The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on ICU Healthcare Professionals: A Mixed Methods Study

The large numbers of patients admitted to intensive care units due to COVID-19 has had a major impact on healthcare professionals. The incidence of mental health disorders among these professionals has increased considerably and their professional quality of life has suffered during the pandemic. This study aims to explore the impact of the provision of COVID-19 patient care on ICU healthcare professionals. A mixed methods study with an exploratory concurrent design was conducted between June and November 2020 in the Balearic Islands, Spain. Data were collected using a self-report online survey (n = 122) based on three validated questionnaires, and individual semi-structured in-depth online interviews (n = 11). Respondents scored 2.5 out of 5 on the moral distress scale, moderate/high on the compassion satisfaction scale, and moderate on the burnout and compassion fatigue subscales. Age was significantly and negatively related to professional quality of life but was positively related to workload and unavailability of protective equipment. Three main groups of themes relating to the impact of the pandemic emerged from the in-depth interviews: (a) clinical, (b) professional, and (c) personal and family impacts in the two waves. ICU healthcare professionals should be viewed as second victims of the COVID-19 pandemic as they have suffered significant psychological, professional, and moral harm.

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Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health of Palliative Care Professionals and Services: A Mixed-Methods Survey Study

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine® ◽

10.1177/10499091211057043 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 104990912110570

Author(s):

Wallace Chi Ho Chan ◽

Raymond Kam Wing Woo ◽

Denis Ka-Shaw Kwok ◽

Clare Tsz Kiu Yu ◽

Lawrence Man-Hon Chiu

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Mental Health ◽

Palliative Care ◽

Mixed Methods ◽

Professional Quality Of Life ◽

Care Services ◽

Professional Quality ◽

Palliative Care Services ◽

The Impact

Introduction This study aimed to examine the mental health of palliative care professionals in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 pandemic, the relationship of mental health with socio-demographic factors, and the impact of the pandemic on palliative care services. Methods A total of 142 palliative care professionals in Hong Kong participated in an online survey. The questionnaire includes measurements on depression, anxiety, perceived stress, post-traumatic stress, professional quality of life, items that measure the effect of COVID-19 on palliative care services, and one open-ended question for describing how the services were affected. Descriptive and multivariate regression analyses were conducted. Quantitative and qualitative data about the impact of COVID-19 on palliative care services were analyzed and triangulated using a mixed-methods approach. Results Up to 82%, 43%, and 42% of the participants felt moderately to highly stressed, anxious, and depressed, respectively, during the pandemic. Younger participants tended to have poorer mental health and professional quality of life. Around 82% felt stressed when communicating with patients and family members under the no-visiting policy during the pandemic. More than three-quarters of participants showed lack of confidence in the anti-epidemic policy of the government. Qualitative findings identified 3 themes affecting the provision of palliative care: 1. the tightening of restrictions on visitors; 2. the limited provision of services; and 3. staff deployment. Conclusions Appropriate responses are required to give extra support to palliative care professionals during the pandemic and facilitate their coping with the impact of COVID-19 on the provision of palliative care.

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Professional Quality of Life, Engagement, and Self-Care in Healthcare Professionals in Ecuador during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare9050515 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 515

Author(s):

María Elena Cuartero-Castañer ◽

Paula Hidalgo-Andrade ◽

Ana J. Cañas-Lerma

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Work Engagement ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Self Care ◽

Life Questionnaire ◽

Professional Quality Of Life ◽

Professional Quality ◽

Care Practices

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of healthcare workers and their professional quality of life. This quantitative cross-sectional study aims at exploring the professional quality of life, work engagement, and self-care of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ecuador. A convenience sample of 117 participants completed an online voluntary and anonymous survey between April and July 2020. It contained a sociodemographic section, the Professional Quality of Life questionnaire V, the work engagement scale, and the scale of self-care behaviors for clinical psychologists. Results show that healthcare workers have an average quality of life with high levels of compassion satisfaction and average levels of compassion fatigue and burnout. Data also indicate that the sample frequently engaged in self-care practices and had high levels of work engagement. The regression analyses reveal that gender, the number of patients per week, the perceived fairness of the salary, among other variables are possible predictors of professional quality of life, frequency of self-care practices, and engagement. This study contributes to the understanding of these variables among healthcare professionals in Ecuador. These results should be considered when planning policies and prevention intervention efforts to promote professionals’ wellbeing.

