Psycho-social experiences of healthcare staff on management of COVID -19 patients at a selected public University teaching hospital in Lusaka, Zambia.
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Date
2023
Authors
Zulu, Josephine Chelelwa
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
This study aimed at exploring the psycho-social experiences of healthcare staff on management of Covid-19 patients at a selected public university teaching hospital in Lusaka, Zambia. The study’s objectives were: establish the psycho-social experiences of healthcare staff involved in the management of Covid 19 patients at a study institution, explore how identified psycho-social experiences affect the wellbeing of health staff at the study institution and ascertain mitigation measures in place to improve the psycho-social wellbeing of health staff in the care of Covid-19
patients at the study institution. The study employed a case study research design. A case study was considered appropriate because it is used to gain concrete, contextual, in-depth knowledge about a specific real-world subject. The study’s population was drawn from selected public University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia because of high numbers of COVID-19 cases in their facility. The sample size thus comprised of 28 respondents. Grouped as follows: Medical doctors 5, nurses 10, pharmacists 5, those dealing with oxygen supply 2 and other support staff seen like drivers 6. Data was collected using interview guides while analysis was through thematic analysis. The study revealed a number of psycho-social experiences in the management of COVID-19 pandemic, among these include: stress, fear, anxiety, handling unexpectedly high workloads, longer working hours, insufficient personal protective equipment (PPE), and being separated from family during quarantine. These aspects psychologically and socially negatively affected their well-being as they continued to care for COVID-19 patients at the study institution. The study recommended that, healthcare facility should always prepare staff for possible pandemics such as COVID-19, make sure facility had sufficient PPE and other medical equipment in readiness for situations like COVID-19 and have sufficient staff to reduce on high workload experienced during COVID-19 period. In order to motivate healthcare staff, management should provide sufficient information, regularly hold team meetings and ensure employees are psychologically and socially supported through positive reinforcement by providing counseling services not only to patients but staff as well during pandemic period or
demanding situations at the facility.
Description
Thesis of Master of Science in Counseling.