The Psychological Cost of the War

The study was conducted over the past year by Director of Nursing Dina Fainblat, Clinical Supervisor Sara Badash and Mahmoud Hamdan - Research Coordinator and nurse in the Emergency Medicine Department. The study was conducted among the hospital’s entire nursing staff. The most significant data came from the Emergency Medicine Department (ER) - the first point of admission for casualties. The highest risk for developing anxiety and PTSD symptoms was found among the ER staff.

"Since October 7th, nurses in Israel have been working under a reality punctuated by sirens and attacks, what we all call 'emergency normal. ' This is added to difficult post-COVID years and the fundamentally challenging complexity of the health care system, with our staff providing professional and dedicated care, but often putting their personal wellbeing at risk," said Sara Badash.

As noted above, the study included 162 participants from all hospital departments, and the data is very concerning: 33% treated war casualties, 24% lost a loved one, 40% experienced physical harm or personal trauma in the wake of the war and 47% take sedatives or sleep medication at the end of their workday. The study further shows that of the population surveyed, 58% turned (and continue to turn) to self-help solutions such as yoga and meditation, and only 25% sought professional psychological support.

The Emergency Medicine Department at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center

"The direct and frequent contact with war casualties gives rise to cumulative traumatic stress," stated Mahmoud Hamdan. "The ER teams are on the front line, and they bear the brunt of the psychological burden."

The main conclusion of the study, which was presented at the Nursing Administration's research and project conference at Hillel Yaffe, is that there is an urgent need to develop resilience programs designed specifically for medical staff, with emphasis on emergency room personnel. These programs must address the barriers that prevent the staff from seeking help and must provide practical tools for coping with distress.

"There's a tendency to think that people who provide care are more resilient," said Dina Fainblat, "but that’s just not the case. The data demonstrate that caregivers also need care – particularly in times of crisis. Over the past two years, we have worked to promote resilience programs, and this study shows that we must continue to act and provide tools and real support to all staff, certainly during times of crisis."