Chronicles of an Emergency Medicine Resident in Lebanon

The Impact of the Beirut Explosion on the Mental Health of Lebanese Healthcare Providers: A Scoping Review

Lebanon has faced a series of crises, starting with the economic collapse in 2019, followed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Beirut blast on August 4, 2020. These events have left the population vulnerable to psychological distress. Our study aims to assess the psychological impact of the Beirut explosion on Lebanese healthcare providers. We conducted an electronic database search, resulting in the inclusion of 21 relevant manuscripts. Various psychological issues were reported among healthcare workers (HCWs), with burnout prevalence rates of 37.2% for disengagement and 51.5% for exhaustion. Additionally, feelings of heaviness, fear, exhaustion, and anxiety were common. Approximately 60% of HCWs experienced moderate to severe stress, and half reported moderate to severe anxiety and depression. Furthermore, 44% were at high risk of developing post-traumatic stress symptoms. Lebanese HCWs have faced significant psychological trauma in recent years, underscoring the need for mental health awareness campaigns and targeted training for HCWs.

Assessing the psychological impact of Beirut Port blast: A cross-sectional study

Beirut Port blast's magnitude is considered the third after Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings. This blast occurred in the densely populated section of Beirut, leaving more than six thousand injured patients. The psychological disturbances were assessed in the blast survivors who presented to the Emergency Department (ED) at the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC). This was a cross-sectional study at the ED of AUBMC. Identified patients were contacted and consented to participate in the study. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was selected as an outcome. Depression, PTSD, and concussion were assessed using patient health questionnaire (PHQ)-9, PTSD checklist for DSM-5 (PCL5), and brain injury symptoms (BISx) tools, respectively. The association of patients and injury characteristics with the study outcome was assessed using logistic regression. 145 participants completed the study procedures. The participants' average age was 39.8 ± 15.4 years, and 60% were males. Almost half of the participants showed depression on PHQ, and 2-thirds had PTSD. The participant's age was negatively associated with PTSD, whereas being a female, having depression, and having a concussion were positively associated with PTSD. The results of this study were in line with the previous literature report except for the association between younger age and PTSD, which warrants further investigations to delineate the reasons.