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The Experiences of Health Care Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Korea: a Qualitative Study
Ju Yeon Lee1, Ji Yeon Lee2, So Hee Lee3
1Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
Insights
Healthcare workers faced significant work, personal, psychological, and health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding these struggles is crucial for supporting healthcare professionals adapting to the crisis.
Area of Science:
- Medical Sociology
- Occupational Health Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic imposed unprecedented physical and psychological burdens on healthcare workers (HCWs).
- Specific challenges faced by diverse HCW groups during the pandemic required in-depth examination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the multifaceted experiences of various healthcare worker groups during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To identify key areas of struggle impacting HCWs' well-being and professional capacity.
Main Methods:
- A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with physicians, nurses, medical practitioners, and cleaning staff.
- Interviews were conducted in three South Korean cities between November and December 2020.
- Data were analyzed using the consensual qualitative research approach.
Main Results:
- Analysis revealed four primary domains of struggle: work-related, personal life-related, psychological stress, and health-related.
- HCWs reported challenges including critical work situations, heavy workloads, fear of infection, and lifestyle adjustments.
- Participants experienced significant psychological and physical distress.
Conclusions:
- Findings highlight the need for robust healthcare systems and policies to mitigate occupational stress among HCWs.
- Developing targeted support strategies can enhance HCW resilience and adaptability during the ongoing pandemic.
- Addressing these challenges is essential for maintaining healthcare workforce stability and effectiveness.
Background:
During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, health care workers (HCWs) have faced multiple physical and psychological challenges while carrying out their duties. In this study, we examined the experiences of specific groups of HCWs during the pandemic.
Methods:
From 18 November to 30 December 2020, we conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with four groups of 14 HCWs in three cities (Seoul, Daegu, and Gwangju) in South Korea. The HCWs who participated in the focus groups included physicians, nurses, medical practitioners, and cleaning staff who directly or indirectly cared for patients during the COVID-19 epidemic. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using the consensual qualitative research approach.
Results:
Our qualitative data analysis revealed four main domains: work-related struggles, personal life-related struggles, psychological stress, and health-related struggles. Health care providers were challenged by working in critical situations and were overwhelmed by heavy workloads, fear of infection, lifestyle changes, and psychological and physical struggles.
Conclusion:
Our findings could serve as a foundation for establishing health care systems and policies that help HCWs cope with occupational stress, thus increasing their ability to adapt to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
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