Psychological Well-being of Doctors and Healthcare Providers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Overview of Foreign Studies

The purpose of this article is to analyze the severity of stress reactions and identify the predictors of
psychological maladaptation of medical workers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well
as to compare the prevalence of psychological well-being disorders in doctors and medical staff
during the current COVID-19 pandemic and previous outbreaks of 21st-century infectious diseases.
The article shows that the COVID-19 pandemic has become a challenge for health care systems
in all countries. On the base of the analysis of international studies of the emotional status of
medical workers during pandemic COVID-19 and previous outbreaks of infectious diseases, in this
article, there are discussed the factors of physical and psychological distress of medical staff in the
pandemic COVID-19. There are considered the prevalence of negative psychological reactions and
mental states in doctors and medical staff during the pandemic, such as acute stress reactions,
anxiety disorders, depressive experiences, and sleep disorders. There are highlighted the predictors
of the occurrence of negative emotional experiences in medical workers in the context of the
COVID-19 pandemic and in the future.
In the article, there is discussed the specifi cs of working in the "red zone" and its impact on the
emotional well-being of medical workers, especially on the emotional state of nurses as the most
vulnerable group. The formation of attachment between medical professionals and patients with
COVID-19 in the "red zone" is discussed. On the base of the analysis of previous outbreaks of
infectious diseases, there are estimated the probability of developing such adverse conditions and
disorders as burnout syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), alcoholism, and substance
abuse in health care workers in the long term. The concern is expressed about the high incidence of
burnout among doctors and medical staff in the context of pandemic that may aff ect the quality of
medical care in the absence of timely psychological assistance.