What helps hospital staff in times of crisis: qualitative results of a survey on psychosocial resources and stressors in German hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic

Frontiers in Public Health

Public Health

Imad Maatouk¹  Maja Stiawa²  Rebecca Erschens³  Florian Junne⁴  Harald Gündel⁵  Lisa Guthardt⁶  Kira Schmidt-Stiedenroth⁶  Peter Angerer⁶  Melanie Genrich⁷  Mara Köhne⁷  Andreas Müller⁷ 

[1] Department of General Internal and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany;Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany;Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy II, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany;Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany;Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany;University Hospital for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany;Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany;Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany;Institute of Psychology, Work and Organizational Psychology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany;

关键词: COVID-19;    resources;    psychosocial working conditions;    hospital;    Germany;    stressors;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpubh.2023.1260079

 received in 2023-07-17, accepted in 2023-09-07,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundEven before the COVID-19 pandemic, hospital workers faced a tremendous workload. The pandemic led to different and additional strain that negatively affected the well-being of employees. This study aims to explore psychosocial resources and strategies that were used by hospital staff.MethodsIn the context of an intervention study, employees of three German hospitals were questioned in writing in summer and fall 2020. Five open-ended questions about the pandemic were asked to capture corresponding effects on daily work routine. Answers of 303 participants were evaluated using structuring qualitative content analysis.ResultsSignificant stressors and resources were identified in the areas of work content and task, social relations at work, organization of work, work environment and individual aspects. Stressors included, for example, emotional demands, conflicts, an increased workload, time and performance pressure. Important resources mentioned were, among others, the exchange with colleagues and mutual support. Sound information exchange, clear processes and guidelines and a positive work atmosphere were also important. In addition, the private environment and a positive mindset were perceived as helpful.ConclusionThis study contributes to a differentiated understanding of existing psychosocial resources of hospital staff in times of crisis. Identifying and strengthening these resources could reduce stress and improve well-being, making hospital staff better prepared for both normal operations and further crisis situations.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
Copyright © 2023 Schmidt-Stiedenroth, Guthardt, Genrich, Köhne, Stiawa, Erschens, Junne, Maatouk, The SEEGEN-Consortium, Gündel, Angerer and Müller.