Death and Resistance: Professionals on the Front Line Against COVID-19

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has intensely affected the quality of life and labor conditions of healthcare workers (HCWs). This study sought to understand the experiences of 16 professionals in medicine, nursing and physical therapy who work on the “frontline” of the new Coronavirus. A phenomenological design was used. Results were organized into four axes: (a) the impact of the arrival of the pandemic; (b) participants’ progressive exhaustion; (c) fear and coping; and (d) rethinking life and death. Experiences of anguish, anxiety, depression, and physical and psychological health problems stand out. It was possible to observe that the lack of national coordination, in addition to unscientific political positions, were felt as an aggravating factor for work demands, and that impotence in the face of the disease implicated in rethinking the meaning of life and death. According to the JD-R model, the need to expand resources and emotional support so HCWs can properly manage psychosocial risk factors at work is evident.

Psychosocial Factors and Mental Disorders in Healthcare Workers Facing Covid-19

“…Depressive mood and depressive thoughts represented 33.4% of symptoms, but other studies suggest the gradual worsening of this dimension (Ardebili et al, 2021;Messias et al, 2022). Studies comparing psychological symptoms among different categories of healthcare workers in Brazil and Peru observed a high prevalence of depression, anxiety, stress, and psychological impact symptoms across all categories (Campos et al, 2021;Quiñones-Laveriano et al, 2022).…”

“…In the face of a dramatic situation brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, physicians, physical therapists, and nurses have had to reconsider the meaning of life and their relationship with death, which has affected many close colleagues in a manner perceived as unnatural (Messias et al, 2022). Since these professionals are exposed to their suffering and that of patients and families, Schmidt et al (2020) Work overload, insecurity, and fear of transmitting the disease to family members have been the main stressors (Quiñones-Laveriano et al, 2022), in addition to uncertainty about their professional future and financial situation.…”

Burnout at the hospital: Healthcare workers coping with COVID-19 stress

“…Added to this, the first phase of the disease provided an intense feeling of heroism from the HCWs, which dissipated throughout the long months as the number of cases did not decrease, associated with insecurity related to the conduct of the pandemic in the country. It should be considered that in the study by Messias et al (2022), 63.1% considered it stressful to have conflicting news and information about the disease, its treatment, and isolation.…”

“…In addition, the HCWs had their working hours extended with overtime, had to deal with a work environment with pressure and, at times, abusive hierarchical relationships, besides human suffering (fear, pain, sequelae, deaths, for example) (Orfão et al, 2020;Schmidt et al, 2020;Sun et al, 2021). The relationship with death itself gained new meanings, as it affected many close colleagues and was seen as unnatural (Messias et al, 2022).…”

Chronic diseases and religiosity/spirituality during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic

“…On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization [WHO] (2020) scaled up the state of emergency. It declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a pandemic, configuring a global crisis that has impacted the health of individuals, families, and communities, with catastrophic developments in the economy, education, and social conditions (Braga et al, 2020;Brooks et al, 2020;Esper et al, 2022;Messias et al, 2022;Moura et al, 2022).…”