Psychological adaptation among health care workers who work with trauma-exposed refugees in Greece

Abstract

Greek health care workers (HCWs) working with refugee and asylum-seeker populations may be at risk of trauma exposure and related distress. The current study sought to further understand the factors that may promote or hinder psychological adaptation among HCWs working with trauma-exposed refugee populations in Greece. Participants were HCWs (N = 20) who completed semistructured interviews. Thematic analysis procedures identified three main themes: vicarious traumatization, (b) mismatch of expectations, and (c) difficulty coping. Our study findings highlight the need to provide adequate training, supervision, and mental health support for HCWs to prevent mental health issues in this population. Additional studies are necessary to understand the long-term consequences of working with refugee populations and explore ways to assist HCWs with self-care.