The Influence of COVID-19 Program Innovativeness on Occupational Stress Outcomes of Community Health Workers in a Selected City Health Department in the Philippines

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented strain on the health sector. Thus, public health organizations have been challenged to design innovative programs that address not only their constituents' needs but also their health workers' work conditions. In one City Health Department in the Philippines, a notable public health program innovation, which harmonizes COVID-19 testing and health risk assessments for other diseases in a single program, has been implemented. This study examined the relationship between the perceived innovativeness of said COVID-19 program and the occupational stress outcomes of community health workers in a selected city health unit in the Philippines. This study used a quantitative, cross-sectional descriptive design with comparative and correlational aspects. A total of 128 purposively selected community health workers involved in the said program participated in this online survey. Findings suggest that age, years of service, gender, and employment status were significantly associated with perceived innovativeness. Reported perceived personal stress level was significantly lower during the implementation of the innovative program compared to the pre-implementation period. Moreover, perceived program innovativeness was found to be significantly negatively correlated with personal stress and significantly positively correlated with occupational support.

Keywords: COVID-19; health innovation; innovation; occupational stress; public health programs.