- A doctor went viral by showing the anatomy of a doctor after a “toxic guard”.
- But not joking, there are at least 3 ways in which long emergency hours can affect the physical and mental health of health professionals.
- These types of work shifts outside regular hours have important repercussions on the physical and mental health of doctors
We all know that one of the non-negotiable aspects of the medical practice It implies the availability to attend to the patient at all times. That is why health systems around the world have emergency services, in which health personnel take medical guard to ensure patient care 24 hours a day.
However, a doctor went viral by showing the anatomy of a doctor after a “toxic guard”.
@mariakatheryne #Bedtime #medical #medicine #tiktokmedicine #medlife #medicallife #pediatrician #postturn #postguard ♬ Spongebob Tomfoolery – Dante9k Remix – David Snell
HOW DO MEDICAL GUARDS IMPACT THE HEALTH OF DOCTORS?
These types of work shifts outside regular hours have significant repercussions on the physical and mental health of physicians and other members of the health team. This affects not only individuals, but also negatively impacts the operation of emergency health services.
There are at least 3 ways that long hours emergencies can affect the physical and mental health of health professionals and we will show them to you below.
burnout syndrome
The also called “professional burnout syndrome” It is a disease described in the mid-seventies by Freudenberger and consists of an emotional response to stress, which is observed mainly in service providers, particularly in members of the health team.
It’s about a labor syndrome in which a characteristic triad is observed that includes emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and abandonment of personal fulfillment. As a consequence, the doctor who suffers from it goes through a period of emotional overload that progresses over time, and can become disabling.
From a psychological point of view, it is considered that the Burnout syndrome is a predisposing factor for suicide. The alarming thing is that it is an entity that accompanies the doctor from the beginning of his academic training. This is due to work overload and the perception that their efforts are not enough.
physical aftermath
The fatigue and musculoskeletal problems associated with patient management are a common problem in doctors, nurses and paramedics. Especially, spinal conditions such as herniated discs, low back pain and neck pain. Sleep disturbances are also very common in the on-call team as a result of jet lag.
However, the greatest risk faced by doctors in emergency is contact with patients’ bodily fluids. A situation that has become evident in recent times, due to the number of infected doctors and deaths from contracting COVID-19 in the health centers where they work.
The risk of contagion infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, hepatitis C and HIV, among others, is significantly higher in emergency professionals than in other health services. The reason is the propensity for occupational accidents with syringes or other penetrating sharp objects due to the haste with which life or death situations must be dealt with.
Labor consequences of the medical guard
Taking into account the individual factorsit is not surprising that the emergency services manage high rates of work absenteeism and low productivity, compared to other hospital services.
Even the WHO has made a call for attention regarding this problem, with a view to the institutions taking measures to ensure the physical and mental health of workers. In addition, to ensure comprehensive patient care.
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