Date of Award

12-7-2021

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Nursing (MScN)

First Advisor

Dr. Rubina Barolia

Second Advisor

Ms. Saleema Gulzar

Third Advisor

Dr Khairulnissa Ajani

Department

School of Nursing and Midwifery, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: The contagious virus first appeared in the Hubei province, China, in 2019, then it affected a large population around the globe. The COVID-19 pandemic has been wreaking havoc on the physical, psychological, and financial aspects of life, has inflicted morbidity on more than 5.54% people and lead to mortality in 2.64% people including Healthcare Professionals. In July 2021, the number of reported cases in Pakistan was 0.50% and deaths that had occurred due to COVID-19 were 0.011%. Moreover, many frontline HCPs have been affected globally and the pandemic has created many challenges.
Purpose: To explore the barriers and challenges faced by HCPs, and the strategies used by them to overcome these challenges while dealing with the COVID-19 patients in the Bhakkar Hospital, Pakistan.
Method: A qualitative descriptive exploratory approach, with a purposive sample technique was used. In all, 14 HCPs were recruited from the Bhakkar Hospital, Pakistan based on the eligibility criteria In-depth telephonic interviews were conducted by using a semi-structured interview guide until meaningful information was achieved. Standard qualitative content analysis technique was utilized to analyze the transcription of the interview data, to come up with the visual representation of categories and subcategories.
Findings: Four categories were yield from content analysis; the first category was Roadblock for HCPs, which further analyzed into the subcategories including scarce material resources, limited relevant in-service training, and lack of fringe benefits/ allowances for HCPs; the second category was, emotional and physical fatigue, in which the HCPs felt psychological agitation, and subcategories were physical exhaustion, and fear of acquiring infection and transmitting it to their family members; in the third category there was the influence organizational culture and the subcategories were shortage of staff, political influence, less bothered organizational culture; finally the frontline HCPs pointed out several strategies to overcome challenges, and sub categories were intercollegiate support, reward system, capacity building, faith as a strength. These factors are important to consider while developing policies in future pandemics. Furthermore, the study findings proposed some significant recommendations for health policy level, institutional level, healthcare professional level, and future research.
Conclusion: The current study explored the barriers and challenges that the healthcare professionals faced and the strategies that they used to overcome these challenges while dealing with COVID-19 patients. The study findings have highlighted the pathway for healthcare settings, especially in remote areas of low-income and middle-income countries, to provide and ensure a safe working environment for frontline healthcare professionals dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Last Page

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