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The impact of transcatheter aortic valve implantation on quality of life: A mixed methods study

Heart & Lung ◽

10.1016/j.hrtlng.2017.08.005 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 46 (6) ◽

pp. 432-438 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Felicity Astin ◽

Judith Horrocks ◽

Jim McLenachan ◽

Daniel J. Blackman ◽

John Stephenson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Mixed Methods ◽

Aortic Valve ◽

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation ◽

Mixed Methods Study ◽

Transcatheter Aortic Valve ◽

Aortic Valve Implantation ◽

Valve Implantation ◽

The Impact

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Professional quality of life and resilience in emergency department healthcare professionals during COVID-19 in Hong Kong: A cross-sectional study

Hong Kong Journal of Emergency Medicine ◽

10.1177/10249079211049128 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 102490792110491

Author(s):

Cho Lee Wong ◽

Bun Young ◽

Berachah Sze Chung Lui ◽

Alice Wai Yi Leung ◽

Jerome Lok Tsun So

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Emergency Department ◽

Hong Kong ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Secondary Traumatic Stress ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Compassion Satisfaction ◽

Professional Quality Of Life ◽

Professional Quality

Background: The professional quality of life of healthcare professionals in emergency departments may be compromised during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objectives: This study aims to examine professional quality of life and resilience as well as their relationships among emergency department healthcare professionals in Hong Kong during the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional design. Healthcare professionals (doctors and nurses) working in emergency departments in Hong Kong were recruited via snowball sampling. The Professional Quality of Life Scale, version 5, and the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale were used to assess their positive (compassion satisfaction) and negative (secondary traumatic stress and burnout) aspects of professional quality of life and self-reported resilience. Socio-demographics and work-related characteristics were also analysed. Results: A total of 106 participants provided valid responses. The results showed an overall moderate level of compassion satisfaction, secondary traumatic stress and burnout among emergency department healthcare professionals. The mean score of the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale was 23.8. Backward linear regression analyses revealed self-reported resilience was the only significant predictor of compassion satisfaction (regression coefficient B = 0.875; p < 0.001), secondary traumatic stress (B = −0.294, p < 0.001) and burnout (B = −0.670; p < 0.001), explaining 70.6%, 18.5% and 59.8% of total variance, respectively. Conclusion: Emergency department healthcare professionals in Hong Kong experienced an overall moderate level of professional quality of life during the COVID-19 outbreak. Those with a higher level of self-reported resilience had better compassion satisfaction and lower levels of secondary traumatic stress and burnout. The results support the importance of developing interventions that foster resilience among this group of emergency department healthcare professionals to combat COVID-19.

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Argus II Commissioning through Evaluation (ACE) Study: protocol for a single arm, mixed methods study to assess the impact of the Argus® II Retinal Prosthesis System on the quality of life of patients with ultra-low vision due to retinitis pigmentosa. (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.17436 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Judith White ◽

Laura Knight ◽

Lyndon da Cruz ◽

Paulo Eduardo Stanga ◽

Hannah Patrick ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Mixed Methods ◽

Retinitis Pigmentosa ◽

Low Vision ◽

Retinal Prosthesis ◽

Mixed Methods Study ◽

Ordinal Scale ◽

Argus Ii ◽

The Impact

BACKGROUND Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is an incurable, degenerative retinal condition causing progressive sight loss, impacting significantly on patients’ quality of life. The Argus® II Retinal Prosthesis is a surgically implanted medical device which delivers electrical stimulation to the retina. It is intended to produce a form of artificial vision to blind people with severe to profound RP by stimulating remaining viable retinal cells to induce visual perception. This study has been initiated by NHS England’s Commissioning through Evaluation programme and funded through the UK’s National Institute of Health Research OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of the Argus II device on patient’s daily activities and quality of life. METHODS This protocol is a prospective, single arm, open-label, mixed methods study on 10 consecutive participants receiving the Argus II device. Patient representatives have played an integral role in the design of the study. Eligibility criteria include ultra-low vision in both eyes as a result of end-stage RP and a willingness and capacity to complete the post-implantation rehabilitation programme. Participants will be interviewed by independent researchers at baseline and 12 months later using a semi-structured, in-depth approach, alongside validated questionnaires (Impact of Vision Impairment Very Low Vision, EQ-5D-5L and EQ-VAS, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and a bespoke device-related questionnaire which includes questions about users’ experiences with the procedure, the device, and rehabilitation. The impact of the device on patients’ functional vision and activities of daily living will be assessed by vision rehabilitation specialists using a set of tests measured on an ordinal scale (e.g. ability to locate objects and avoid obstacles). Clinical outcomes include full-field stimulus light threshold, square localization, direction of motion, grating visual acuity, Landolt-C, procedural success and adverse events. Qualitative and quantitative outcomes will be linked on a single database to enable individual participant measures to be considered in toto, comparing baseline to final review. RESULTS Ethics approval has been obtained and funding has been awarded. The manufacturer recently withdrew the Argus II device from sale in the UK, therefore the study is not going ahead at this time. CONCLUSIONS The mixed method approach provides a rich and in-depth assessment of the impact of the device on participants’ quality of life. Despite the work not going ahead, publication of this publicly-funded protocol is important for researchers planning similar work. CLINICALTRIAL

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