Occupational Health of Staff Nurses Working in Private Hospitals during the Early Post-Pandemic Period of COVID-19
(1) School of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Saint Louis, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, 3500
(2) School of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Saint Louis, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, 3500
(3) School of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Saint Louis, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, 3500
(4) School of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Saint Louis, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, 3500
(5) School of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Saint Louis, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, 3500
(6) School of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Saint Louis, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, 3500 Center for Health Research and Development, University of Saint Louis, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan Philippines, 3500
(*) Corresponding Author
Abstract
Background: COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted healthcare professionals, causing issues like anxiety, hopelessness, and difficulty sleeping. Occupational health encompasses nurses' physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being, and has been significantly affected due to the pandemic on nurses' work and the resulting changes in their occupational health.
Objective: This study assessed the level of occupational health among staff nurses' in private hospitals during the early post-pandemic period in the northern part of the Philippines.
Methods: This study utilized a mixed-method design implemented in private hospitals in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, to gather data on occupational health and wellness on a sample size of 100 nurses during the early post-pandemic period. The researchers used a purposive sampling technique and a questionnaire with adopted and modified questions as well as a self-made question. Frequency and percentage was used to describe the profile and mean to present the level of occupational health. Analysis of Variance was used to determine difference in level of the occupational health of nurses according to their profile. Thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data.
Results and Discussion: Results show that staff nurses have good level of occupational health during the early post-pandemic period. Moreover, qualitative data revealed that nurses experienced many health issues during the peak of the pandemic, and that they experienced an improvement of their overall occupational health during the early post-pandemic period. The staff nurses experienced reduced anxiety, performed better self-care and observed stricter adherence to infection prevention and control protocols which greatly affected their occupational health.
Conclusion: It can be concluded therefore that the occupational health of nurses during the early post-pandemic period of COVID-19 pandemic has improved compared to during the pandemic. Their experiences during the pandemic led to less anxiety, improved self-care and better compliance with IPC protocols.
Keywords
References
World Health Organization [Internet]. [cited 2024 Oct 28]. Occupational health: health workers. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/occupational-health--health-workers
Martínez-López JÁ, Lázaro-Pérez C, Gómez-Galán J, Fernández-Martínez M del M. Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Emergency on Health Professionals: Burnout Incidence at the Most Critical Period in Spain. Journal of Clinical Medicine [Internet]. 2020 Sep [cited 2024 Oct 28];9(9):3029. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9093029
Salazar de Pablo G, Vaquerizo-Serrano J, Catalan A, Arango C, Moreno C, Ferre F, et al. Impact of coronavirus syndromes on physical and mental health of health care workers: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders [Internet]. 2020 Oct 1 [cited 2024 Oct 28];275:48–57. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.06.022
Muller AE, Hafstad EV, Himmels JPW, Smedslund G, Flottorp S, Stensland SØ, et al. The mental health impact of the covid-19 pandemic on healthcare workers, and interventions to help them: A rapid systematic review. Psychiatry Research [Internet]. 2020 Nov 1 [cited 2024 Oct 28];293:113441. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113441
Maravilla J, Catiwa J, Guariño R, Yap JF, Pagatpatan C, Orolfo DD, et al. Exploring indirect impacts of COVID-19 on local health systems from the perspectives of health workers and higher education stakeholders in the Philippines using a phenomenological approach. The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific [Internet]. 2023 Jan 1 [cited 2024 Oct 28];30. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanwpc.2022.100585
Carascal MB, Capistrano PE, Figueras MDL, Cataylo OLAC, Zuñiga SMS, Reyes MES, et al. Experiences of COVID-19-Recovered Healthcare Workers in a Tertiary Hospital in the Philippines: A Mixed-Method Inquiry. INQUIRY [Internet]. 2022 Jan 1 [cited 2024 Oct 28];59:00469580221107051. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/00469580221107051
THE WHO PANDEMIC PHASES. In: Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response: A WHO Guidance Document [Internet]. World Health Organization; 2009 [cited 2024 Oct 28]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK143061/
WHO chief declares end to COVID-19 as a global health emergency | UN News [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2024 Nov 6]. Available from: https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/05/1136367
