Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/11000/30539

“You knew you had to be there, it had to be done”: Experiences of health professionals who faced the COVID-19 pandemic in one public hospital in Spain


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Title:
“You knew you had to be there, it had to be done”: Experiences of health professionals who faced the COVID-19 pandemic in one public hospital in Spain
Authors:
Rodríguez-Madrid, María Nieves
Pastor Moreno, Guadalupe  
Albert-Lopez, Enrique  
Pastor-Valero, Maria  
Editor:
Frontiers Media
Department:
Departamentos de la UMH::Salud Pública, Historia de la Ciencia y Ginecología
Issue Date:
2023-04
URI:
https://hdl.handle.net/11000/30539
Abstract:
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the lack of a government contingency plan for an effective response to an unexpected health crisis. This study uses a phenomenological approach to explore the experience of healthcare professionals during the first three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in a public health hospital in the Valencia region, Spain. It assesses the impact on their health, coping strategies, institutional support, organizational changes, quality of care, and lessons learned. Methods: We carried out a qualitative study with semi-structured interviews with doctors and nurses from the Preventive Medicine, Emergency, and Internal Medicine Services and the Intensive Care Unit, using the Colaizzi’s 7-step data analysis method. Results: During the first wave, lack of information and leadership led to feelings of uncertainty, fear of infection, and transmission to family members. Continuous organizational changes and lack of material and human resources brought limited results. The lack of space to accommodate patients, along with insufficient training in treating critical patients, and the frequent moving around of healthcare workers, reduced the quality of care. Despite the high levels of emotional stress reported, no sick leave was taken; the high levels of commitment and professional vocation helped in adapting to the intense work rhythms. Healthcare professionals in the medical services and support units reported higher levels of stress, and a greater sense of neglect by their institution than their colleagues in managerial roles. Family, social support, and camaraderie at work were effective coping strategies. Health professionals showed a strong collective spirit and sense of solidarity. This helped them cope with the additional stress and workload that accompanied the pandemic. Conclusion: In the wake of this experience, they highlight the need for a contingency plan adapted to each organizational context. Such a plan should include psychological counseling and continuous training in critical patient care. Above all, it needs to take advantage of the hard-won knowledge born of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Keywords/Subjects:
COVID-19 pandemic
health professionals
contingency plan
organizational changes
quality of care provision
coping strategies
qualitative research
Knowledge area:
CDU: Ciencias aplicadas: Medicina
Type of document:
application/pdf
Access rights:
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internacional
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1089565
Appears in Collections:
Artículos Salud Pública, Historia de la Ciencia y Ginecología



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