The Lived Experience of Health Care Workers during the Coronavirus Outbreak: A Content Analysis Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Phd of Counseling, Department of Counseling, Faculty of Humanities, Hazrat-e Masoumeh University, Qom, Iran

2 Phd of Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran

3 Msc of Clinical Psychology, Department of clinical psychology, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

4 PhD, LMFT, Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy and System Wide Director of the Couple and Family Therapy Program at Alliant International University, California, USA

Abstract

Abstract

Introduction: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Iran is part of the worldwide pandemic of the COVID-19 caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) coronavirus. The present study has aimed to identify, through a qualitative methodology, the lived experiences of the Health Care Workers (HCWs) who are the most important group to keep others safe, alive, and healthy in the COVID-19 patients' ward in Iran.
Method: A conventional content analysis method was conducted on 11 HCWs involved with COVID-19 patients by purposeful sampling. Their experiences were explored through in-depth semi structured interviews.
Results: The conventional content analysis revealed five themes: 1- Experiencing psychological distress without sufficient psychological services; 2- Experiencing multiple stressors that gradually reduced; 3- Using coping skills; 4- Family and public support; 5- Media, Medical Community, and Government Officials role
Conclusion: It can be concluded that HCWs need bio-psycho-social-spiritual protection from family, public, media, officials and government.

Keywords


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