LoGiudice JA, Bartos S. Experiences of nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-methods study. AACN Advanced Critical Care [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2024 Nov 12];32(1):14–26. Available from: https://doi.org/10.4037/aacnacc2021816
Allan SM, Bealey R, Birch J, Cushing T, Parke S, Sergi G, et al. The prevalence of common and stress-related mental health disorders in healthcare workers based in pandemic-affected hospitals: a rapid systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Psychotraumatology [Internet]. 2020 Dec 31 [cited 2024 Nov 12];11(1):1810903. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2020.1810903
Merriam SB, Tisdell EJ. Qualitative research: A guide to design and implementation [Internet]. John Wiley & Sons; 2015 [cited 2024 Nov 12]. Available from: https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=JFN_BwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR1&dq=merriam+tisdell&ots=wPZQNN4D92&sig=5iINYvwJkjHn-7fsPVBaRVvLP3A
Mulu GB, Kebede WM, Worku SA, Mittiku YM, Ayelign B. Preparedness and Responses of Healthcare Providers to Combat the Spread of COVID-19 Among North Shewa Zone Hospitals, Amhara, Ethiopia, 2020. Infection and Drug Resistance [Internet]. 2020 Sep 16 [cited 2024 Nov 12];13:3171–8. Available from: https://doi.org/10.2147/IDR.S265829
Clarke V, Braun V. Thematic analysis. The Journal of Positive Psychology [Internet]. 2017 May 4 [cited 2024 Nov 6];12(3):297–8. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2016.1262613
Lind Elmaco J. Philippine Nurse Migration: Assessing Vulnerabilities and Accessing Opportunities during the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Development Policy | Revue internationale de politique de développement [Internet]. 2022 Jan 1 [cited 2024 Nov 12];(14). Available from: https://doi.org/10.4000/poldev.4853
UP Population Institute [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2024 Nov 12]. Human Resource for Health in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Does the Philippines Have Enough? Available from: https://www.uppi.upd.edu.ph/research/covid-19/rb8
Tokić A, Gusar I, Nikolić Ivanišević M. Mental health and well-being in healthcare workers in Croatia during COVID-19 pandemic: longitudinal study on convenient sample. Medica Jadertina [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2024 Nov 12];53(1):15–25. Available from: https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/437198
Mo Y, Deng L, Zhang L, Lang Q, Liao C, Wang N, et al. Work stress among Chinese nurses to support Wuhan in fighting against COVID-19 epidemic. Journal of Nursing Management [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2024 Nov 12];28(5):1002–9. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13014
Irandoost SF, Yoosefi Lebni J, Safari H, Khorami F, Ahmadi S, Soofizad G, et al. Explaining the challenges and adaptation strategies of nurses in caring for patients with COVID-19: a qualitative study in Iran. BMC Nurs [Internet]. 2022 Jun 28 [cited 2024 Nov 12];21(1):170. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-022-00937-8
Shanafelt T, Ripp J, Trockel M. Understanding and Addressing Sources of Anxiety Among Health Care Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA [Internet]. 2020 Jun 2 [cited 2024 Nov 12];323(21):2133–4. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.5893
Sakr CJ, Rahme D, Fakih L, Assaf SA, Redlich CA, Slade MD, et al. Anxiety Among Healthcare Workers During COVID-19 Pandemic in Lebanon: The Importance of the Work Environment and Personal Resilience. Psychology Research and Behavior Management [Internet]. 2022 Apr 5 [cited 2024 Nov 12];15:811–21. Available from: https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S350125
Labrague LJ. Pandemic fatigue and clinical nurses’ mental health, sleep quality and job contentment during the covid-19 pandemic: The mediating role of resilience. Journal of Nursing Management [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2024 Nov 12];29(7):1992–2001. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13383
Alameddine M, Bou-Karroum K, Ghalayini W, Abiad F. Resilience of nurses at the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in Lebanon. International Journal of Nursing Sciences [Internet]. 2021 Oct 10 [cited 2024 Nov 12];8(4):432–8. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnss.2021.08.002
Babicki M, Szewczykowska I, Mastalerz-Migas A. The Mental Well-Being of Health Care Workers during the Peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Nationwide Study in Poland. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health [Internet]. 2021 Jan [cited 2024 Nov 12];18(11):6101. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18116101
Liu SY, Kang XL, Wang CH, Chu H, Jen HJ, Lai HJ, et al. Protection procedures and preventions against the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 in healthcare settings for nursing personnel: Lessons from Taiwan. Australian Critical Care [Internet]. 2021 Mar 1 [cited 2024 Nov 12];34(2):182–90. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aucc.2020.10.006
Article Metrics
Abstract view : 63 timesDOI: https://doi.org/10.26714/seanr.6.4.2024.%25p
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2024 Edmar E Blancaflor, Ma. Ericka Jhanina L Cariaga, Jeselle Angelene B Coloma, Hainah S Pangcoga, Alfrey J Corpuz, Jonalyn P Santos
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Universitas Muhammadiyah Semarang
Kedungmundu Raya Street No. 18 Semarang, NRC Building Universitas Muhammadiyah Semarang
Phone: 02476740287
Fax: 02476740287
Email: sea.nursingresearch@unimus.ac.id