Table 1.
Respondents’ Characteristics and Reports about the COVID-19 Experience
| Respondents’ Characteristics (N = 1,058) | Results |
|---|---|
| Age, yr, median (IQR) | 33 (28–41) |
| Sex, F, n (%) | 753 (71.0) |
| Role in the ICU, n (%) | |
| Nurse | 498 (47.2) |
| Nursing assistant | 223 (21.1) |
| Senior physician | 204 (19.3) |
| Resident | 78 (7.4) |
| Medical student | 25 (2.4) |
| Other allied professionals* | 27 (2.6) |
| ICU experience, yr, median (IQR) | 5 (2–10) |
| Number of hours worked per week, median (IQR) | 45 (36–60) |
| Use of psychotropic drugs before the pandemic, n (%) | 54 (5.2) |
| Increased use or new intake of psychotropic drugs since the pandemic†, n (%) | 245 (23.7) |
| Rank from 0 (no, not at all) to 10 (yes, very much), median (IQR) | |
| Personal investment during the pandemic 0 (very limited) to 10 (maximal) | 5 (5–7) |
| The COVID-19 experience was technically more difficult | 7 (5–8) |
| The COVID-19 experience was emotionally more difficult | 7 (5–8) |
| Institutional support was very strong | 7 (5–8) |
| Public support was very strong | 5 (3–7) |
| The COVID-19 experience strengthened relationships with other departments | 7 (5–8) |
| The COVID-19 experience strengthened relationships with nurses | 8 (6–8) |
| The COVID-19 experience improved communication among the ICU team | 5 (4–7) |
| The COVID-19 experience improved intrateam safety | 7 (5–8) |
| Respondents reported being proud of having worked during this pandemic | 8 (6–9) |
| Respondents reported that COVID-19 was a very exciting period | 4 (2–6) |
| Respondents reported struggling with their emotions | 4 (2–6) |
| Reported feelings and experiences during and since the pandemic, n (%) | |
| Respondents expressed a need for public gratitude | 874 (83.0) |
| Respondents were pleasantly surprised by colleagues’ behaviors | 557 (53.1) |
| Respondents expressed sadness | 523 (49.6) |
| Respondents reported they witnessed hasty end-of-life decisions | 446 (42.2) |
| Respondents reported insomnia | 397 (37.8) |
| Respondents reported they believed they were part of a healthcare elite | 380 (36.1) |
| Respondents regret the restricted visitation policies for relatives during the pandemic | 333 (31.5) |
| Respondents reported euphoria and exaltation | 126 (11.9) |
| Respondents reported hyperactivity and high self-esteem | 115 (10.9) |
| Respondents requested psychological support | 70 (6.6) |
| Could rest during the pandemic, n (%) | |
| Not at all | 240 (22.9) |
| From time to time | 528 (50.3) |
| Very often | 282 (26.9) |
| Could care for my family during the pandemic, n (%) | |
| Not at all | 230 (21.9) |
| From time to time | 484 (46.2) |
| Very often | 334 (31.9) |
Definition of abbreviations: COVID-19 = coronavirus disease; IQR = interquartile range.
*
Includes physiotherapists, psychologists, and nutritionists.
†
Includes tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, or other drugs.