Treating Anti-Vax Patients, a New Occupational Stressor—Data from the 4th Wave of the Prospective Study of Intensivists and COVID-19 (PSIC)

Abstract

The Prospective Study of Intensivists and COVID-19 (PSIC) is a longitudinal study that besides investigating a cohort of intensivists from one of the two COVID-19 hub hospitals in Central Italy since the beginning of the pandemic (first wave, April 2020), has conducted a new survey at each successive wave. In addition to the variables investigated in previous surveys (job changes due to the pandemic, justice of safety procedures, job stress, sleep quality, satisfaction, happiness, anxiety, depression, burnout, and intention to quit), the latest fourth wave (December 2021) study has evaluated discomfort in caring for anti-vax patients. A multivariate logistic regression model confirmed that high levels of occupational stress (distressed 75.8%) were associated with isolation, monotony, lack of time for meditation, and poor relationships with anti-vaccination patients. Compared to the first phase, there was a reduction in levels of insomnia and anxiety, but the percentage of intensivists manifesting symptoms of depression remained high (58.9%). The study underlined the efficacy of organizational interventions and psychological support.