Abstract:

Corona-virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the newly emerged coronavirus [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)], affected the functioning of many countries, including Bulgaria. Clinical manifestations include fever, cough, shortness of breath, headache, fatigue, myalgia and arthralgia, in some cases – anorexia, ageusia and anosmia (loss of taste and smell). Consequences of severe and critical forms of COVID include Respiratory insufficiency, Deconditioning, Dysphagia, Joint stiffness and pain, critical-illness related Myopathy and Neuropathy, and complications of the central and peripheral nervous system. Ultimately post-COVID or long COVID-19 syndrome was described, including: Fatigue, Difficulty breathing; Shortness of breath, Cough; Joint pain; Chest pain; severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS); Fast or pounding heartbeat; Muscle pain or headache; Loss of taste and/or smell; Rash or hair loss. Many acute and chronic neurological issues were considered as consequences of COVID-19: ischaemic stroke, inflammatory and neurodegenerative disorders (encephalomyelitis, leucoencephalitis, Guillain-Barre syndrome and chronic demyelinating polyneuropathy, relapses of multiple sclerosis, Parkinsonic syndrome; cognitive impairment, post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), Memory, attention and sleep problems; Brain fog, Inability to concentrate; Post-traumatic stress syndrome, Depression and Anxiety; Sleep issues.

The disease affected millions of persons, especially the health workers, including those in rehabilitation departments in hospitals for active care and long-term care. All members of the staff of clinics and departments of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) were affected: medical doctors - PRM specialists and PRM-trainees, nurses, medical assistants, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, etc.

The pandemic of COVID-19 and the respective outbreaks influenced significantly the quality of life of many people, including students. The educational process was interrupted and transformed significantly, as consequence of the application of information and communication technologies (ICT). Distance learning was introduced practically in every field of education. Telerehabilitation technologies were developed and applied in clinical practice.

The increase of use and affordability of technology, the overuse of electronic devices and the lack of social contacts provoked some changes in the psycho-emotional status of students and on the quality of education. The stress and distress increased, the development of burnout syndrome was accelerated, especially in the groups of health professionals, including students in health professions.

The goal of current study was the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the influence of pandemic on the level of psycho-emotional stress of our students and trainees (in the rehabilitation field).

We structured a questionnaire for assessment and auto-assessment of the psycho-emotional status of health workers and students in the field of rehabilitation. We applied this questionnaire to medical doctors – PRM trainees, physiotherapists, medical assistants, ergotherapists, etc.

The obtained results demonstrated prevalence of symptoms of anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, burnout; manifested and developed during the last months. We discuss the alteration of the psycho-emotional balance of our students and trainees as results of the COVID-pandemic.

Keywords:

COVID-19 pandemic, psycho-emotional stress, burnout, rehabilitation, education.