Health care providers’ perceptions of burnout and moral distress during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study from Saskatchewan, Canada
Date
2024-10-01
Authors
Alhassan, Jacob Albin Korem
Rohatinsky, Noelle
Peru, Taylor
Levandoski, Carmen
Kendel, Dennis
Dmytrowich, Jeffrey
Lafontaine, Tenille
Cardinal, Matthew
Peña-Sánchez, Juan Nicolás
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SAGE
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Article
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Abstract
Objectives
This study sought to describe feelings and perceptions of burnout and moral distress experienced by health care providers in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods
This study was part of a larger mixed methods project, and we here report on the qualitative results relating to burnout and moral distress experienced by medical doctors, registered nurses and respiratory therapists. We used an exploratory, qualitative descriptive design involving one-one-one interviews with 24 health care providers. Interview data were analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis approach.
Results
We identified three overarching themes each for health care provider burnout and moral distress. Interviews revealed that providers experienced burnout through (i) increased expectations and (ii) unfavourable work environments, which led most of them to recognise (iii) a need to step back. Regarding moral distress, key themes were: (i) a sense of compromised care, (ii) feelings of bumping heads with authorities and patient families, and (iii) seeing patients make difficult decisions.
Conclusion
Our study found that medical doctors, registered nurses and respiratory therapists working during the COVID-19 pandemic experienced and continue to experience significant burnout and moral distress. This was often driven by both institution- and system-level factors. There is a need for sustained investment to build and support a motivated health care workforce to prepare for future pandemics and health emergencies.
Description
The version of record of this article, first published in SAGE, is available online at Publisher’s website: doi.org/10.1177/13558196241287336
Keywords
nursing, mental health, qualitative methods
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DOI
10.1177/13558196241287336