Health care workers’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review

Abstract

Background COVID-19 has challenged health systems worldwide, especially the health workforce, a pillar crucial for health systems resilience. Therefore, strengthening health system resilience can be informed by analyzing health care workers’ (HCWs) experiences and needs during pandemics. This review synthesizes qualitative studies published during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic to identify factors affecting HCWs’ experiences and their support needs during the pandemic. This review was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews. A systematic search on PubMed was applied using controlled vocabularies. Only original studies presenting primary qualitative data were included. Results 161 papers that were published from the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic up until 28th March 2021 were included in the review. Findings were presented using the socio-ecological model as an analytical framework. At the individual level, the impact of the pandemic manifested on HCWs’ well-being, daily routine, professional and personal identity. At the interpersonal level, HCWs’ personal and professional relationships were identified as crucial. At the institutional level, decision-making processes, organizational aspects and availability of support emerged as important factors affecting HCWs’ experiences. At community level, community morale, norms, and public knowledge were of importance. Finally, at policy level, governmental support and response measures shaped HCWs’ experiences. The review identified a lack of studies which investigate other HCWs than doctors and nurses, HCWs in non-hospital settings, and HCWs in low- and lower middle income countries. Discussion This review shows that the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged HCWs, with multiple contextual factors impacting their experiences and needs. To better understand HCWs’ experiences, comparative investigations are needed which analyze differences across as well as within countries, including differences at institutional, community, interpersonal and individual levels. Similarly, interventions aimed at supporting HCWs prior to, during and after pandemics need to consider HCWs’ circumstances. Conclusions Following a context-sensitive approach to empowering HCWs that accounts for the multitude of aspects which influence their experiences could contribute to building a sustainable health workforce and strengthening health systems for future pandemics.

The Effect of Routine Management Combined with Case Management Model on Social Support, Self-Efficacy, Self-Management Ability, and Psychological Flexibility of AIDS Patients

“…[26]. This reminds medical staff that when following up patients, in addition to repeatedly emphasizing the importance of medication compliance and improving bad lifestyles, they also need to inform patients that the development of the disease is controllable based on the medication prescribed by the doctor, to establish the confidence of patients in active treatment [27][28][29]. At the same time, patients should be encouraged to return to society and participate in more social activities to build a patient's psychological elastic support system and enhance the patient's ability to adapt.…”

Changes in unprofessional behaviour, teamwork and co‐operation among hospital staff during the COVID‐19 pandemic

“…Internationally, studies of healthcare workers have confirmed reactions of increased camaraderie and teamwork during the pandemic. 15 , 16 , 17 …”

“…Internationally, studies of healthcare workers have confirmed reactions of increased camaraderie and teamwork during the pandemic. [15][16][17] Rutger Bregman, in Human kind: A hopeful history 18 systematically tackles decades of research evidence and long-spouted truisms about individuals' lack of inherent goodness and desire to help one's fellow humans in times of crisis. From William Golding's premise in Lord of the Flies and the experience of populations bombed in WWII to Stanley Milgram's experiments, Bregman debunks them all and presents a convincing case for one of his central conclusions: 'when in doubt, assume the best' (p. 382).…”

Experiences of Work-Related Stress Among Female Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency: A Qualitative Study in the United Arab of Emirates

“…Various studies have found witnessing patients' experiences to be difficult for both nurses and physicians. 24,[44][45][46] Furthermore, becoming stressed and feeling helpless are dependent not only on personal characteristics, but also on the presence of situational factors that surround the death event. 47 Accordingly, healthcare managers should provide HCWs, especially females, with professional psychological counseling and guidance as a routine, rather than offering such services only when HCWs are seen to be mentally struggling.…”