Frontline Healthcare Workers' Reflections on Operationalizing the COVID-19 Pandemic Response: A Qualitative Study.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Public Health Preparedness
• Organizational Psychology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic offered insights into healthcare worker experiences with pandemic plan implementation.
• This study examines frontline healthcare workers' reflections on the initial three years of the pandemic and their use of health service pandemic plans.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore healthcare workers' lived experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To understand the activation and effectiveness of health service pandemic plans from a frontline perspective.
• To identify areas for improvement in organizational preparedness and workforce sustainability.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative exploratory descriptive design.
• Ten focus groups conducted with 32 frontline healthcare workers.
• Thematic analysis using Braun and Clark's six-step model.

Main Results:

• Six key themes emerged: unprepared systems, adaptive crisis management, evolving pandemic realities, leadership and communication challenges, psychological strain, and organizational preparedness for future pandemics.
• Participants reported rapid response needs with limited understanding of organizational pandemic plans.
• Identified challenges in crisis management, leadership, and workforce psychological well-being during the prolonged pandemic.

Conclusions:

• Healthcare workers responded rapidly to critical needs with incomplete understanding of pandemic plans.
• Integrating frontline perspectives is crucial for designing effective emergency response plans.
• Findings emphasize enhancing workforce sustainability and organizational preparedness for future health crises.