5. Recommendations
Studies have shown that levels of chronic psychiatric morbidity such as depression and anxiety after trauma can appear in the long term after events such as an outbreak of disease or a pandemic39. At such times, it has been shown that long-term effective support and in-service training are productive, and the possession of greater professional knowledge of infectious diseases by doctors than by other health personnel has a significant effect in reducing anxiety 14,35. Similar conclusions were reached in our study, and as well as providing data, training and support on a long-term, needs-based and regular basis in order to reduce anxiety and increase team support because the anxiety of heath personnel other than physicians was shown to be high, individual motivational interviews can be conducted with all health workers. Also, plans can be made to increase training on epidemic management and control in the field in the degree education of auxiliary health personnel. We are of the opinion that for primary healthcare workers who may unexpectedly find themselves combating an outbreak of disease to be prepared against outbreaks of infectious disease and to be mentally and psychologically resistant, an increase in the share of government budgets for investment in protective health services will be an important factor in reducing to a minimum the risks which may arise.
Activities to prevent anxiety should be increased by better coordinating in-service training of contact tracing teams with field work; the problems experienced by primary healthcare workers should be communicated through the organizational hierarchy without delay, and solutions should be rapidly found. In addition, we feel that the lack of coworker support for health workers working in direct contact with cases at the primary level should be taken into account and team numbers should be increased to be able to manage the current situation, and that it would be beneficial to take into account the preferences and recommendations of health workers for colleagues when forming teams. Also, teams should be given enough time to rest during their working time.
It is uncertain how long the pandemic will last, so that long-term studies may be foreseen on whether mental health problems in health workers such as anxiety and insomnia develop into chronic psychiatric disorders.