The purpose of this article is to explore the health emergency related challenges (HECs) faced by healthcare workers (HCWs) during COVID-19. Additionally, the study also examines the various practices and support strategies that have helped HCWs deal with HECs. In this qualitative thematic study, the participants were selected using snowball and purposive sampling techniques. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted to understand the subjective evaluations of health emergency (HE) events. Themes covering different areas of challenge and coping mechanisms were identified. Inductive thematic analysis yielded six themes. This study presents possible HECs that can affect HCWs, and there is convincing evidence that support from different agencies can effectively help HCWs in dealing with HECs. These findings are important and can contribute to policymakers in drawing guidelines for managing and supporting HCWs in future HEs.
AdamsW. (2015). Conducting semi structured interviews. In Handbook of practical exam evaluation. Jossey Bass.
2.
AdamsJ. G., & WallsR. M. (2020). Supporting the health care workforce during the COVID-19 global epidemic. JAMA, 323(15), 1439–1440.
3.
AkingbolaK. (2013). A model of strategic nonprofit human resource management. Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organisations, 24, 214–240.
4.
AlanaziT. N. M., McKennaL., BuckM., & AlharbiR. J. (2022). Reported effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological status of emergency healthcare workers: A scoping review. Australasian Emergency Care, 25(3), 197–212.
5.
AzoulayE., De WaeleJ., FerrerR., StaudingerT., BorkowskaM., PovoaP., IliopoulouK., ArtigasA., SchallerS. J., HariM. S., PellegriniM., DarmonM., KeseciogluJ., CecconiM. & ESICM. (2020). Symptoms of burnout in intensive care unit specialists facing the COVID-19 outbreak. Annals of Intensive Care, 10, 1–8.
6.
BakerS. R., BloomN., DavisS. J., & TerryS. J. (2020). COVID-induced economic uncertainty(No. w26983). National Bureau of Economic Research.
7.
BavelJ. J. V., BaickerK., BoggioP. S., CapraroV., CichockaA., CikaraM., CrockettM. J., CrumA. J., DouglasK. M., DruckmanJ. N., DruryJ., DubeO., EllemersN., FinkelE. J., FowlerJ. H., GelfandM., HanS., HaslamS. A., JettenJ. … WillerR. (2020). Using social and behavioural science to support COVID-19 pandemic response. Nature Human Behaviour, 4(5), 460–471.
8.
BegatI., EllefsenB., & SeverinssonE. (2005). Nurses’ satisfaction with their work environment and the outcomes of clinical nursing supervision on nurses’ experiences of well-being–a Norwegian study. Journal of Nursing Management, 13(3), 221–230.
9.
BeigiR. H., UyekiT. M., SextonC., & EnglundJ. A. (2011). Influenza during pregnancy: Towards a uniform standard of care. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 204(6), S1–S7.
10.
BrandãoC. (2015). P. Bazeley and K. Jackson, qualitative data analysis with Nvivo (2013). Sage Publications.
11.
BraunV., & ClarkeV. (2019). Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 11(4), 589–597.
12.
CaoJ., WeiJ., ZhuH., DuanY., GengW., HongX., JiangJ., ZhaoX., & ZhuB. (2020). A study of basic needs and psychological wellbeing of medical workers in the fever clinic of a tertiary general hospital in Beijing during the COVID-19 outbreak. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 89(4), 252–254.
13.
ChiricoF., NuceraG., & MagnavitaN. (2021). Protecting the mental health of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 emergency. BJPsych International, 18(1), E1.
14.
De KockJ. H., LathamH. A., LeslieS. J., GrindleM., MunozS. A., EllisL., PolsonR., & O’MalleyC. M. (2021). A rapid review of the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of healthcare workers: Implications for supporting psychological well-being. BMC Public Health, 21, 1–18.
15.
De PabloG. S., Vaquerizo-SerranoJ., CatalanA., ArangoC., MorenoC., FerreF., ShinJ. I., SullivanS., BrondinoN., SolmiM., & Fusar-PoliP. (2020). Impact of coronavirus syndromes on physical and mental health of health care workers: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 275, 48–57.
