, anxiety, depression, psychological stress

 

Corresponding author:

Dmytro I. Boiko

e-mail: d.boiko@pdmu.edu.ua