Quality of Life Among Health Professionals in Intensive Care Units Who Provided or Didn't Provide Care to COVID-19 Patients

INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) not only has affected people all over the world as a disease but has also led to overwhelming unfavorable results both socially and psychologically. Since staff working in intensive care units are exposed to high levels of virus and have increased work load, they receive the ultimate share from this condition.
METHODS: We aimed to compare whether there was a difference on the life qualities of health-care personnel working in intensive care units in which covid-positive patients (ICU +) and covid-negative patients (ICU-) had been treated. A total of 62 women and 27 men were involved. Of 89 health-care staff included in the study, 49 worked in ICU (+) while 40 worked in ICU (-). Statistical analyses were carried out by IBM SPSS V22 programme.
RESULTS: No significant difference was determined with respect to life qualities of ICU (+) and ICU (-) workers. Burnout was observed higher in personnel in ICU (+) doctor and working for 24 h. Burnout elevated in ICU (-) nurses graduated from university. It was observed that there was a decrease in physical activity of 71,4% of ICU (+) personnel feeling symptoms related to covid in themselves; 42.9% changed their eating habits and 71.4% used drug supplements.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: There was a high burnout level particularly in doctors and nurses in ICU no matter what kind of patients they had looked after. It is of utmost importance that essential support is to be provided to protect health-care personnel in the so-called pandemic period.