16.
DowlingM. J., CarringtonM., MoscolaJ., & DavidsonK. W. (2020). Covid-19 crisis response: First, address the safety and well-being of your team| Catalyst non-issue content. NEJM Catalyst.
17.
DsouzaV. S., KurianJ. R., D’souzaB., SekaranV. C., & AshokL. (2024). Building perspectives for resilient health system: Lessons learned from the experience of patients and health professionals during COVID-19. Journal of Health Management, 26(2), 203–213.
18.
ElginC., BasbugG., & YalamanA. (2020). Economic policy responses to a pandemic: Developing the COVID-19 economic stimulus index. Covid Economics, 1(3), 40–53.
19.
EvanoffB. A., StricklandJ. R., DaleA. M., HayiborL., PageE., DuncanJ. G., KannampallilT., & GrayD. L. (2020). Work-related and personal factors associated with mental well-being during the COVID-19 response: Survey of health care and other workers. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(8), e21366.
20.
FisherJ., LanguilaireJ. C., LawthomR., NieuwenhuisR., PettsR. J., Runswick-ColeK., & YerkesM. A. (2020). Community, work, and family in times of COVID-19. Community, Work & Family, 23(3), 247–252.
21.
GordonA., LyonsC., RaoS., & FinoliL. (2020). Health care workers’ challenges in the care of a COVID-19 patient. Critical Care Nursing Quarterly, 43(4), 400–406.
22.
GreenbergN., DochertyM., GnanapragasamS., & WesselyS. (2020). Managing mental health challenges faced by healthcare workers during covid-19 pandemic. BMJ, 368, m1211.
23.
HaefnerJ. (2021). Self-care for health professionals during coronavirus disease 2019 crisis. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 17(3), 279–282.
24.
HallH. (2020). The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers’ mental health. JAAPA, 33(7), 45–48.
25.
HeckerI., El AarbaouiT., WallezS., AndersenA. J., Ayuso-MateosJ. L., BryantR., CorraoG., McDaidD., MediavillaR., Mittendorfer-RutzE., CompagnoniM. M., ParkA. L., RiepenhausenA., RigottiT., SeeberK., SijbrandijM., SmithP., TüscherO., WalterH., WitteveenA., Mary-KrauseM., & MelchiorM. (2022). Impact of work arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health in France. SSM-Population Health, 20, 101285.
26.
HouF., CerulliC., WittinkM. N., CaineE. D., & QiuP. (2015). Depression, social support and associated factors among women living in rural China: A cross-sectional study. BMC Women’s Health, 15, 1–9.
27.
Huarcaya-VictoriaJ., Villarreal-RaoB., LunaM., Rojas-MendozaW., Alarcon-RuizC. A., Villarreal-ZegarraD., Vilela-EstradaA. L., & RamírezS. (2022). Factors associated with mental health outcomes in hospital workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-methods study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(9), 5346.
28.
International Monetary Fund. (2020). World Economic Outlook, October 2020: A Long and Difficult Ascent.
29.
JeleffM., TraugottM., Jirovsky-PlatterE., JordakievaG., & KutalekR. (2022). Occupational challenges of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study. BMJ Open, 12(3), e054516.
30.
Joint Commission. (2016). Bullying has no place in health care. Quick Safety, 24(2).
31.
JuvetT. M., Corbaz-KurthS., RoosP., BenzakourL., CereghettiS., MoullecG., SuardJ. C., VieuxL., WozniakH., PralongJ. A., & WeissbrodtR. (2021). Adapting to the unexpected: Problematic work situations and resilience strategies in healthcare institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic’s first wave. Safety Science, 139, 105277.
32.
KhalidI., KhalidT. J., QabajahM. R., BarnardA. G., & QushmaqI. A. (2016). Healthcare workers emotions, perceived stressors and coping strategies during a MERS-CoV outbreak. Clinical Medicine and Research, 14(1), 7–14. https://doi.org/10.3121/cmr.2016.1303
33.
