COVID-19 anxiety-coping strategies of frontline health workers in a low-income country Malawi: A qualitative inquiry

IF 1.5 Q3 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health Pub Date : 2021-12-23 DOI:10.1080/15555240.2021.2011303

Benson Munyenyembe, Yingxi Chen

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引用次数: 3

Abstract

Abstract For this qualitative study, we adopted a two-wave data-collection approach involving 68 frontline healthcare workers at two geographically distinct central hospitals in a low-income country Malawi. We used in-depth telephone interviews and survey emails to explore the sources of COVID-19 anxiety and corresponding coping actions among frontline health care workers. The findings reveal four main sources of work-related anxiety among frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19 crisis: (1) on-the-job risks, (2) infrastructure and technological deficits, (3) human-capital deficits, and (4) public stigma. Furthermore, the findings reveal that these workers have been coping with sources of COVID-19 anxiety by using strategic coping actions related to the five themes of (1) health, (2) self-assertion, (3) perception, (4) identity, and (5) social support. Healthcare management can thus manage frontline healthcare workers’ COVID-19-related anxiety by mitigating the sources of such anxiety as well as incorporating insights from employees’ strategic coping actions into organizational stress management programs.

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低收入国家马拉维一线卫生工作者应对COVID-19焦虑的策略:一项定性调查

摘要在这项定性研究中，我们采用了两波数据收集方法，涉及低收入国家马拉维两所地理位置不同的中心医院的68名一线医护人员。我们使用深入的电话采访和调查电子邮件，探讨了一线医护人员新冠肺炎焦虑的来源和相应的应对措施。研究结果揭示了新冠肺炎危机期间一线医护人员与工作相关焦虑的四个主要来源：（1）工作风险，（2）基础设施和技术缺陷，（3）人力资本缺陷，以及（4）公众耻辱。此外，研究结果表明，这些工作人员一直在通过使用与以下五个主题相关的战略应对行动来应对新冠肺炎焦虑源：（1）健康、（2）自我认定、（3）感知、（4）认同和（5）社会支持。因此，医疗保健管理层可以通过减少新冠肺炎相关焦虑的来源，并将员工战略应对行动的见解纳入组织压力管理计划，来管理一线医护人员的焦虑。

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来源期刊

Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH-

CiteScore

2.40

自引率

6.70%

发文量

期刊介绍： The Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health, retitled from Employee Assistance Quarterly to better reflect its expanded focus, presents innovative research, applied theory, and practical information to keep workplace human service administrators, counselors, and consultants up to date on the latest developments in the field. This refereed journal is an essential guide to best practice and research issues faced by EAP professionals who deal with work-related and personal issues including workplace and family wellness, employee benefits, and organizational development.