Occupational Stress among Healthcare Workers Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: Insights from a Malaysian Hospital

Syazwan Syah Zulkifly, Mohamad Imran Daud, Muhashamsani Abdul Ghani and Mohd Salahudin Shamsudin
Additional contact information
Syazwan Syah Zulkifly: Institute for Business Competitiveness, Standards, and Sustainability Initiatives (IBCSI), School of Business Management, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia
Mohamad Imran Daud: Department of Emergency and Trauma, Hospital Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, Temerloh, Pahang, Malaysia
Muhashamsani Abdul Ghani: Perak Centre of Excellence, Perak Techno Trade Centre (PTTC), Off Jalan Jelapang, Bandar Meru Raya, Ipoh, Perak
Mohd Salahudin Shamsudin: School of Business Management, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 2024, vol. 8, issue 11, 636-638

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented levels of occupational stress among healthcare workers, particularly those on the front lines. Increased workloads, frequently changing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and the continuous use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) have highlighted the critical need for effective management practices to safeguard the well-being and resilience of healthcare staff. This study examines the influence of managerial interventions on alleviating occupational stress among healthcare workers at a Malaysian public hospital during the pandemic. Using the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model as a conceptual framework, a qualitative approach with snowball sampling was applied to gather semi-structured interview data from healthcare personnel, including doctors, nurses, and support staff. Content analysis revealed core stressors such as intensified workloads, PPE-related discomfort, and SOP-related confusion. Effective strategies, such as counseling services, NGO support, and recognition programs, significantly mitigated stress, although gaps in communication and resource allocation were identified as factors exacerbating stress. This research highlights the critical need for adaptive and proactive management to reduce occupational stress during crises, emphasizing the roles of strategic communication, mental health support, and efficient resource management. The findings provide insights into resilient management frameworks that can enhance preparedness for future healthcare challenges.

Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/ ... issue-11/636-638.pdf (application/pdf)
https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/arti ... -malaysian-hospital/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bcp:journl:v:8:y:2024:i:11:p:636-638

Access Statistics for this article

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science is currently edited by Dr. Nidhi Malhan

More articles in International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science from International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS)
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Dr. Pawan Verma ().