PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
Globally, the high prevalence of burnout in healthcare workers (HCWs) is of the utmost concern. Burnout is a state of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and a decreased sense of personal accomplishment. While the 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) exacerbated the burnout prevalence among HCWs, limited studies have explored this phenomenon using qualitative methodologies in the Eastern Cape Province and South Africa generally. This study explored how frontline healthcare workers experienced burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mthatha Regional Hospital.
Ten face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted with non-specialized medical doctors and nurses who directly cared for COVID-19-infected patients during the pandemic in Mthatha Regional Hospital (MRH). In-depth interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were managed through NVIVO 12 software before being thematically analyzed using Colaizzi\'s analysis method.
Four main themes emerged from the analysis. These themes were burnout manifestation (emotional strain, detachment and irritability, uncertainty-induced fear, and anxiety, physical exhaustion, yet, low job accomplishment, dread and professional responsibility), precursors of burnout (occupational exposure to high mortality, staff shortages, elongated high patient volume and workload, disease uncertainties and consistent feeling of grief), alleviating factors of burnout (time off work, psychologist intervention, periods of low infection rate and additional staff), and the last theme was every cloud has a silver lining (improved infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, learning to be more empathetic, the passion remains and confidence grows).
The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a rapid change in the work environment of healthcare workers who are the backbone of efficient healthcare services, thereby rendering them vulnerable to increased burnout risks. This study provides strategic information for policymakers and managers on developing and strengthening welfare policies to promote and protect frontline health workers\' well-being and work functioning.
Ten face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted with non-specialized medical doctors and nurses who directly cared for COVID-19-infected patients during the pandemic in Mthatha Regional Hospital (MRH). In-depth interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were managed through NVIVO 12 software before being thematically analyzed using Colaizzi\'s analysis method.
Four main themes emerged from the analysis. These themes were burnout manifestation (emotional strain, detachment and irritability, uncertainty-induced fear, and anxiety, physical exhaustion, yet, low job accomplishment, dread and professional responsibility), precursors of burnout (occupational exposure to high mortality, staff shortages, elongated high patient volume and workload, disease uncertainties and consistent feeling of grief), alleviating factors of burnout (time off work, psychologist intervention, periods of low infection rate and additional staff), and the last theme was every cloud has a silver lining (improved infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, learning to be more empathetic, the passion remains and confidence grows).
The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a rapid change in the work environment of healthcare workers who are the backbone of efficient healthcare services, thereby rendering them vulnerable to increased burnout risks. This study provides strategic information for policymakers and managers on developing and strengthening welfare policies to promote and protect frontline health workers\' well-being and work functioning.
摘要：
背景：在全球范围内，医护人员(HCWs)的高职业倦怠患病率是最令人关注的问题.倦怠是一种情绪疲惫的状态，人格解体和个人成就感下降。虽然2019年冠状病毒(COVID-19)加剧了医护人员的倦怠患病率，有限的研究在东开普省和南非普遍使用定性方法探索了这一现象。这项研究探讨了在Mthatha地区医院的COVID-19大流行期间，一线医护人员是如何经历倦怠的。
方法：在Mthatha地区医院（MRH）的大流行期间，对直接照顾COVID-19感染患者的非专科医生和护士进行了十次面对面的深入访谈。深入访谈进行了数字记录和逐字转录。在使用Colaizzi的分析方法进行主题分析之前，通过NVIVO12软件管理数据。
结果：分析产生了四个主要主题。这些主题是倦怠表现(情绪紧张，超脱和易怒，不确定性引起的恐惧，和焦虑，身体疲惫,然而，工作成就感低,恐惧和专业责任)，职业倦怠的前兆(职业暴露于高死亡率，人员短缺，延长高患者容量和工作量，疾病的不确定性和持续的悲伤感)，缓解职业倦怠的因素(下班时间，心理学家干预，感染率低和额外员工的时期)，最后一个主题是每朵云都有一线希望(改进感染预防和控制(IPC)措施，学会更有同情心，激情依然存在，信心增强)。
结论：COVID-19大流行带来了医护人员工作环境的快速变化，这些医护人员是高效医疗服务的骨干，从而使他们容易受到增加的倦怠风险。这项研究为政策制定者和管理人员提供了有关制定和加强福利政策以促进和保护一线卫生工作者的福祉和工作功能的战略信息。
方法：在Mthatha地区医院（MRH）的大流行期间，对直接照顾COVID-19感染患者的非专科医生和护士进行了十次面对面的深入访谈。深入访谈进行了数字记录和逐字转录。在使用Colaizzi的分析方法进行主题分析之前，通过NVIVO12软件管理数据。
结果：分析产生了四个主要主题。这些主题是倦怠表现(情绪紧张，超脱和易怒，不确定性引起的恐惧，和焦虑，身体疲惫,然而，工作成就感低,恐惧和专业责任)，职业倦怠的前兆(职业暴露于高死亡率，人员短缺，延长高患者容量和工作量，疾病的不确定性和持续的悲伤感)，缓解职业倦怠的因素(下班时间，心理学家干预，感染率低和额外员工的时期)，最后一个主题是每朵云都有一线希望(改进感染预防和控制(IPC)措施，学会更有同情心，激情依然存在，信心增强)。
结论：COVID-19大流行带来了医护人员工作环境的快速变化，这些医护人员是高效医疗服务的骨干，从而使他们容易受到增加的倦怠风险。这项研究为政策制定者和管理人员提供了有关制定和加强福利政策以促进和保护一线卫生工作者的福祉和工作功能的战略信息。
