AUTHOR=McGuinness Sarah L. , Josphin Johnson , Eades Owen , Clifford Sharon , Fisher Jane , Kirkman Maggie , Russell Grant , Hodgson Carol L. , Kelsall Helen L. , Lane Riki , Skouteris Helen , Smith Karen L. , Leder Karin 

TITLE=Organizational responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria, Australia: A qualitative study across four healthcare settings

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.965664

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2022.965664

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Objective: Organisational responses that support healthcare workers (HCWs) and mitigate health risks are necessary to offset the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to understand how HCWs and key personnel working in healthcare settings in Melbourne, Australia perceived their employing organisations’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Method: In this qualitative study, conducted May-July 2021 as part of the longitudinal Coronavirus in Victorian Healthcare and Aged Care Workers (COVIC-HA) study, we purposively sampled and interviewed HCWs and key personnel from healthcare organisations across hospital, ambulance, aged care and primary care (general practice) settings. We also examined HCWs’ free-text responses to a question about organisational resources and/or supports from the COVIC-HA Study’s baseline survey. We thematically analysed data using an iterative process.

Results: We analysed data from interviews with 28 HCWs and 21 key personnel and free-text responses from 365 HCWs, yielding three major themes: navigating a changing and uncertain environment, maintaining service delivery during a pandemic, and meeting the safety and psychological needs of staff. HCWs valued organisational efforts to engage openly and honesty with staff, and proactive responses such as strategies to enhance workplace safety (e.g. personal protective equipment spotters). Suggestions for improvement identified in the themes included streamlined information processes, greater involvement of HCWs in decision-making, increased investment in staff wellbeing initiatives and sustainable approaches to strengthen the healthcare workforce.  

Conclusions: This study provides in-depth insights into the challenges and successes of organisational responses across four healthcare settings in the uncertain environment of a pandemic. Future efforts to mitigate the impact of acute stressors on HCWs should include a strong focus on bidirectional communication, effective and realistic strategies to strengthen and sustain the healthcare workforce, and greater investment in flexible and meaningful psychological support and wellbeing initiatives for HCWs.