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Learning from Health Care Counselors' Perspectives on Health Care Worker Distress: A Qualitative Analysis
Nancy Downs1, Judy Davidson1, Angela Haddad2
1University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA.
HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine
|July 17, 2024
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic amplified existing stressors and introduced new ones for healthcare professionals. Addressing staff concerns and fostering a supportive culture are crucial for mitigating these challenges.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Professional Well-being
- Mental Health in Medicine
- Pandemic Impact on Healthcare
Background:
- Healthcare provider stress predates the COVID-19 pandemic, with evidence suggesting a significant increase due to the crisis.
- The Healer Education, Assessment and Referral Program (HEAR) serves approximately 19,000 healthcare students, trainees, staff, and faculty, offering mental health support.
- Four licensed mental health clinicians, with experience both before and during the pandemic, staff the HEAR program.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on existing and new stressors experienced by mental health clinicians.
- To understand how the pandemic altered the landscape of stress for healthcare professionals through the lens of mental health providers.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative data was collected through semi-structured, 1-hour interviews with HEAR counselors.
- A follow-up 1-hour focus group was conducted with the same counselors.
- Reflexive thematic analysis was employed to analyze the interview and focus group data.
Main Results:
- Preexisting stressors such as financial concerns, long work hours, exposure to death, bullying, moral distress, and social inequities were amplified.
- New stressors included overwhelming healthcare demand, caretaking for ill family, homeschooling, social isolation, fear of personal illness, and perceived leadership failures.
- Hopes for vaccines and subsequent perceived opportunities for leadership improvement were also noted.
Conclusions:
- Authentic responses to staff concerns and ideas are essential for addressing pandemic-related stressors.
- A patient and provider-centered healthcare culture, coupled with grief education and support, can mitigate amplified and new stressors.
- Attention to actionable stressors impacting provider well-being is indicated for managing the sequelae of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Keywords:
COVID-19 pandemicburnoutdepressionhealth care providerhealth care workershealth personnelprofessionalpsychological distresspsychological well-beingstressMore Related Videos
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