Changes in the level of psychological traumatization of medical personnel working in Kharkiv under war conditions over the period from 2022 to 2023

Abstract

Background. During the war in Ukraine, medical personnel face stress factors that increase the likelihood of development of post-stress disorders. Displacement of people from dangerous areas of Kharkiv region has put a strain on medical institutions of the city of Kharkiv. Maintaining mental and psychological health of medical personnel under war conditions requires timely monitoring of psycho-emotional state and implementation of medical-psychological measures. Purpose. To assess level of psychological traumatization of the medical personnel of oncology departments working in the front-line zone during the war in Ukraine. Materials and methods. We performed a comprehensive psychodiagnostic examination of 88 workers (41 doctors and 47 nurses) aged from 19 to 75 years at the premises of State Organization «Grigoriev Institute for Medical Radiology and Oncology of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine» over the period from 2022 to 2023. We used the Distress Thermometer screening tool, the Resilience Scale, and the Hoeck’s and Hess’ Complaint Questionnaire. The psychodiagnostic examination was performed twice: in 2022 and in 2023. Results. As a result of the analysis of the obtained data, we found that the level of distress in February of 2022 in medical personnel corresponded to a moderate level (6.11 ± 1.69 points) and was at a high level in 30% and at a moderate level in 60%. All medical workers (100%) admitted they had physiological and psychological problems (increased anxiety, fear, anger, and depression, which led to sleep disorders, feeling of fatigue, impaired memory and attention concentration). In February of 2023, the level of distress decreased by 23% and was 4.33 ± 1.56 points. Low level was observed in 44% of medical workers, moderate – in 50%, high – in 6%. The frequency of anxiety, fears, depressive symptoms, sleep and eating behavior disorders statistically significantly decreased. The mean value of resilience corresponded to the upper boundary of moderate level (20.99 ± 2.65 points). High level of resilience was found in 33% of medical personnel, moderate – in 66%, low – in 1%. We established negative correlations between the levels of resilience and emotional distress. The tendency towards higher values of resilience in doctors than in nursing personnel was established. The work with medical personnel was aimed at maintaining work ability and professional motivation, promoting psychoeducation about self-help when dealing with emotional stress and optimization of the psychological state (how to decrease internal tension, anxiety, etc.), and increasing the level of stress resistance of the personnel. Conclusions. We found that 90% of medical workers who worked in Kharkiv had moderate or high levels of emotional distress at the beginning of the war. A year later, a statistically significant decrease of the level of distress by 23% (p < 0.01) was observed. The level of frequency of anxiety, fears, depressive symptoms, and sleep disorders also statistically significantly decreased. High and moderate levels of stress resistance were observed in 99% of medical personnel. We found negative correlations between resilience and levels of emotional distress, meaning that high resilience was associated with low distress level, and vice versa, low resilience – with severe emotional distress.