How Covid Has Changed Lives Of Health Workers

Chronic stress among healthcare workers had led to major health issues like, fatigue, headache, bowel disorders, anxiety, depression etc.

Covid 19 has affected the whole world, especially healthcare professionals dealing with it, are facing increased psychological pressure and psychiatric morbidity.

Our frontline doctors, nurses and healthcare workers have the fear that they may get infected with COVID-19 themselves due to the high risk of exposure to the virus. They worry that they might carry the infection to their home, thereby affecting their family members, old age parents & small kids.

The healthcare workers also reported increased stress levels dealing vulnerable patients, not following protocols and adhering to safety guidelines. Lack of intensive care beds, oxygen and sufficient resources along with dealing critically ill patients is a major task. According to a survey, nearly 1400 healthcare workers treating covid-19 patients in India showed distress, anxiety, depression, fear leading to resignations and low work performance. Countries like China and Europe have dealt with cases of suicide of healthcare workers.

Chronic stress among healthcare workers had led to major health issues like, fatigue, headache, bowel disorders, anxiety, depression etc. Several co-morbidities viz, hypertension, respiratory diseases, diabetes had made them more vulnerable to covid – 19 complications.

Since 2020, all healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, support staff, are working day and night to combat this virus and have faced difficult times. Many of the staff didn’t get a chance to visit their homes, look after their kids and parents. The entire healthcare system was shocked and unprepared to combat the battle against such deadly virus.

The World Health Organization reported that one in ten health workers is infected with coronavirus in some countries. In May 2020, the International Council of Nurses reported that at least 90,000 healthcare workers have been infected and more than 260 nurses had died in the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, one in four doctors in the UK were off sick in isolation or caring for a family member with COVID-19. According to WHO, health workers are at risk due to following reasons. Exposure to large numbers of patients in long shifts with inadequate rest periods. Lack of personal protective equipment, more pressure of treatment, intense work cycles, lack of rest etc, have increased the probability of infection among healthcare workers. Health care workers have experienced exhaustion emotionally and physically leading to medical errors, lack of empathy in treatment and lower productivity.

Government and private set ups should focus on stress management workshops and counselling in health sector at regular intervals. Activities should include yoga, deep breathing exercises and meditation as they are an excellent way of combating anxiety and achieve deep mental and physical relaxation. All these steps will go a long way in making the workplace of health care worker stress-free.