THE PSYCHO-EMOTIONAL IMPACT OF COVID-19 INFECTION ON MEDICAL STAFF IN THE FIRST-LINE MEDICAL INSTITUTION IN MOLDOVA

Abstract

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has substantially affected the lives of people around the world, especially after the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic in the second week of March 2020. The research and the clinical observations in this field show that, during the pandemic, many people display stress, anxiety or depression, which are fuelled by fear and the pathological worry of infection, of coming into contact with possibly contaminated objects or surfaces. It exacerbates the fear of strangers who might have an infection, the fear of socioeconomic consequences and the symptoms of the traumatic stress associated to the pandemic. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the medical population proved to be susceptible to burnout syndrome - physical and emotional exhaustion, poor performance, indecision, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, depression, all due to the increased work requirements, prolonged work, frustration in case of failure to save the patients' lives, pandemic-related uncertainty, fear of getting sick and infecting the family members. The frontline workers may face additional stressors during the COVID-19 outbreak: stigmatization of those working with COVID-19 patients; strict bio-security measures; physical pressure by the protective equipment; physical isolation which makes it difficult to ensure the comfort of a sick or suffering person; constant awareness and vigilance; strict procedures to be followed in order to prevent spontaneity and autonomy.