KlugeH. H. P., JakabZ., BartovicJ., D’AnnaV., & SeveroniS. (2020). Refugee and migrant health in the COVID-19 response. The Lancet, 395(10232), 1237–1239.
34.
KohD., LimM. K., & ChiaS. E. (2020). SARS: Health care work can be hazardous to health. Occupational Medicine, 60(3), 197–200.
35.
LaiJ., MaS., WangY., CaiZ., HuJ., WeiN., WuJ., DuH., ChenT., LiR., TanH., KangL., YaoL., HuangM., WangH., WangG., LiuZ., & HuS. (2020). Factors associated with mental health outcomes among health care workers exposed to coronavirus disease 2019. JAMA Network Open, 3(3), e203976–e203976.
36.
LottaG., FernandezM., & CorrêaM. (2021). The vulnerabilities of the Brazilian health workforce during health emergencies: Analysing personal feelings, access to resources and work dynamics during the COVID-19 pandemic. The International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 36(S1), 42–57.
37.
MaryatiY. F., GodwinR. J., & HidayatS. (2023). Insomnia during the Covid-19 pandemic and its relationship with psychological distress in health workers : A literature review. Magna Neurologica, 1(2). https://doi.org/10.20961/magnaneurologica.v1i2.630
38.
MilesM. B., & HubermanA. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: An expanded sourcebook. Sage Publications.
39.
MohammedS., PeterE., KillackeyT., & MaciverJ. (2020). The “nurse as hero” discourse in the COVID-19 pandemic: A poststructural discourse analysis. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 113, 103727.
40.
MullerA. E., HafstadE. V., HimmelsJ. P. W., SmedslundG., FlottorpS., StenslandS. Ø., StroobantsS., Van de VeldeS., & VistG. E. (2020). The mental health impact of the covid-19 pandemic on healthcare workers, and interventions to help them: A rapid systematic review. Psychiatry Research, 293, 113441.
41.
NerliR. B., & GhaganeS. C. (2020). Safety of health-care workers during COVID-19 times. Indian Journal of Health Sciences and Biomedical Research KLEU, 13(2), 61–63.
42.
NessM. M., SaylorJ., Di FuscoL. A., & EvansK. (2021). Healthcare providers’ challenges during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic: A qualitative approach. Nursing & Health Sciences, 23(2), 389–397.
43.
NyashanuM., PfendeF., & EkpenyongM. (2020). Exploring the challenges faced by frontline workers in health and social care amid the COVID-19 pandemic: Experiences of frontline workers in the English Midlands region, UK. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 34(5), 655–661.
44.
OrnellF., HalpernS. C., KesslerF. H. P., & NarvaezJ. C. D. M. (2020). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of healthcare professionals. Cadernos de saude publica, 36, e00063520.
45.
OyatF. W. D., OloyaJ. N., AtimP., IkoonaE. N., AloyoJ., & KitaraD. L. (2022). The psychological impact, risk factors and coping strategies to COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers in the sub-Saharan Africa: A narrative review of existing literature. BMC Psychology, 10(1), 285. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-022-00998-z
46.
PakA., AdegboyeO. A., AdekunleA. I., RahmanK. M., McBrydeE. S., & EisenD. P. (2020). Economic consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak: The need for epidemic preparedness. Frontiers in Public Health, 8, 241.
47.
PalmerJ., KuM., WangH., CrosseK., BennettA., LeeE., SimmonsA., DuffyL., MontanaroJ., & BazaidK. (2022). Public health emergency and psychological distress among healthcare workers: A scoping review. BMC Public Health, 22(1), 1396.
48.
PodsakoffP. M., MacKenzieS. B., LeeJ. Y., & PodsakoffN. P. (2003). Common method biases in behavioral research: A critical review of the literature and recommended remedies. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88(5), 879.
49.
RachmayantiR. D., BawazierK. F., YasutomeT., IndawatiR., RiswariA. A., IsmayaniI., RamaniA., YuliantiA. E., & SariJ. D. E. (2023). The effect of social support on stress levels of health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A literature review. Jurnal Promosi Kesehatan Indonesia, 18(2). https://doi.org/10.14710/jpki.18.2.116-125
50.
