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Practice Guideline
. 2021 Jul-Sep;50(3):225-231.
doi: 10.1016/j.rcpeng.2021.02.004. Epub 2021 Sep 12.

Mental health care of health workers during Covid-19: Recommendations based on evidence and expert consensus

[Article in English, Spanish]
Francy Cantor-Cruz  1 , Jorge McDouall-Lombana  2 , Aldemar Parra  3 , Lucia Martin-Benito  4 , Natalia Paternina Quesada  4 , Constanza González-Giraldo  5 , Martha Lucia Cárdenas Rodríguez  6 , Ana María Castillo Gutiérrez  6 , Mario Garzón-Lawton  7 , Camila Ronderos-Bernal  5 , Bibiana García Guarín  8 , Juan Ramón Acevedo-Peña  8 , Olga Victoria Gómez-Gómez  9 , Nancy Yomayusa-González  10
Affiliations
Practice Guideline

Mental health care of health workers during Covid-19: Recommendations based on evidence and expert consensus

[Article in English, Spanish]
Francy Cantor-Cruz et al. Rev Colomb Psiquiatr (Engl Ed). 2021 Jul-Sep.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Introduction: The crisis situation generated by COVID-19 and the measures adopted have generated social changes in the normal dynamics of the general population and especially for health workers, who find themselves caring for patients with suspected or confirmed infection. Recent studies have detected in them depression and anxiety symptoms and burnout syndrome, with personal and social conditions impacting their response capacity during the health emergency. Our aim was to generate recommendations for the promotion and protection of the mental health of health workers and teams in the first line of care in the health emergency due to COVID-19.

Methods: A rapid literature search was carried out in PubMed and Google Scholar, and an iterative expert consensus and through electronic consultation, with 13 participants from the areas of psychology, psychiatry and medicine; the grading of its strength and directionality was carried out according to the international standards of the Joanna Briggs Institute.

Results: Thirty-one recommendations were generated on self-care of health workers, community care among health teams, screening for alarm signs in mental health and for health institutions.

Conclusions: The promotion and protection activities in mental health to face the health emergency generated by COVID-19 worldwide can include coordinated actions between workers, health teams and health institutions as part of a comprehensive, community care, co-responsible and sustained over time.

Introducción: La situación de crisis generada por la COVID-19 y las medidas adoptadas han generado cambios sociales en las dinámicas normales de la población general y en especial para los trabajadores de la salud, que se encuentran en atención del paciente con infección sospechada o confirmada. Estudios recientes han detectado en ellos síntomas depresivos y ansiosos y síndrome de burnout, afecciones personales y sociales que alteran su capacidad de respuesta durante la emergencia sanitaria. El objetivo es generar recomendaciones de promoción y protección de la salud mental de los trabajadores y equipos de salud dispuestos como primera línea de atención en la emergencia sanitaria por COVID-19.

Métodos: Se realizó una búsqueda rápida de literatura en PubMed y Google Scholar, y un consenso de expertos iterativo y mediante consulta electrónica, con 13 participantes de las áreas de psicología, psiquiatría y medicina; la gradación de su fuerza y direccionalidad se realizó según las normas internacionales del Joanna Briggs Institute.

Resultados: Se generaron 31 recomendaciones sobre el autocuidado del trabajador de la salud, el cuidado comunitario entre los equipos de salud, el cribado de signos de alarma en salud mental y para las instituciones sanitarias.

Conclusiones: Las actividades de promoción y protección en salud mental para el afrontamiento de la emergencia sanitaria generada por la COVID-19 en todo el mundo pueden abarcar acciones articuladas entre el trabajador, los equipos de salud y las instituciones sanitarias como parte de un cuidado integral, comunitario, corresponsable y sostenidas en el tiempo.

Keywords: Consenso; Consensus; Coronavirus infection health promotion; Health workers; Infecciones por coronavirus; Mental health; Personal de salud; Promoción de la salud; Salud mental.

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References

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