Practitioner experiences in epidemics and pandemics in relation to COVID-19

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 has been declared an international emergency by the World Health Organization. Despite personal concerns, frontline health professionals, such as paramedics, nurses and doctors, continue to treat patients. Ensuring these workers' mental wellbeing is supported during these stressful times is key to their maintaining good mental health in the longer term. Aim: To conduct a review of the literature exploring practitioners' attitudes during a pandemic. Methods: A scoping literature review was conducted to assess information on health professionals' attitudes during COVID-19 and previous pandemics, and to identify their main concerns and whether these were addressed. PubMed, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library and Google Scholar were searched and PRISMA guidelines were followed. Titles and abstracts were screened and emergent themes were identified and discussed. Results: 141 articles were screened; 15 articles were sourced through Google Scholar and reference lists. There were 18 articles in the final sample. There was a lack of published data on COVID-19 at the time of writing. Themes include that health professionals' mental health may be affected during a pandemic. Their biggest concerns are infecting family members and overcoming personal anxieties to continue treating patients. Key themes in protecting staff mental health during a pandemic include increasing their understanding of how to protect themselves and their families, better confidence in personal protective equipment and good managerial communication. Conclusions: Practitioners experience heightened stress levels during pandemics, which may affect their mental health. This has implications for workforce resilience. More research is needed on frontline staff attitudes during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect their mental health.

Quality improvement in a crisis: a qualitative study of experiences and lessons learned from the Irish National Ambulance Service response to the COVID-19 pandemic

“…The results suggest that working in a response room can affect well-being, especially during case surges. Previous investigations confirm that the well-being of EMS professionals can be impaired by the pandemic, though they largely focused on paramedics and first responders, rather than dispatch or response room staff 46–49. In the current study, staff reported benefiting from organisational and peer support, as well as networking and learning opportunities.…”

“…Previous investigations confirm that the well-being of EMS professionals can be impaired by the pandemic, though they largely focused on paramedics and first responders, rather than dispatch or response room staff. [46][47][48][49] In the current study, staff reported benefiting from organisational and peer support, as well as networking and learning opportunities. Greater teambuilding and training would have bolstered integration and cooperation, particularly for staff recruited from external organisations.…”

“See us as humans. Speak to us with respect. Listen to us.”A qualitative study on UK ambulance staff requirements of leadership while working during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…7 8 Developing policies with clear evidence supporting them and applying them consistently will reduce anxiety and improve confidence in their validity. [8][9][10] Unfortunately, important policies relying on the efficacy of PPE and the definition of AGPs had supporting evidence of low certainty. 11 12 Additionally, initial complex PPE guidance and a struggling supply chain resulted in variations of PPE use across differing clinical environments.…”

“…Those enabler themes were to provide appropriate, coordinated policy, to enable effective communication and training, to demonstrate planning and effective use of resources and to engage with staff exhibiting empathy and respect. Some of these goals and enablers identified by CARA participants (figure 1) are shared with other healthcare workers (HCWs) working in a variety of environments during this pandemic and during previous epidemics 7 8. Developing policies with clear evidence supporting them and applying them consistently will reduce anxiety and improve confidence in their validity 8–10.…”

“…Some of these goals and enablers identified by CARA participants (figure 1) are shared with other healthcare workers (HCWs) working in a variety of environments during this pandemic and during previous epidemics 7 8. Developing policies with clear evidence supporting them and applying them consistently will reduce anxiety and improve confidence in their validity 8–10. Unfortunately, important policies relying on the efficacy of PPE and the definition of AGPs had supporting evidence of low certainty 11 12.…”