Oviedo Lugo GF, Uribe Restrepo JM, Pinto Álvarez M, Patiño Trejos JA, Gómez-Chiappe N. [Listening and Support Groups in a Teaching Hospital as a Model of Intervention for Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic].
REVISTA COLOMBIANA DE PSIQUIATRIA 2023;
52:S105-S112. [PMID:
34866661 PMCID:
PMC8632601 DOI:
10.1016/j.rcp.2021.10.012]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Background
Healthcare workers facing the COVID-19 pandemic have experienced unexpectedly traumatic situations associated with concerns about the possibility of acquiring the infection, excessive workloads, and the increased inpatient mortality rates. The objective was to make changes in hospital practices that facilitate spaces for the well-being of healthcare worker teams.
Methods
We conducted an ongoing intervention during the first year of this outbreak. We established peer support groups by videoconference and individual virtual interventions for specialist physicians, resident physicians, nurses, and support personnel, focusing on problems and emotions related to the psychological impact of being on the clinical front line working with patients with pneumonia due to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).
Results
The group work helped the expression of feelings, peer support, and validation of personal emotional experience. The participants expressed the need for physical and psychological security in the battle against COVID-19 and the need for interpersonal ties and giving meaning to their experiences.
Conclusions
Based on our findings, we consider it necessary to investigate the potentially traumatic experiences of healthcare workers and provide evidence-based knowledge that can generate novel approaches in psychosocial support work structures for this group.
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