Healthcare providers experience of working during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study

doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2020.10.001

American Journal of Infection Control

Volume 49, Issue 5, May 2021, Pages 547-554

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2020.10.001 Get rights and content

Highlights

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COVID-19 pandemic caused crucial changes in work and personal life of healthcare providers.
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The impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on work and personal life of healthcare providers life of healthcare providers is unknown.
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Working in the pandemic era is a unique experience that may happen in the working life of every healthcare provider.
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Along with providing protective devices and financial support for healthcare workers, it is essential to take into account their mental health status.
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In site consulting and providing personalized mental care for the personnel is necessary.

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a far-reaching negative impact on healthcare systems worldwide and has placed healthcare providers under immense physiological and psychological pressures.

Objective

The aim of current study was to undertake an in-depth exploration of the experiences of health-care staff working during the COVID-19 crisis.

Methods

Using a thematic analysis approach, a qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 97 health care professionals. Participants were health care professionals including pre-hospital emergency services (EMS), physicians, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory personnel, radiology technicians, hospital managers and managers in the ministry of health who work directly or indirectly with COVID-19 cases.

Results

Data analysis highlighted four main themes, namely: ‘Working in the pandemic era’, ‘Changes in personal life and enhanced negative affect’, ‘Gaining experience, normalization and adaptation to the pandemic’ and ‘Mental Health Considerations’ which indicated that mental ill deteriorations unfolded through a stage-wise process as the pandemic unfolded.

Conclusions

Participants experienced a wide range of emotions and development during the unfolding of the pandemic. Providing mental health aid should thus be an essential part of services for healthcare providers during the pandemic. Based on our results the aid should be focused on the various stages and should be individual-centred. Such interventions are crucial to sustain workers in their ability to cope throughout the duration of the pandemic.

Keywords

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

Health personnel

Adaptation

Psychological

Mental health

Qualitative

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: Conflict of Interest Statements: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

: Funding: The funder of the study had no role in the design of this study and its execution, analyses, interpretation of the data, or decision to submit results.

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