Psychosocial Difficulties Experienced By Healthcare Professionals Providing Care During The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study From Turkey

Abstract

This study aims to identify the psychosocial difficulties experienced by the healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study utilized a qualitative research method, and the data were collected in June 2020. The sample consisted of 31 healthcare professionals who provided care and treatment to individuals with suspected or confirmed coronavirus and agreed to participate in the study. Data were collected through 7 open-ended questions inquiring how healthcare professionals' work, family, and social lives as well as psychological status were affected by the pandemic. Data were analyzed using content analysis. The results revealed that while providing care and treatment, healthcare professionals had difficulties due to wearing protective equipment; they reportedly had problems in breathing or seeing the procedures they performed. It was also found that the participants experienced high levels of anxiety and various psychological, physical, social and familial problems, fatigue, insomnia, tension, nervousness, and loss of appetite. When healthcare professionals experience high levels of anxiety during the epidemic, showing symptoms such as fatigue, insomnia, irritability and loss of appetite. They were very concerned about whether the patients would recover. It could be recommended to change the design of the equipment used by healthcare professionals. In addition, those who experienced problems with anxiety were informed about how to access psychological counseling services.