An Analysis of the Perspective of People in Training “Conscripted” to
Manage COVID-19 Hospital Patients in Mexico
Abstract
Background In order to address the COVID-19 pandemic, health systems
have used all their resources, including health care workers in
training. Knowing the insights of these workers is of the utmost
importance to generate adequate educative/political /administrative
strategies. Methods An anonymous cross-sectional online survey was made
by the General Directorate of Quality and Health Education in Mexico, in
a convenience sample of 6,020 participants who belong to personnel in
training for the health area, which included practitioners and
professional technologists, undergraduate doctors, nursing, and
residents in several specialties. Results Different positive and
negative feelings were identified by the health workers who participated
in facing this health emergency; emphasizing elements such as the need
for Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) that, when deficient or lacking,
generate concerns that raise questions about the medical/epidemiological
attention to the pandemic. Based on an analysis of feelings, 8 main
feelings were identified, which by frequency of appearing were:
distrust(24.83%), fear(21.97%), sadness(12.45%),
anticipation(11.65%), anger(10.71%), disgust(9.69%), joy(4.97%) and
surprise(3.72%) which influence health workers in training and their
wrok performance day to day. Concerning their positive and negative
evaluation of their experience facing this health emergency, 13.83% of
participants had a positive perception about participating in this kind
of health emergency to support the country, 49.94% showed a negative
evaluation, and 36.23% kept a neutral evaluation about their
participation. Conclusions The health workers in training in Mexico gave
a negative evaluation of the management of the health emergency.
Distrust as a response to the absence of timely information from the
education/health institutions, as well as concern about lack of personal
protection equipment/inputs, are the main conflicts reported. We must
establish a credible globally relevant continuity plan for the education
of health care personnel in training, facing emergencies and disasters,
so that next time we are properly prepared.