Healthcare Provider Experiences With Unvaccinated COVID-19 Patients: A Qualitative Study

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Public Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic presented significant challenges to healthcare systems globally.
• Vaccine hesitancy among the public added complexity to patient care, particularly for those with severe disease.
• Limited research exists on the impact of patient resistance to preventive measures on healthcare practitioners.

Purpose of the Study:

• To qualitatively explore the experiences of healthcare providers caring for unvaccinated patients with severe COVID-19 infection.
• To understand the impact of vaccine hesitancy on healthcare workers' wellbeing and professional practice.
• To identify the emotional and professional consequences faced by frontline staff.

Main Methods:

• Constructivist grounded theory methodology was employed.
• Interviews were conducted with 24 healthcare providers (physicians, nurses, fellows, therapists, social worker) across academic and community hospitals.
• Data analysis involved thematic coding and reflexivity to ensure rigorous interpretation.

Main Results:

• Healthcare providers demonstrated professionalism despite emotional turmoil stemming from vaccine hesitancy.
• Sources of stress included high patient volumes, resource shortages, and visitation restrictions, leading to distress and empathy loss.
• Profound personal and professional consequences were reported, with perceived impacts on patient care.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare providers faced significant emotional stressors related to vaccine hesitancy while fulfilling professional duties.
• System-based interventions are needed to help providers manage biases and moral distress.
• Fostering resilience is crucial for healthcare systems to withstand future strains.