Exploring stress coping strategies of frontline emergency health workers dealing Covid-19 in Pakistan: a qualitative inquiry
Background The COVID-19 outbreak has gravely impacted the physical and psychological health of people. As the outbreak is ongoing, it is crucial to equip the emergency healthcare workers (HCWs) to be medically and psychologically prepared. Objective To examine the psychological impact of COVID-...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier Inc. A
2020
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| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/81763/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/81763/1/81763_Exploring%20Stress%20Coping%20Strategies%20of%20Frontline.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848789182152966144 |
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| author | Munawar, Khadeeja Choudhry, Riaz Fahad |
| author_facet | Munawar, Khadeeja Choudhry, Riaz Fahad |
| author_sort | Munawar, Khadeeja |
| building | IIUM Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Background
The COVID-19 outbreak has gravely impacted the physical and psychological health of people. As the outbreak is ongoing, it is crucial to equip the emergency healthcare workers (HCWs) to be medically and psychologically prepared.
Objective
To examine the psychological impact of COVID-19 on emergency HCWs and to understand how they are dealing with COVID-19 pandemic, their stress coping strategies or protective factors, and challenges while dealing with COVID-19 patients.
Method
Using a framework thematic analysis approach, 15 frontline emergency HCWs directly dealing with COVID-19 patients from 2 April to 25 April 2020. The semi-structured interviews were conducted face-to-face or by telephone. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.
Results
Findings highlighted first major theme of stress coping, including, limiting media exposure, limited sharing of Covid-19 duty details, religious coping, just another emergency approach, altruism, and second major theme of Challenges includes, psychological response and noncompliance of public/denial by religious scholar.
Conclusion
Participants practiced and recommended various coping strategies to deal with stress and anxiety emerging from COVID-19 pandemic. Media was a was reported to be a principal source of raising stress and anxiety among the public. Religious coping as well as their passion to serve humanity and country were the commonly employed coping strategies. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T17:52:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | iium-81763 |
| institution | International Islamic University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T17:52:39Z |
| publishDate | 2020 |
| publisher | Elsevier Inc. A |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | iium-817632020-11-24T03:46:42Z http://irep.iium.edu.my/81763/ Exploring stress coping strategies of frontline emergency health workers dealing Covid-19 in Pakistan: a qualitative inquiry Munawar, Khadeeja Choudhry, Riaz Fahad RA Public aspects of medicine RA790 Mental Health. Mental Illness Prevention Background The COVID-19 outbreak has gravely impacted the physical and psychological health of people. As the outbreak is ongoing, it is crucial to equip the emergency healthcare workers (HCWs) to be medically and psychologically prepared. Objective To examine the psychological impact of COVID-19 on emergency HCWs and to understand how they are dealing with COVID-19 pandemic, their stress coping strategies or protective factors, and challenges while dealing with COVID-19 patients. Method Using a framework thematic analysis approach, 15 frontline emergency HCWs directly dealing with COVID-19 patients from 2 April to 25 April 2020. The semi-structured interviews were conducted face-to-face or by telephone. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results Findings highlighted first major theme of stress coping, including, limiting media exposure, limited sharing of Covid-19 duty details, religious coping, just another emergency approach, altruism, and second major theme of Challenges includes, psychological response and noncompliance of public/denial by religious scholar. Conclusion Participants practiced and recommended various coping strategies to deal with stress and anxiety emerging from COVID-19 pandemic. Media was a was reported to be a principal source of raising stress and anxiety among the public. Religious coping as well as their passion to serve humanity and country were the commonly employed coping strategies. Elsevier Inc. A 2020 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://irep.iium.edu.my/81763/1/81763_Exploring%20Stress%20Coping%20Strategies%20of%20Frontline.pdf Munawar, Khadeeja and Choudhry, Riaz Fahad (2020) Exploring stress coping strategies of frontline emergency health workers dealing Covid-19 in Pakistan: a qualitative inquiry. American Journal of Infection Control. pp. 1-7. ISSN 0196-6553 E-ISSN 1527-3296 (In Press) https://www.ajicjournal.org/action/showPdf?pii=S0196-6553%2820%2930638-6 10.1016/j.ajic.2020.06.214 |
| spellingShingle | RA Public aspects of medicine RA790 Mental Health. Mental Illness Prevention Munawar, Khadeeja Choudhry, Riaz Fahad Exploring stress coping strategies of frontline emergency health workers dealing Covid-19 in Pakistan: a qualitative inquiry |
| title | Exploring stress coping strategies of frontline emergency health workers dealing Covid-19 in Pakistan: a qualitative inquiry |
| title_full | Exploring stress coping strategies of frontline emergency health workers dealing Covid-19 in Pakistan: a qualitative inquiry |
| title_fullStr | Exploring stress coping strategies of frontline emergency health workers dealing Covid-19 in Pakistan: a qualitative inquiry |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring stress coping strategies of frontline emergency health workers dealing Covid-19 in Pakistan: a qualitative inquiry |
| title_short | Exploring stress coping strategies of frontline emergency health workers dealing Covid-19 in Pakistan: a qualitative inquiry |
| title_sort | exploring stress coping strategies of frontline emergency health workers dealing covid-19 in pakistan: a qualitative inquiry |
| topic | RA Public aspects of medicine RA790 Mental Health. Mental Illness Prevention |
| url | http://irep.iium.edu.my/81763/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/81763/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/81763/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/81763/1/81763_Exploring%20Stress%20Coping%20Strategies%20of%20Frontline.pdf |