Post-traumatic stress and secondary traumatic stress of earthquake-affected and non-affected healthcare workers after the 6th February Earthquake in Türkiye

Objective: This study aims to investigate the presence of post-traumatic stress disorder and secondary traumatic stress in earthquake-affected healthcare workers (HCW) and non-affected deployed health workers. Method: Healthcare professionals deployed to earthquake-affected areas from the provinces not affected by the earthquake were determined as the first group and healthcare personnel who have experienced the earthquake themselves were determined as the second group. Data was collected via a form to investigate sociodemographic information, occupational exposure, post-earthquake experience, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Self-Report Scale (PSS-SR), and Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS). Mann-Withney U test, Kruskal Wallis test, and chi-square test were used to evaluate the analytical relationship. Results: The median PSS-SR score of healthcare workers who were non experienced of the earthquake (14.0 (5.0-29.0)) was found to be lower than the median PSS-SR score (27.0 (16.0-34.0)) of healthcare workers who were affected by the earthquake (p