Listening to Hospital Personnel’s Narratives during the COVID-19 Outbreak

Shir Daphna-Tekoah, Talia Megadasi Brikman, Eric Scheier and Uri Balla
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Shir Daphna-Tekoah: Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot 7610000, Israel
Talia Megadasi Brikman: Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot 7610000, Israel
Eric Scheier: Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot 7610000, Israel
Uri Balla: Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot 7610000, Israel

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-15

Abstract: Healthcare workers (HCWs) facing the COVID-19 pandemic are required to deal with unexpectedly traumatic situations, concern about contamination, and mounting patient deaths. As a means to address the changing needs of our hospital’s HCWs, we conducted a narrative analysis study in the early stages of the covid-19 outbreak. A focus group of medical experts, conducted as the initial step, recommended that a bottom-up research tool be used for exploring HCWs’ traumatic experiences and needs. We therefore conducted 450 semi-structured in-depth interviews with hospital personnel. The interviews were based on Maslow’s Pyramid of Needs model, and the narratives were analyzed by applying the Listening Guide methodology. The interviewees expressed a need for physical and psychological security in the battle against Covid-19, in addition to the need for attachment and meaning. Importantly, we also found that the interview itself may serve as a therapeutic tool. In light of our findings, we recommended changes in hospital practices, which were subsequently implemented. Further research on HCWs’ traumatic experiences and needs will provide evidence-based knowledge and may enable novel approaches in the battle against Covid-19. To conclude, the knowledge generated by listening to HCWs’ narratives may provide suitable support programs for professionals.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; healthcare professionals; first responders; listening guide (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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