Development of a coping model for work‐related fear among staff working in emergency department in Finland – study for nursing and medical staff

Abstract

The emergency department is a workplace where the staff regularly encounter new challenges and factors that can cause fear. The aim of this study was to describe coping with work‐related fear among emergency department staff. The study explains the current coping methods of emergency department staff and the requirement for support as well as the availability of support. A coping model for work‐related fear was also developed and will be presented. The study was conducted using a survey developed specifically for this study, which included the Brief COPE Inventory. The study was conducted in 16 hospitals (N = 544) among the doctors, nurses, practical nurses, and orderlies of the emergency departments. The results were analysed using statistical methods such as frequencies, cross‐tabulation, principal component analysis and binary logistic regression analysis. All values of p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The results showed that nearly all of the emergency department personnel had experienced work‐related fear. Most of the respondents to the survey would have wanted more support, professional help, preventive action and more resources for the emergency department. The emergency department staff had used several coping methods to cope with fear. The most commonly used coping methods were problem‐focused coping and social support. Based on the results of the study, it is possible to increase the availability of coping methods and further develop the existing coping methods.

Factors of maladaptive coping in emergency healthcare professionals: A systematic review

“…Studies in this review took place in pre‐hospital settings ( n = 4), hospital setting ( n = 9), or a combination of the two settings ( n = 1). Studies conducted in the hospital setting included three from the United States (Dehon et al, 2021; Jewell et al, 2021; Mong & Noguchi, 2021), five from Europe (Lala et al, 2016; McPherson et al, 2003; Mikkola et al, 2019; Sand et al, 2016; Soravia et al, 2021), and one from China (Lu et al, 2015) and Australia (Taylor et al, 2004). The pre‐hospital studies represented Australia (Kirby et al, 2011), Canada (Halpern et al, 2011), Pakistan (Kerai et al, 2017), and two from Europe (Fonseca et al, 2021; Soravia et al, 2021).…”

“…The pre‐hospital studies represented Australia (Kirby et al, 2011), Canada (Halpern et al, 2011), Pakistan (Kerai et al, 2017), and two from Europe (Fonseca et al, 2021; Soravia et al, 2021). Of the 14 included studies, four involved a mixed sample of EHP (Kerai et al, 2017; Lala et al, 2016; Mikkola et al, 2019; Soravia et al, 2021). The remaining studies focused on one type of EHP including emergency doctors (Dehon et al, 2021; Jewell et al, 2021; McPherson et al, 2003; Mong & Noguchi, 2021; Sand et al, 2016; Taylor et al, 2004), EMS providers (Fonseca et al, 2021; Halpern et al, 2011; Kirby et al, 2011), or emergency nurses (Lu et al, 2015).…”

“…All studies in the review focused on coping in response to stress and utilized an instrument to measure coping. The Brief COPE scale was the predominate measure of coping for 10 of the 14 studies (Dehon et al, 2021; Fonseca et al, 2021; Halpern et al, 2011; Jewell et al, 2021; Kerai et al, 2017; Lala et al, 2016; McPherson et al, 2003; Mikkola et al, 2019; Mong & Noguchi, 2021; Taylor et al, 2004). Carver (1997) developed the Brief COPE scale to measure 14 subscales of coping, but authors varied in their use of the subscales during analysis methods.…”

“…Carver (1997) developed the Brief COPE scale to measure 14 subscales of coping, but authors varied in their use of the subscales during analysis methods. While some studies analyzed coping strategies using 14 subscales (Dehon et al, 2021; Halpern et al, 2011; Lala et al, 2016; Mong & Noguchi, 2021), others analyzed coping strategies using a two‐factor (Jewell et al, 2021), three‐factor (Kerai et al, 2017; Fonseca et al, 2021) or other multi‐factor approach (McPherson et al, 2003; Mikkola et al, 2019; Taylor et al, 2004). The remaining studies utilized a different validated scale for coping and only one study used an author‐developed measure (Soravia et al, 2021).…”

Conquering fear during a Neurosurgical Emergency

“…6 Problem-focussed coping and social support were identified as mechanisms to control work-related fear. 7 Another recognised mechanism of fear regulation is reframing an event into less emotional terms. 8 James Doty describes a case of life-threatening haemorrhage during the resection of Medulloblastoma in a 4-year-old boy.…”