Ji Yeon Lee1, So Hee Lee2, Ju Yeon Lee3, Jangrae Kim4, Hye Yoon Park5, Yeonjae Kim6, Ki Tae Kwon7. 1. Counseling Psychology, Graduate School of Education, Hankuk Universtiy of Foreign Studies, Seoul, Korea. jiyeon.lee@hufs.ac.kr. 2. Department of Psychiatry, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. sohee.lee@nmc.or.kr. 3. Department of Psychiatry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea. 4. Department of Psychiatry, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. 5. Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea. 6. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. 7. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, health care workers (HCWs) have faced multiple physical and psychological challenges while carrying out their duties. In this study, we examined the experiences of specific groups of HCWs during the pandemic. METHODS: From 18 November to 30 December 2020, we conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with four groups of 14 HCWs in three cities (Seoul, Daegu, and Gwangju) in South Korea. The HCWs who participated in the focus groups included physicians, nurses, medical practitioners, and cleaning staff who directly or indirectly cared for patients during the COVID-19 epidemic. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using the consensual qualitative research approach. RESULTS: Our qualitative data analysis revealed four main domains: work-related struggles, personal life-related struggles, psychological stress, and health-related struggles. Health care providers were challenged by working in critical situations and were overwhelmed by heavy workloads, fear of infection, lifestyle changes, and psychological and physical struggles. CONCLUSION: Our findings could serve as a foundation for establishing health care systems and policies that help HCWs cope with occupational stress, thus increasing their ability to adapt to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
BACKGROUND: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, health care workers (HCWs) have faced multiple physical and psychological challenges while carrying out their duties. In this study, we examined the experiences of specific groups of HCWs during the pandemic. METHODS: From 18 November to 30 December 2020, we conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with four groups of 14 HCWs in three cities (Seoul, Daegu, and Gwangju) in South Korea. The HCWs who participated in the focus groups included physicians, nurses, medical practitioners, and cleaning staff who directly or indirectly cared for patients during the COVID-19 epidemic. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using the consensual qualitative research approach. RESULTS: Our qualitative data analysis revealed four main domains: work-related struggles, personal life-related struggles, psychological stress, and health-related struggles. Health care providers were challenged by working in critical situations and were overwhelmed by heavy workloads, fear of infection, lifestyle changes, and psychological and physical struggles. CONCLUSION: Our findings could serve as a foundation for establishing health care systems and policies that help HCWs cope with occupational stress, thus increasing their ability to adapt to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.