International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue VII, July 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186
The Mental Health of Medical Frontliners during the COVID 19 Pandemic
Miguel Den R. Sade, Ave V. Eragan, Dr. Mary Rachelle R. Wapaño
Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan, Philippines
Abstract: In this time of the pandemic where major outbreaks are experienced, health care workers around the globe have been very much exhausted in addressing the needs of those who are infected with COVID-19. Many of which have affected not just their physical state but as well as their mental condition. This exhaustion does not exempt anyone; thus it is very much important to include mental health in combating COVID-19. This study aims to assess the mental health of workers in a medical health facility in Iligan City catering, accepting, and engaging with services in dealing with COVID-19 patients. It aims to assess and determine the levels of anxiety, burnout, compassion fatigue, and compassion satisfaction and to determine the relationship among these variables. The respondents of this study are registered nurses from the Iligan Medical Center Hospital located at San Miguel Village, Pala-o, Iligan City. Findings reveal that nurses have severe levels of anxiety and average for burnout, compassion fatigue, and compassion satisfaction. Most variables do have a relationship except for compassion satisfaction and anxiety.
The findings highlight the importance of addressing the mental health of the nurses working in IMCH whilst combating COVID-19. Therefore, the management should develop programs, seminars, and relevant policies in addressing mental health in the hospital. With these findings, one of the recommendations is to conduct activities and programs in ensuring that nurses are mentally healthy to continue their services to patients who are infected with COVID-19. Further recommendations are discussed in this research paper.
Key words: mental health, medical frontline workers, anxiety, burnout, compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction
The World Health Organization last March 11, 2020, declared COVID-19 as pandemic Infectious disease outbreaks such as COVID-19, as well as other public health events, can cause emotional distress and anxiety. These feelings of distress and anxiety can occur even in people that are not at high risk of getting sick (WHO, 2020).
It has ravaged the whole world, whatever class or type of country you belong with, no one was exempted. It has disturbed many lives, it has greatly affected the world economy that resulted in lots of companies filing for bankruptcy and many people end up jobless (World Bank, 2020). Hospitals and other health care facilities around the globe are grappling to provide medical care attention to those who were infected. It has even cost the lives of some healthcare workers who are on the frontlines in battling COVID-19 (Rappler, 2021).