Post-Traumatic growth among frontline doctors fighting against COVID-19 at a tertiary care public hospital in Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate post-Traumatic growth experienced by medical doctors who served coronavirus disease-2019 patients. Method: The cross-sectional study was conducted from December 1, 2021, to February 28, 2022, at the Civil Hospital, Karachi, and comprised medical doctors of either gender aged 22 years who directly provided care for at least one month to coronavirus disease-2019 patients. Other than demographic and professional profile of the subjects, data was collected using the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory, with total score 60 indicating a positive post-Traumatic growth. Data was analysed using SPSS 22. Results: Of the 166 subjects approached, 150(90.3%) finished the study. There were 90(60%) females, 88(58.7%) were aged 25-35 years, 55(36.7%) were married, 107(71.3%) were postgraduate trainees, 79(52.7%) had 1-3 family members in the vulnerable groups, and 43(28.7%) had received any sort of psychological training. The mean posttraumatic growth score was 64.81-20.27 and 87(58%) doctors scored 60. The odds of experiencing post-Traumatic growth for doctors with the number of vulnerable family members were significant (p 0.05). Doctors who had received psychological training before providing care to coronavirus disease-2019 patients showed higher odds of experiencing post-Traumatic growth (p 0.05). Conclusion: Coronavirus disease-2019 resulted in substantial positive psychological growth for frontline doctors. Psychological training showed a significant role in post-Traumatic growth.