The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic First Wave on Healthcare Workers: A New Perspective from Qualifying PTSD Criterion A to Assessing Post-Traumatic Growth

Abstract

Post-traumatic growth (PTG) and specific traumatic events have been poorly explored in the literature focusing on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among healthcare workers (HWs) tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. In a large sample of Italian HWs, we investigated the kinds of traumatic events and whether PTG affects the risk of PTSD, along with its prevalence and features, during the first COVID-19 wave. COVID-19-related stressful events, Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and PTG Inventory-Short Form (PTGI-SF) scores were collected through an online survey. Out of 930 HWs included in the final sample, 257 (27.6%) received a provisional PTSD diagnosis based on IES-R scores. Events referring to the overall pandemic (40%) and to a threat to a family member (31%) were reported as the most stressful events. Female sex, previous mental disorders, job seniority, unusual exposure to sufferance and experiencing a threat to one’s family significantly increased the provisional PTSD diagnosis’ risk, while being a physician, the availability of personal protective equipment and moderate/greater scores on the PTGI-SF spiritual change domain were found to be protective factors.

The relationship among posttraumatic stress disorder, posttraumatic growth, and suicidal ideation among Italian healthcare workers during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic

“…This is a cross-sectional, web-based survey study, conducted during the first wave of COVID-19 in Italy. Study procedures are extensively elucidated elsewhere 5 . Briefly, answers were collected between April 4 and May 13, 2020, the late phase of the first stay-at-home order in Italy.…”

“…Study procedures are extensively elucidated elsewhere. 5 Briefly, answers were collected between April 4 and May 13, 2020, the late phase of the first stay-at-home order in Italy. An invitation letter presenting the research and containing the link to the survey was sent to healthcare institutions, physicians', and nurses' associations and circulated through groups of health professionals on social networks and researchers' direct contacts.…”