Introduction
Healthcare workers providing care to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)-infected patients with slow course of the disease -possibly worsened by underlying health problems- may experience emotional distress which will put their psychological wellness, mental health and professional performance at risk.
In addition to the clinical crises of individual patients, health professionals are repeatedly exposed to extremely stressful situations caused by multiple factors (public concern, shortage of resources, overload of care facilities, uncertainty, etc.). Moreover, health professionals have the most exposure to the virus by virtue of their direct contact with people affected by COVID-19, thus are at the highest risk of becoming first victims.
What is the purpose of this website?
The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic is increasing the pressure on healthcare systems, forcing staff to make critical decisions in an environment of extreme public concern and multiple adverse conditions. This leads to emotional overload, acute stress reactions and other affective pathologies or psychosomatic responses in healthcare workers.
In the current scenario, this overload is causing many critical situations to unfold, affecting each hospital in a different way - some of which are already overwhelmed.
It is essential to take action to help counteract the devastating impact on healthcare professionals and people providing support. Healthcare will be at even more risk if our professionals feel unsupported and lose morale.
From the above concerns, this website and its contents were developed.
In the current scenario, this overload is causing many critical situations to unfold, affecting each hospital in a different way - some of which are already overwhelmed.
It is essential to take action to help counteract the devastating impact on healthcare professionals and people providing support. Healthcare will be at even more risk if our professionals feel unsupported and lose morale.
From the above concerns, this website and its contents were developed.
Methods
Over the last few weeks we have created these resources by taking the shared experiences and successful actions devised and implemented by hospitals and primary care settings, and with consideration to the Second Victims project (Spanish Research Health Agency -FIS- and the European Regional Development Fund -ERDF-, references PI13/0473 and PI13/01220), including a fast review of the literature primarily including the Hunan and Wuhan (China) experience.
This proposal results from the work of a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary team. It began with the identification of the most pressing situations, for which subsequent interventions were implemented with the aim of providing guidance on possible actions. These proposed actions can change rapidly due to the urgency and demand of the situations.
The problem situations and resources presented here may be applicable in healthcare systems of other countries that are unfortunately also affected by this terrible pandemic.
The guidance published on this website combines good practice, accumulated experience and verified references, and aims to help confront the emotional impact on healthcare professionals caused by this pandemic.
This proposal results from the work of a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary team. It began with the identification of the most pressing situations, for which subsequent interventions were implemented with the aim of providing guidance on possible actions. These proposed actions can change rapidly due to the urgency and demand of the situations.
The problem situations and resources presented here may be applicable in healthcare systems of other countries that are unfortunately also affected by this terrible pandemic.
The guidance published on this website combines good practice, accumulated experience and verified references, and aims to help confront the emotional impact on healthcare professionals caused by this pandemic.
References
To view and download the scientific literature, please go to the following page: https://secondvictimscovid19.umh.es/p/references.html
