‘I was prepared to become infected as a frontline medical staff’: A survey of Australian emergency department staff experiences during COVID‐19

Abstract

Objective To identify challenges faced by Australian hospital healthcare staff during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods We conducted an online survey (30 June–15 August 2020) of healthcare staff from Australian emergency and infectious disease departments. Participants were contacted via professional organisations and asked about preparedness, personal protective equipment (PPE), information flow, patient care, infection concerns, workload and mental health. We calculated the proportion of answers to yes/no and Likert‐style questions; free‐text responses were analysed thematically. Results Respondents ( n = 162) were 23–67 years old, 98% worked in EDs, 68% were female, 87% from Queensland, and most worked as nurses (46%) or specialists (31%). Respondents felt their workplace was prepared for the pandemic (79%), had sufficient information about PPE (83%); none were sent home because of PPE shortages. Eighty‐five percent received sufficient information from official bodies and 50% were aware of the National COVID‐19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce guidelines. Most (83%) had sufficient information to provide optimal patient care, but 24% experienced unfair/abusive patient behaviour. Most (76%) were concerned about becoming infected by patients, 67% about infecting patients, and 78% about infecting someone at home. Workload decreased for 82% but 42% looked after more patients. Fifty‐seven percent experienced additional work‐related stress: 60% reporting experiencing anxiety and 53% experiencing burnout, with 36% and 46% continuing to experience these, respectively. Key challenges included: emotional, workplace/organisational, family/loved ones and PPE factors. Conclusion The Australian system provided sufficient information and PPE. Staff experienced considerable stress, infection concerns and emotional challenges, which merit consideration in preparing for the future.

The impact of pandemics on healthcare providers' workloads: A scoping review

“…These increases were related to healthcare workers undertaking activities that they do not usually do (Bellanti et al, 2021; Fernández‐Castillo et al, 2021; Gomez et al, 2020; Koh et al, 2005; Zhang, Xiang, & Alejok, 2021) or increasing work content (Jiang et al, 2022; Shoja et al, 2020), including changes to documentation (Fournier et al, 2022; Gomez et al, 2020), demand (Gomez et al, 2020; Tang et al, 2021; Villar et al, 2021; Wanninayake et al, 2022; Zamanzadeh et al, 2021; Zhan et al, 2020), skills required (Jiang et al, 2022; Liang et al, 2021; Tang et al, 2021; Wanninayake et al, 2022) and patient characteristics (Bruyneel, Gallani, et al, 2021; Felice et al, 2020), including isolation (Fernández‐Castillo et al, 2021). An increase in working overtime hours or more hours per day/week (Bellanti et al, 2021; Daneshvar et al, 2022; Duru, 2021; Evcili & Demirel, 2022; Fournier et al, 2022; Gao et al, 2020; Koh et al, 2005; Malinowska‐Lipień et al, 2021; Matsuo et al, 2021; Niu et al, 2022; Ozkan & Unlu, 2021; Ren et al, 2022; Said & El‐Shafei, 2021; Sethi et al, 2020; Zhan et al, 2020; Zhang, Xiang, & Alejok, 2021), an increase in healthcare provider‐patient ratios (Bergman et al, 2021; Bruyneel, Smith, et al, 2021; Cheong et al, 2022; Evcili & Demirel, 2022; García‐Hedrera et al, 2021; González‐Gil et al, 2021; Hoogendoorn et al, 2021; Ren et al, 2022; Scott et al, 2022), staffing shortages (Brophy et al, 2021; Evcili & Demirel, 2022; Fournier et al, 2022; González‐Gil et al,…”

“…In addition, Bruyneel, Gallani, et al (2021) and Hoogendoorn et al (2021) identified that nursing activity scores were higher among the COVID‐19 patients as they required more time, which increased nursing workloads. However, some of the participants in these studies also reported a reduction in their workloads (Akova et al, 2022; Arslan et al, 2021; Butera et al, 2021; Felice et al, 2020; García‐Hedrera et al, 2021; Li et al, 2021; Matsuo et al, 2021; Nahidi et al, 2022; Scott et al, 2022). For example, Butera et al (2021) identified that 2.3% of nurses in the ICU and 37% in the emergency department reported a decrease in workload.…”

Gender Differences in Perceived Working Conditions of General Practitioners During the COVID-19 Pandemic—a Cross-Sectional Study

“…Managing the pandemic is a particular challenge for primary care. 1,2 As many general practitioners (GP) had no previous experience of dealing with such a pandemic, it caught most of them unprepared and completely changed their work situation. 3 For GPs, the psychological stress of responding to the pandemic was partly related to their role as the first point of contact for infected patients.…”