The experiences of cooperation among healthcare workers who participated in COVID‐19 aid mission in China: A qualitative study. Issue 17 (30th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Anni; Liu, Lei; Zhu, Jianguo; Chen, Xue; Tang, Siyuan; Bai, Xiaoling
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical nursing. Volume 30:Issue 17/18(2021)
• Page Start: 2696
• Page End: 2707
• Publication Date: 2021-06-30
• Subjects: cooperation -- COVID‐19 -- experience -- healthcare workers -- qualitative research; Nursing -- Periodicals; Clinical medicine -- Periodicals; 610.7305
• DOI: 10.1111/jocn.15774
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0962-1067

Abstract

Abstract: Aims and objectives: To assist future offsite planning for pandemics, we documented lived experiences of cooperation among healthcare workers (HCWs) during the coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) pandemic. Background: The COVID‐19 pandemic poses a global health crisis. Most recent studies on the COVID‐19 focus on frontline HCWs' physio‐psychological experiences, with few studies examining their experiences of cooperation. Design: A descriptive phenomenological design reported based on COREQ checklist. Methods: 25 HCWs (17 nurses and eight physicians) were interviewed, selected through convenience and purposive sampling, who participated in a medical aid mission in China during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Data were collected via semi‐structured online video interviews, and the transcripts were analysed using Colaizzi's phenomenological method. Results: The HCWs experienced stressed and anxious, but rated their overall cooperation experience as positive. We categorised the reported experiences in five themes: (1) a multi‐level management structure; (2) nurse managers as internal and external team coordinators; (3) high morale and a mutual supportive context; (4) a continuous streamlined workflow; and (5) the value of multidisciplinary collaboration in care. Reasonable management structure and division of work were the basis for successful aid mission. High morale and a mutual supportive context were foundational for growth and stress mitigation. The HCWs continuously streamlined workflow through communication and met patients' individual need through multidisciplinary collaboration. Conclusions: Planning for a pandemic aid mission is challenging, given the unpredictable nature of the working circumstances. Our results underline the importance of supportive strategies for COVID‐19 aid mission. Relevance to clinical practice: Recommendations for future pandemic planning: (1) positive morale and supportive working text should be paid prioritised attention; (2) sufficient experienced and ancillary staff should be recruited; (3) multiple communication channels such as regular handover meetings, online chat applications and electronic recording devices are essential, and (4) multidisciplinary cooperation are is necessary in COVID‐19 wards.