Stress experiences of healthcare assistants in family practice at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed methods study.
COVID-19 pandemic
healthcare assistants
primary care
psychological burden
stress factors
Journal
Frontiers in public health
ISSN: 2296-2565
Titre abrégé: Front Public Health
Pays: Switzerland
ID NLM: 101616579
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
2023
2023
Historique:
received:
10
06
2023
accepted:
22
08
2023
medline:
22
9
2023
pubmed:
21
9
2023
entrez:
21
9
2023
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
At the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, healthcare assistants in general practices were confronted with numerous new challenges. The aim of the study was to investigate the stress factors of healthcare assistants in March/April 2020 as well as in the further course of the pandemic in 2020. From August to December 2020, 6,300 randomly selected healthcare assistants in four German states were invited to participate in the study. We performed a mixed methods design using semi-structured telephone interviews and a cross-sectional survey with quantitative and open questions. The feeling of psychological burden was assessed on a 6-point likert-scale. We defined stress factors and categorized them in patient, non-patient and organizational stress factors. The results of the three data sets were compared within a triangulation protocol. One thousand two hundred seventy-four surveys were analyzed and 28 interviews with 34 healthcare assistants were conducted. Of the participants, 29.5% reported experiences of a very high or high feeling of psychological burden in March/April 2020. Worries about the patients' health and an uncertainty around the new disease were among the patient-related stress factors. Non-patient-related stress factors were problems with the compatibility of work and family, and the fear of infecting relatives with COVID-19. Organizational efforts and dissatisfaction with governmental pandemic management were reported as organizational stress factors. Support from the employer and team cohesion were considered as important resources. It is necessary to reduce stress among healthcare assistants by improving their working conditions and to strengthen their resilience to ensure primary healthcare delivery in future health crises.
Sections du résumé
Background
At the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, healthcare assistants in general practices were confronted with numerous new challenges. The aim of the study was to investigate the stress factors of healthcare assistants in March/April 2020 as well as in the further course of the pandemic in 2020.
Methods
From August to December 2020, 6,300 randomly selected healthcare assistants in four German states were invited to participate in the study. We performed a mixed methods design using semi-structured telephone interviews and a cross-sectional survey with quantitative and open questions. The feeling of psychological burden was assessed on a 6-point likert-scale. We defined stress factors and categorized them in patient, non-patient and organizational stress factors. The results of the three data sets were compared within a triangulation protocol.
Results
One thousand two hundred seventy-four surveys were analyzed and 28 interviews with 34 healthcare assistants were conducted. Of the participants, 29.5% reported experiences of a very high or high feeling of psychological burden in March/April 2020. Worries about the patients' health and an uncertainty around the new disease were among the patient-related stress factors. Non-patient-related stress factors were problems with the compatibility of work and family, and the fear of infecting relatives with COVID-19. Organizational efforts and dissatisfaction with governmental pandemic management were reported as organizational stress factors. Support from the employer and team cohesion were considered as important resources.
Discussion
It is necessary to reduce stress among healthcare assistants by improving their working conditions and to strengthen their resilience to ensure primary healthcare delivery in future health crises.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37732100
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1238144
pmc: PMC10507357
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
1238144Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2023 Schrader, Ruck, Borgulya, Parisi, Ehlers-Mondorf, Kaduszkiewicz, Joos, Grau, Linde and Gágyor.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Références
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 Jun;30(30):74838-74852
pubmed: 37209334
BMJ Open. 2020 Jun 17;10(6):e039674
pubmed: 32554730
J Nurs Scholarsh. 2021 Nov;53(6):689-697
pubmed: 34350686
Riv Psichiatr. 2020 May-Jun;55(3):137-144
pubmed: 32489190
J Nurs Manag. 2021 Oct;29(7):1893-1905
pubmed: 33843087
BMC Fam Pract. 2013 Dec 24;14:200
pubmed: 24364989
Cureus. 2020 Aug 5;12(8):e9573
pubmed: 32913690
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2006;19(2):113-22
pubmed: 17128809
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2021 May 28;13(1):e1-e8
pubmed: 34082553
BMC Fam Pract. 2021 Feb 14;22(1):36
pubmed: 33583410
Front Public Health. 2023 Jan 10;10:1023431
pubmed: 36703817
BMC Prim Care. 2022 Aug 11;23(1):203
pubmed: 35948965
Z Evid Fortbild Qual Gesundhwes. 2021 Dec;167:78-85
pubmed: 34815195
Eur Psychiatry. 2020 Jun 01;63(1):e65
pubmed: 32476633
Int J Qual Health Care. 2021 Feb 20;33(1):
pubmed: 33270881
CMAJ. 2003 May 13;168(10):1245-51
pubmed: 12743065
Z Evid Fortbild Qual Gesundhwes. 2023 May;178:64-74
pubmed: 37169707
BMC Fam Pract. 2021 Nov 15;22(1):226
pubmed: 34781878
PLoS One. 2022 Jan 18;17(1):e0261502
pubmed: 35041679
PLoS One. 2020 Dec 15;15(12):e0244052
pubmed: 33320910
Front Psychiatry. 2023 Mar 16;14:1139260
pubmed: 37009102
BMC Health Serv Res. 2021 Sep 3;21(1):904
pubmed: 34479553
Ann Intern Med. 2020 Sep 1;173(5):405-407
pubmed: 32294152
Br J Gen Pract. 2016 Jun;66(647):e423-33
pubmed: 27162208
Asian J Psychiatr. 2020 Jun;51:102119
pubmed: 32339895
Clin Psychol Psychother. 2020 May;27(3):384-395
pubmed: 32415733
Eur J Gen Pract. 2023 Dec;29(2):2156498
pubmed: 36722333
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Nov 23;19(23):
pubmed: 36497573
J Community Health. 2021 Aug;46(4):777-785
pubmed: 33188617
BMJ Open. 2020 Dec 30;10(12):e046620
pubmed: 33380488
Public Health. 2023 Aug;221:50-59
pubmed: 37406450
Acad Med. 2021 Sep 1;96(9):1254-1258
pubmed: 33635839
PLoS One. 2021 Jun 23;16(6):e0253497
pubmed: 34161383
Int Breastfeed J. 2022 Feb 14;17(1):10
pubmed: 35164812
Psychiatry Res. 2020 Jun;288:112936
pubmed: 32276196
Gesundheitswesen. 2023 May 30;:
pubmed: 37253369
Ger Med Sci. 2020 Jun 22;18:Doc05
pubmed: 32595421
J Occup Med Toxicol. 2019 Jun 01;14:18
pubmed: 31168312
Front Public Health. 2022 Sep 20;10:983414
pubmed: 36203659
Evid Based Nurs. 2019 Jul;22(3):67-68
pubmed: 31201209
BMJ Open. 2020 Dec 02;10(12):e042119
pubmed: 33268433
Lancet Reg Health Eur. 2021 Jun 19;6:100103
pubmed: 34557831
J Affect Disord. 2020 Dec 1;277:347-357
pubmed: 32861835
JMIR Ment Health. 2022 Nov 23;9(11):e39079
pubmed: 36416884