Evaluation of the psychological distress and mental well-being of pre-hospital care providers in Saudi Arabia during COVID-19.

Background: Pre-hospital care providers are the first line of contact when emergencies occur. They are at high risk of mental health disorders associated with trauma and stress. The magnitude of their stress could increase during difficult times such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Objectives: This study reports on the state of mental well-being and the degree of psychological distress among pre-hospital care workers (paramedics, emergency medical technicians, doctors, paramedic interns and other healthcare practitioners) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional survey study in Saudi Arabia. A questionnaire was distributed among pre-hospital care workers in Saudi Arabia during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The questionnaire was based on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) and the World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5). Results: In total, 427 pre-hospital care providers completed the questionnaire; 60% of the respondents had scores of more than 30 in the K10 and were likely to have a severe disorder. The WHO-5 showed a similar percentage of respondents with a score of more than 50 and coded as having poor well-being. Conclusions: The findings of this study provide evidence around mental health and well-being for pre-hospital care workers. They also highlight the need to better understand the quality of mental health and well-being for this population and to provide appropriate interventions to improve their quality of life.

Saudi Heart Association, National Heart Center and National Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Committee taskforce statement on CPR and resuscitation during COVID-19 pandemic.

Corona virus disease 2019 is a global pandemic, which affects around 2million individuals with a high death rate that exceeds 90,000 death cases across the globe. The Saudi Heart Association and the national cardiopulmonary resuscitation committee developed a taskforce to discuss the magnitude of clinical situation and CPR management on COVID-19 patients in a prehospital and in-hospital settings. Meanwhile, the taskforce aims to develop a nation-wide clinical guidance to be used by health care workers and untrained laypersons to resuscitate COVID-19 suspected and diagnosed patients.