The experiences of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 crisis in Lagos, Nigeria: A qualitative study

Abstract

Introduction The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has overwhelmed health systems globally. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are faced with numerous challenges during the COVID-19 response. In this study, we aimed to describe the experiences of HCWs during the COVID-19 outbreak in Lagos, Nigeria.Methods We conducted a qualitative study on the experiences of frontline HCWs at the COVID-19 isolation centers in Lagos, Nigeria using purposive and snowballing sampling techniques. An in-depth interview which lasted for 25-40 minutes for each respondent was conducted among ten medical officers and four nurses between 15 th June and 13 th July 2020. We analyzed data using Colaizzi's phenomenological method.Results Respondents' age ranged between 29 and 51 years with a median age of 36.5 years. Four themes were identified from data analysis. In the first theme, "COVID-19 care: A call to responsibility", HCWs expressed optimism regarding COVID-19 care, and described the work conditions at COVID-19 isolation centers. In the second theme, "Challenges encountered while caring for COVID-19 patientscoping strategies", HCWs experienced difficulties working in a new environment and with limited resources. They however coped through the available support systems. Regarding the "Experiences in COVID-19 care", the feelings of HCWs varied from pleasure on patients' recovery to distress following patients' demise. On the "Necessities in COVID-19 care", HCWs identified the need for increased psychosocial support, and adequate provision of material and financial support.Conclusions HCWs at COVID-19 isolation centers need to be assured of a safe working environment while providing them with a strengthened support system.

Psychosocial experiences of frontline nurses working in hospital-based settings during the COVID-19 pandemic - A qualitative systematic review

“…Twenty-eight study characteristics were included in Table 4 . The studies were conducted in China ( Fan et al, 2020 , Gao et al, 2020 , Hou et al, 2020 , Jia et al, 2021 , Liu et al, 2020 , Liu et al, 2020 , Sheng et al, 2020 , Sun et al, 2020 , Tan et al, 2020 , Zhang et al, 2020 ), Iran ( Eftekhar et al, 2020 , Galehdar et al, 2020 , Kalateh et al, 2020 , Galehdar et al, 2020 ), Turkey ( Kackin et al, 2020 , Deliktas et al, 2021 , Muz and Erdoğan, 2021 , Coşkun and Günay, 2021 ), UK ( Bennett et al, 2020 , Vindrola-Padros et al, 2020 ), USA ( Arnetz et al, 2020 ), Brazil ( Góes et al, 2020 ), Pakistan ( Sethi et al, 2020 ), Spain ( Fernández-Castillo et al, 2021 ), Japan ( Ohta et al, 2020 ), South Korea ( Lee and Lee, 2020 ), Singapore ( Goh et al, 2020 ), and Nigeria ( Okediran et al, 2020 ). The setting for 25 of the included studies were hospitals, two were in COVID-19 designated wards, and one study was in a COVID-19 isolation center.…”

“…Theoretical methodologies adopted by the studies were phenomenology ( Gao et al, 2020 , Hou et al, 2020 , Kackin et al, 2020 , Liu et al, 2020 , Sheng et al, 2020 , Sun et al, 2020 , Tan et al, 2020 , Muz and Erdoğan, 2021 , Lee and Lee, 2020 ), and grounded theory ( Deliktas et al, 2021 ). Data collection methods included interviews ( Eftekhar et al, 2020 , Fan et al, 2020 , Galehdar et al, 2020 , Gao et al, 2020 , Hou et al, 2020 , Jia et al, 2021 , Kackin et al, 2020 , Kalateh et al, 2020 , Liu et al, 2020 , Liu et al, 2020 , Sheng et al, 2020 , Sun et al, 2020 , Tan et al, 2020 , Zhang et al, 2020 , Deliktas et al, 2021 , Muz and Erdoğan, 2021 , Galehdar et al, 2020 , Fernández-Castillo et al, 2021 , Ohta et al, 2020 , Lee and Lee, 2020 , Goh et al, 2020 , Vindrola-Padros et al, 2020 , Okediran et al, 2020 ), surveys or questionnaires ( Arnetz et al, 2020 , Góes et al, 2020 , Coşkun and Günay, 2021 , Sethi et al, 2020 ), and digital audio recording ( Bennett et al, 2020 ). Seven of 23 study interviews were conducted via voice or video ( Eftekhar et al, 2020 , Galehdar et al, 2020 , Liu et al, 2020 , Tan et al, 2020 , Deliktas et al, 2021 , Galehdar et al, 2020 , Vindrola-Padros et al, 2020 ), and the others were face-to-face interviews ( Fan et al, 2020 , Gao et al, 2020 , Hou et al, 2020 - ( Kalateh et al, 2020 , Liu et al, 2020...…”

