Post-traumatic stress and associated factors among healthcare workers in the early stage following the 2020 Malatya-Elazığ earthquake

Abstract

Objective: An earthquake is a natural disaster that seriously affects individuals physically and psychologically. Although there has been a great deal of research on the psychological effects of earthquakes, few have focused on local health workers and its early effects. In this study, it is aimed to determine the levels and predictors of early post-earthquake trauma of the local health workers working in the affected area in the earthquake that occurred on January 24, 2020, Malatya-Elazig. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out on a sample of 201 healthcare workers after three weeks from of the earthquake. In order to determine the factors that may affect the trauma response in the participants, a questionnaire was applied to question demographic variables, previous traumatic experiences, concerns and losses at the time of the earthquake, and institutional and social expectations. Post-Earthquake Trauma Level Determining Scale was used to record post-earthquake trauma levels, and TEMPS-A was used to determine dominant temperament characteristics. Results: Severe trauma level was detected in 25.8% of the participants. Trauma scores were higher in women, those who were married, those who had children, those who experienced the earthquake for the first time and those who had anxiety about losing their own life or their relatives life during the earthquake. In the logistic regression analysis, it was determined that anxious temperament and fear of losing a loved one during an earthquake increased the severity of trauma, whereas a previous earthquake history decreased it. Conclusions: Detection of the factors associated with the trauma response is important both in terms of protecting the mental health of health workers and ensuring the continuity of health services in disasters such as earthquakes that affect millions of people.