Pakistan Journal of Surgery and Medicine
Quarterly Scientific Publication of Pakistan Medical Association Lahore.
Pakistan Journal of Surgery & MedicineE-ISSN: 2708-0285P-ISSN: 2708-0277 Vol 1 No 4 (Nov 2020 – Jan 2021) Title Author Study Type Identifier Read From the desk of Chief Editor Anwer A Editorial e230 HTMLPDF An Approach towards Integrated Healthcare System in Punjab, Pakistan Parvez A et al Guest Editorial e231 HTMLPDF Cytokine Storm Syndrome, a Read More ...
Deadline to Submit: December 31st 2021. Article Published on COVID-19 in Pak J Surg Med. Last Updated 01.04.2021 at 9.57pm PST. Editorial – The Novel coronavirus outbreak: A challenge beyond borders. Vol 1 Issue 1. Editorial – Last Rituals and handling of deceased in corona pandemic. Vol 1 No 2. Perspective – Post COVID-19 Industrial Read More ...
Welcome and thank you for considering Pakistan Journal of Surgery and Medicine (Pak J Surg Med) as a venue for your work. We have a defined editorial, peer, and statistical review processes to evaluate manuscripts for scientific accuracy, novelty, and importance. Before submitting your manuscript, please acquaint your self with our policies and procedures. Pre Submission Read More ...
Last date to submit: Dec 31, 2021
, Ramsha Akhund2, Zainab Nadeem2, Afifa Nisar1
Corresponding Author: Rida e Fatima, Final year MBBS student, Fatima Jinnah Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan.
Contact Author
Submission: May 12, 2020
Acceptance: Sep 30, 2020
Published: Oct 12, 2020
© Author(s) (or their employer(s) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY. No commercial re-use. Published by Pak J Surg Med.
Article Citation: Fatima RE, Akhund R, Nadeem Z, Nisar A. Protecting the mental health of healthcare workers in Pakistan using telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pak J Surg Med. 2020;1(3):e198. doi: 10.37978/pjsm.v1i3.198
The role of telehealth and its effect on reducing mental health burden from COVID-19 is of pressing concern. Telehealth is defined as the delivery of health education, health care, and health information sciences using remote technologies.[1] The psychological impact of the COVID-19 must be identified within the group of health care workers. Telemental health services are an area that requires imminent intervention for the support of health care workers in Pakistan, subjected to applicability and feasibility. The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the novel coronavirus as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on 30 January 2020.[2, 3] With the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases toppling over 284,000 in Pakistan on 10 August 2020, the numbers may rise.[4] However, the impact on health care workers is yet to be measured on various levels in Pakistan. The psychological symptoms related to the COVID-19 infection have already been identified and assessed at the population level. These include first paranoia, and second anxiety-driven panic buying.[5] By substitution, these may apply to healthcare workers in Pakistan. The unpredictability and uncertainty of pandemic outbreak are yet to be evaluated in terms of international public health and the under-preparedness of health facilities in Pakistan. Health care workers in Pakistani healthcare centers have been under immense psychological and physical pressure with a high risk of contracting the virus, and inadequate personal protective equipment.[6]
The psychological pressure also relates to the lack of contact with family members as workers are urged to limit interaction to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The stigma towards contracting the infection and transmitting it to others aggravates mental health problems, which not only affects the decision-making ability of the healthcare worker but also influences the overall well-being. The need of the hour for telemental health purposes is first to build a team for mental health intervention, producing concrete online courses for the psychological impact of pandemics to guide solely health care workers.
Second, a psychological assistance hotline is required for healthcare workers to discuss struggles relating to patients, families, and themselves in their narrative. Lastly, telemedicine-based practices by counseling psychologists must be promoted to healthcare workers for support and enabling catharsis.
Examples that support the effectiveness of telemental health services such as text-messaging, depression, PTSD, anxiety, online forums, videoconferencing, and smartphone apps have been useful in promoting the delivery of mental health services.[7] While many individuals are aware of the mortality and transmissibility rates of COVID-19, the nation must be cognizant of the impact on the mental health of healthcare workers, in a short and long-term basis.
The authors wishes to acknowledge Zouina Sarfraz, Fatima Jinnah Medical University for guiding on the writing process. The Authors also acknowledges Dr. Azza Sarfraz, Research Associate at the Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Pakistan for the help in proofreading this letter.
RF: Conceptualization Project administration, Writing (original draft), Writing (review and editing).
RA, ZN & AN: Writing (original draft).
The Authors Declared No Conflict of interests.
We Value your Opinions. Register your opinion to this Letter to Editor by Fatima RE et al. by clicking here.
Submission: PJSM-2020-000198-O-12-May-2020
Processing:
PJSM-2020-000198-P-02-Jun-2020
PJSM-2020-000198-P-19-Jun-2020
PJSM-2020-000198-R-02-July-2020
PJSM-2020-000198-CE-09-Aug-2020
Acceptance: 30-Sep-2020
Publication: 12-Oct-2020
This article has been subjected to extensive editing and double blind peer review process. The following editors were involved in editing of this article;
Lead Editor: S. Kazmi
Editors: K. Zahra, AA Sheikh
Bibliography: S. Firdous
The views and opinion expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other agency, organization, employer or company.
