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.