Due to copyright issues, an electronic copy of the thesis must be ordered from the faculty. For the faculty to have time to process the order, the order must be received by the faculty at the latest 2 days before the public defence. Orders received later than 2 days before the defence will not be processed. After the public defence, please address any inquiries regarding the thesis to the candidate.
Trial Lecture – time and place
See Trial Lecture.
Adjudication committee
- First opponent: Professor Hanne Irene Jensen, University Hospital of Southern Denmark
- Second opponent: Associate professor Terje Torgersen, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
- Third member and chair of the evaluation committee: Professor II Gunnar Einvik University of Oslo
Chair of the Defence
Professor Michael Bretthauer, University of Oslo
Principal Supervisor
Senior Researcher and Professor II, Irene Lie, Oslo University Hospital, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges for Norwegian intensive care unit (ICU) health care professionals. They faced stressors like infection risk, prolonged use of protective equipment, increased workload, a rapid rise in patient numbers and excess death.
The aim of this thesis was to explore the working conditions and symptoms of psychological distress among nurses, physicians and managers working in ICUs by a national cohort survey combined with focus group interviews.
The study population held an average of 19 years of professional experience. A majority reported being professionally prepared and 46% were afraid of infection. At one-year follow-up, burnout was the most prevalent psychological distress (14%), followed by anxiety and depression (13%), and post-traumatic stress (5%). Anxiety and depressive symptoms and post-traumatic stress were associated with fear of infection and a history of depression. Post-traumatic stress was in addition associated with loneliness, whereas fewer years of professional experience were associated with burnout.
Focus group interviews revealed a more complex picture. The participants reported being conflicted between a strong sense of duty and the fear of infection, in particular infecting their families. The use of personal protective equipment was described as exhausting, and it was emotionally difficult to deny relatives access and to handle deaths. Participants reported managers not being consistently present, which resulted in ambiguous responsibilities and collaboration difficulties. Less experienced nurses felt given responsibilities beyond their competence. However, cohort units provided a safe setting for learning, rapid assistance in emergencies, and valued collegial psychosocial support, factors that together led to a sense of mastery.
ICU health care professionals in this study exhibited low levels psychological distress. Cohort units provided safer working conditions and led to a sense of mastery.
Additional information
Contact the research support staff.