RazuS. R., YasminT., ArifT. B., IslamM. S., IslamS. M. S., GesesewH. A., & WardP. (2021). Challenges faced by healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative inquiry from Bangladesh. Frontiers in Public Health, 9, 647315.
51.
SenguptaM., RoyA., GangulyA., BaishyaK., ChakrabartiS., & MukhopadhyayI. (2021). Challenges encountered by healthcare providers in COVID-19 times: An exploratory study. Journal of Health Management, 23(2), 339–356.
52.
SharmaS. (2020). Challenges faced by health care workers during Covid-19. International Journal of Advance Research, Ideas and Innovations in Technology, 6, 220–222.
53.
ShaukatN., AliD. M., & RazzakJ. A.Physical and mental health impacts of COVID-19 on healthcare workers: A scoping review. International Journal of Emergency Medicine, 13(2020), 1–8.
54.
ShultzJ. M., EspinelZ., EspinolaM., & RechkemmerA. (2016). Distinguishing epidemiological features of the 2013-2016 West Africa Ebola virus disease outbreak. Disaster Health, 3(3), 78–88.
55.
SinghS., AnandV., RoyN., SridharG., KushwahaA. S., & YadavA. K. (2024). Rapid establishment of a tertiary level makeshift COVID-19 care hospital in New Delhi during second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Marine Medical Society, 26(3), 357–361.
56.
SpoorthyM. S., PratapaS. K., & MahantS. (2020). Mental health problems faced by healthcare workers due to the COVID-19 pandemic—A review. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 51, 102119.
57.
SuttonB. (1993). The rationale for qualitative research: A review of principles and theoretical foundations. The Library Quarterly, 63(4), 411–430.
58.
TabahA., RamananM., LauplandK. B., BuettiN., CortegianiA., MellinghoffJ., Conway MorrisA., ComporotaL., ZappellaN., ElhadiM., PovoaP., AmreinK., VidalG., DerdeL., BassettiM., FrancoisG., Ssi yan kaiN., & De WaeleJ. J. (2020). Personal protective equipment and intensive care unit healthcare worker safety in the COVID-19 era (PPE-SAFE): An international survey. Journal of Critical Care, 59, 70–75.
59.
ValenzuelaJ. Y., RobitsekR. J., JamesM. K., McKenzieK., & EspositoT. J. (2023). COVID stressed, but not due to the virus. Journal of Surgical Research, 283, 523–531. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2022.10.065
60.
WindarwatiH. D., AtiN. A. L., ParaswatiM. D., IlmyS. K., SupiantoA. A., RizzalA. F., SulaksonoA. D., LestariR., & SupriatiL. (2021). Stressor, coping mechanism, and motivation among health care workers in dealing with stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 56, 102470. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102470
61.
World Health Organization. (2021). The impact of COVID-19 on health and care workers: A closer look at deaths(No. WHO/HWF/WorkingPaper/2021.1). World Health Organization.
62.
YamamotoK., KimotoK., WatanabeN., HoshiyamaS., KamiyamaS., OnishiY., & MikamiK. (2020). Taking social support in to account regarding the mental health of health care practitioners involved in treating patients with COVID-19. Psychosomatics, 61(5), 575–577. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psym.2020.06.001
63.
YuryevaL. M. (2020). Mental health care of medical workers during COVID-19 pandemic. Medicni Perspektivi (Medical Perspectives), 25(4). https://doi.org/10.26641/2307-0404.2020.4.221224
64.
ZhangY., MaZ. F., & WangY. (2020). The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers in China. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 129, 65–70.
65.
ZhouY., WangW., SunY., QianW., LiuZ., WangR., QiL., YangJ., SongX., ZhouX., ZengL., LiuT., LiZ., & ZhangX. (2020). The prevalence and risk factors of psychological disturbances of frontline medical staff in China under the COVID-19 epidemic: Workload should be concerned. Journal of Affective Disorders, 277, 510–514.
