Working conditions for healthcare workers at a Swedish university hospital infectious disease department during the COVID-19 pandemic: barriers and facilitators to maintaining employee wellbeing

Abstract

BackgroundHealthcare workers (HCWs) at infectious disease departments have held the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to maintaining the employees’ wellbeing that may be used to increase preparedness for future pandemics within ID Departments.MethodsIn September 2020, a web-based survey on demographics and work environment was distributed to all HCWs at the Infectious Disease Department at Sahlgrenska University Hospital. Results were compared with a pre-COVID-19 survey from October 2019. A quantitative analysis of the overall effects of the pandemic on the working conditions of HCWs was conducted; in addition, a qualitative content analysis of open-ended responses was performed.ResultsIn total, 222 and 149 HCWs completed the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 surveys (84 and 54% response rate), respectively. Overall, we found significant changes regarding increased workload, lack of emotional support in stressful work situations, and inability to recover after shifts. These factors correlated both with younger age and concern of becoming infected. The open-ended answers (n = 103, 69%) revealed five generic categories (Workload; Organizational support; Worry and ethical stress; Capability; and Cooperation and unity) with a total of 14 identified factors representing plausible individual and organizational-level barriers or facilitators to sustained employee wellbeing.ConclusionYounger HCWs as well as those expressing worries about contracting the infection were found to be particularly affected during the COVID-19 pandemic and these groups may require additional support in future outbreaks. Factors both increasing and decreasing the pandemic-induced negative health consequences for HCWs were identified; this knowledge may be utilized in the future.

Adaptive, Persistent, and Available Support: The Crucial Way in Healthcare during Covid-19

“…Several studies have previously shown that work-related stress is closely connected to mental health issues among healthcare professionals (e.g., Björk et al 2023;Gadolin et al 2022;Kim et al 2018;Rodriguez-Vega et al 2022;Veje et al 2023). A study by Zhou et al (2020) showed that because of the pandemic, healthcare staff had a higher risk of developing mental health problems due to a higher workload than before the pandemic.…”

“…An additional aspect was the importance of collaboration between the crisis managers and other managers, among other things as a way of identifying members of staff in need of additional support and treatment to avoid developing chronic issues. Previous studies have shown increased mental health issues among healthcare professionals during the pandemic (e.g., Björk et al 2023;Veje et al 2023;Zhang et al 2020;Zhou et al 2020). A study by Malik et al (2021) described how vulnerable members of staff were identified precisely in collaboration with their managers to be able to offer them extra support.…”