“…Data collection methods included interviews ( Eftekhar et al, 2020 , Fan et al, 2020 , Galehdar et al, 2020 , Gao et al, 2020 , Hou et al, 2020 , Jia et al, 2021 , Kackin et al, 2020 , Kalateh et al, 2020 , Liu et al, 2020 , Liu et al, 2020 , Sheng et al, 2020 , Sun et al, 2020 , Tan et al, 2020 , Zhang et al, 2020 , Deliktas et al, 2021 , Muz and Erdoğan, 2021 , Galehdar et al, 2020 , Fernández-Castillo et al, 2021 , Ohta et al, 2020 , Lee and Lee, 2020 , Goh et al, 2020 , Vindrola-Padros et al, 2020 , Okediran et al, 2020 ), surveys or questionnaires ( Arnetz et al, 2020 , Góes et al, 2020 , Coşkun and Günay, 2021 , Sethi et al, 2020 ), and digital audio recording ( Bennett et al, 2020 ). Seven of 23 study interviews were conducted via voice or video ( Eftekhar et al, 2020 , Galehdar et al, 2020 , Liu et al, 2020 , Tan et al, 2020 , Deliktas et al, 2021 , Galehdar et al, 2020 , Vindrola-Padros et al, 2020 ), and the others were face-to-face interviews ( Fan et al, 2020 , Gao et al, 2020 , Hou et al, 2020 - ( Kalateh et al, 2020 , Liu et al, 2020 , Sheng et al, 2020 , Sun et al, 2020 , Zhang et al, 2020 , Muz and Erdoğan, 2021 , Fernández-Castillo et al, 2021 , Ohta et al, 2020 , Lee and Lee, 2020 , Goh et al, 2020 , Okediran et al, 2020 ). Nine different analytical methods were utilised: content analysis ( Arnetz et al, 2020 …”

“…The additional studies from the citation pearl search were included through the joint decisions of all the authors. Finally, 28 studies that met the inclusion criteria were assessed for quality and included for synthesis ( Arnetz et al, 2020 , Eftekhar et al, 2020 , Fan et al, 2020 , Galehdar et al, 2020 , Gao et al, 2020 , Góes et al, 2020 , Hou et al, 2020 , Jia et al, 2021 , Kackin et al, 2020 , Kalateh et al, 2020 , Liu et al, 2020 , Liu et al, 2020 , Sheng et al, 2020 , Sun et al, 2020 , Tan et al, 2020 , Zhang et al, 2020 , Deliktas et al, 2021 , Muz and Erdoğan, 2021 , Coşkun and Günay, 2021 , Galehdar et al, 2020 , Sethi et al, 2020 , Fernández-Castillo et al, 2021 , Ohta et al, 2020 , Lee and Lee, 2020 , Goh et al, 2020 , Bennett et al, 2020 , Vindrola-Padros et al, 2020 , Okediran et al, 2020 ). The study selection process is presented in a PRISMA flow diagram ( Figure 1 ).…”

“… • Positive aspects included solidarity between colleagues, the establishment of well-being support structures and feeling valued by society. Okediran et al ( Okediran et al, 2020 ) 2020 Nigeria Isolation centers To explore and describe the experiences of health-care workers (HCWs) who were involved in the COVID-19 response at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria. Qualitative study • Purposive and snowballing techniques • Nurses: N = 4 • 4 females, 0 males • Age range: 29-51 • Mean age: NR • Work experience range: 6-30 • Mean work experience: NR Face-to-face in-depth interviews Colaizzi's phenomenological method • The optimism regarding COVID-19 care.…”