Abstract

FERREIRA, Ricardo et al. Health professionals lived experienced during the first wave of COVID-19. Psic., Saúde & Doenças [online]. 2021, vol.22, n.3, pp.789-801.  Epub Dec 31, 2021. ISSN 1645-0086.  https://doi.org/10.15309/21psd220302.

The pandemic COVID-19 imposed an unprecedented burden on health professionals (HP), but there is little evidence about its impact on the professional context of care and on their lives. This study aimed to describe the HP’s experiences infected with COVID-19 or who had high-risk contacts during their professional activity. We performed a qualitative phenomenological study. Semi-structured, individual interviews were conducted with nurses, doctors, and operational assistants, from a university hospital at the central region in Portugal. A total of 23 PS participated (15 nurses; 10 COVID+). Three central themes emerged - Person, Hospital, Society - and five sub-themes: “Me” (person/professional), “Me and the Others” (patients/families), “Me and Others like Me” (team), “Me and Mine” (family), and “Leadership/Management”. Emotional changes, adaptations to care and communication, the impact of isolation/separation and mass media are described. The difficulties in being “tested” and knowing the results, the feeling of institutional helplessness and stigma in the community were also a burden. We concluded that the knowledge of emotional, physical, socio-relational and care changes, described by these HP, can facilitate the adaptive process of the system and health care, ensuring effective support for PS and, consequently, ensuring the best health care, from now on.

Keywords : Health Personel; COVID-19; Life change events; Pandemics; Empathy.

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