Frontline doctors face ‘ongoing distress’ after first wave of coronavirus
A "significant" proportion of frontline doctors face "ongoing distress" after working in the high pressure conditions of the coronavirus pandemic's first wave, new research suggests.
A study based on responses from more than 5,400 frontline doctors in the UK and Ireland found nearly half (45 per cent) reported psychological distress as pandemic accelerated to its initial peak in 2020.
Researchers from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) and psychologists from the University of Bath surveyed emergency, anaesthetics and intensive care professionals during the lead up, peak and post-peak of the first wave of infections last year.
A total of 5,440 doctors responded to the "acceleration" survey, around 16 per cent of the 34,188 working in their field.
Some 3,896 professionals subsequently responded to the "peak" survey and 3,079 to the "deceleration" survey.
Survey results, released early as a pre-print study and not yet-peer-reviewed, put the prevalence of psychological distress at 44.7 per cent of respondents in the build up to the first wave's peak, 36.9 per cent at the peak and 31.5 per
cent as it declined. Prevalence of trauma was found among 23.7 per cent of respondents at the first pandemic peak, and 17.7 per cent as it decelerated.
Probable post-traumatic stress disorder was also found in 12.6 per cent of respondents at the peak and 10.1 per cent afterwards, the research suggested.
The study also found that "worry of family infection due to clinical work" was most strongly associated with both distress and trauma.
Overall researchers concluded: "Our findings reflect a pattern of elevated distress during the acceleration and peak phase of the current pandemic, some degree of natural recovery and a significant minority continuing to experience residual ongoing distress."
Emergency medicine doctor Tom Roberts, from the RCEM – who led the research, said: "Our findings highlight the
stark realities for many doctors across the UK and Ireland in responding to the public health crisis and the toll this has placed on their mental health.
"The extent of the challenge has at times been overwhelming and we see from our results the real-life impact this has on individuals' wellbeing."
Dr Jo Daniels, a clinical psychologist and senior lecturer from the University of Bath's Department of Psychology, added: "We now know that doctors are working on the frontline while carrying the heavy burden of fear of infecting themselves, or critically, family members, while some continue to battle high levels of psychological distress.
"This distress was evident in the lead up to the first peak, but our study shows it sustained well beyond this time point.
"It is now a pressing and urgent concern; doctors are at breaking point and cannot continue to work effectively in these very high pressured, high risk environments without psychological support to address their mental health needs.
"What is at stake not only affects the long-term mental health of this vital workforce, but their ability to function and deliver the services we depend on."
Researchers argued it was "essential" that policymakers and professional bodies provided doctors equipment to "mitigate both physical and psychological harm", increased awareness of the signs of psychological distress and developed "clear pathways" to provide effective care.
This could include formalised peer and team support structures and access to cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), they said.
Professor Edd Carlton, from the RCEM, said: "Workers across the NHS have responded to Covid-19 with incredible bravery, commitment and dedication.
"Over and above warm words, what we need most is proper support to help deal with impacts this has had on us all."
A separate study yesterday suggests three out of four ambulance staff are at "breaking-point", suffering low morale and calling for better protective equipment.
The GMB union said almost two out of three of 2,000 of its members surveyed said they believed their PPE should be upgraded.
Three out of four respondents said ambulance workers were at "breaking point", with the crisis much worse than when the lockdown first started last March.
The responses included: * "People are dying waiting for ambulances whilst crews are stuck at hospital with Covidconfirmed patients."
* "We had a taxi pull up in an ambulance bay with a dead male while his wife was shouting for help."
*"In 24 years in the ambulance service I've never ever seen staff sat on station at the start of the shift so frightened (almost to tears) to go out on an ambulance."
GMB national officer Rachel Harrison said: "This cannot go on something has got to give.
"Ambulance staff are going off sick in droves while the service collapses around them, despite their heroic efforts.
"A massive 93 per cent are crying out for better protection, the PPE they are given just isn't fit for purpose, and is a massive factor in why the situation is so desperate.
"Ambulance PPE needs addressing urgently or more people will die unnecessarily, including our ambulance workers."