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Review
. 2021 Oct 27:14:3015-3025.
doi: 10.2147/JMDH.S330041. eCollection 2021.

Healthcare Workers' Burdens During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Systematic Review

Apinya Koontalay  1 , Wanich Suksatan  2   3 , Kantapong Prabsangob  4 , Jonaid M Sadang  5
Affiliations
Review

Healthcare Workers' Burdens During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Systematic Review

Apinya Koontalay et al. J Multidiscip Healthc. .

Abstract

Background: The global healthcare system is continuing to confront major challenges during the current COVID-19 pandemic, with the second wave the deadliest one to date. This study aimed to identify and explore the challenges and burdens of frontline healthcare workers during the current pandemic, and to help prepare workforce support plans for them now and in the future.

Methods: A qualitative systematic review method involving thematic synthesis without meta-analysis was used to analyze relevant studies from five databases from November 2020 to February 2021: MEDLINE via PubMed, CINAHL Complete, Embase through Ovid, Scopus, and Web of Science. The quality of the studies was evaluated using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program Qualitative Research Checklist appraisal tools. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA statement. The informants are healthcare workers working at the frontlines and providing care to COVID-19 patients.

Results: Ten studies revealed the burden of healthcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic, with having the related challenges experienced by 498 participants (doctors, nurses, pediatric nurses, paramedical staff, support staff, and physiotherapists). Our findings fell into four main themes as follows: inadequate preparedness; emotional challenges; insufficient equipment and information; and work burnout.

Conclusion: The study results demonstrate that the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on all aspects of life, especially for healthcare providers, who work on the frontlines. The pandemic has affected the frontline workers' physical and psychological health, causing them to experience emotional distress such as fear, anxiety, depression, and stress. In addition, the pandemic can increase posttraumatic stress disorder, leading to burnout and discontinuity of healthcare workloads to ensure the patients' safety and the high quality of care provided to the patients.

Keywords: COVID-19; healthcare personnel; qualitative review; qualitative studies; qualitative systematic review.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors of this study declare that they have no conflicts of interest in this project.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA flow diagram of the selection process.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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