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Cortica

Articles

Vol. 1 No. 2 (2022): Cortica II : Brainstorming on mental health

Fear, uncertainty and resilience: are they the building blocks of vaccine decision-making during the COVID-19 epidemic?

  • Umberto Giradini
DOI
https://doi.org/10.26034/cortica.2022.3353
Submitted
September 16, 2022
Published
2022-09-20

Abstract

The characteristics of the COVID-19 pandemic (speed of diffusion, uncertain knowledge, severity, mortality, semi-confinement, extreme physical/psychological mobilization) have installed an anxious and uncertain climate among the staff of social medical institutions (EMS). Adherence to vaccination and physical distancing is of particular importance since EMS workers are among the categories most at risk of contracting the virus. In this context, an anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted among these workers by the Neuchâtel Centre for Psychiatry (CNP) in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland, in order to identify (1) the criteria to be taken into account in vaccination decision-making; (2) the impact of the pandemic on their physical/mental health. 1800 envelopes are sent to the EMS. 700 participants responded to the proposed questionnaire. 500 were selected. The results show that (a) 71.4% support the idea that the vaccine provides a response to the current crisis; (b) 88.4% have already received their 1st dose; (c) impact of physical and mental health (fear and uncertainty) on the vaccination decision, as well as on the relationship with EMS residents and at the private level; (d) mental health scales showed some age-related resilience. We find positive correlations between "The workload has been heavy" and feeling a lot of physical fatigue r = 0.54; p < 0.01, as well as a lot of psychic fatigue r = 0.38; p < 0.01 among all staff associated with "Significant changes have taken place in the organization of my work, assignment, planning, other" r = 0.25; p < 0.01. In conclusion, the results of this study help us to better understand the decision-making criteria for vaccination, the risks/vulnerabilities as well as the resilience of emS staff in the canton of Neuchâtel in the face of physical/psychological exhaustion.

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