The Illness Experiences and Psychosocial Support Needs of Healthcare Workers During the Pandemic: The Importance of Social Work Intervention

Öz

Pandemics are multidimensional crises that profoundly affect healthcare systems and professionalscworldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic has created significant disruptions in the lives of healthcare workers, not only through its medical consequences but also through its economic, social, and psychological impacts. This study employs a phenomenological approach to examine the illness experiences of healthcare personnel working at Ankara Bilkent City Hospital who tested positive for COVID-19. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 participants aged 27–55 from various healthcare professions, and the data were analyzed using MAXQDA Analytics Pro 2020. Participants’ experiences were categorized under four main themes: emotional reactions upon receiving their test results, challenges during the illness process, post-illness effects, and overall evaluation of the experience. The findings indicate that healthcare workers experienced substantial stress due to heavy workloads, the risk of infection, and fear of transmitting the virus to their families. The study concludes that the pandemic’s psychological effects may persist in the long term and emphasizes the need for psychosocial, workplace, and economic support for healthcare workers. The critical role of the social work profession in addressing these challenges is underscored.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Pandemic
• healthcare workers
• medical social work
• psychosocial intervention

Pandemi Sürecinde Sağlık Çalışanlarının Hastalık Deneyimleri ve Psikososyal Destek İhtiyaçları: Sosyal Hizmet Müdahalesinin Önemi

Öz

Pandemiler, küresel ölçekte sağlık sistemlerini ve sağlık çalışanlarını derinden etkileyen çok boyutlu krizlerdir. COVID-19 pandemisi, yalnızca tıbbi sonuçlarıyla değil, aynı zamanda ekonomik, sosyal ve psikolojik etkileriyle de sağlık çalışanlarının yaşamlarında önemli kırılmalara yol açmıştır. Bu çalışma, Ankara Bilkent Şehir Hastanesi’nde görev yapan ve COVID-19 PCR testi pozitif çıkan sağlık çalışanlarının hastalık sürecine ilişkin deneyimlerini fenomenolojik bir yaklaşımla incelemektedir. Yarı yapılandırılmış görüşmeler yoluyla 27–55 yaş aralığında farklı meslek gruplarından 15 katılımcıdan elde edilen veriler MAXQDA Analytics Pro 2020 programı ile analiz edilmiştir. Katılımcı deneyimleri dört ana tema altında değerlendirilmiştir: test sonucunu öğrenme anındaki duygular, hastalık sürecinde yaşanan güçlükler, hastalık sonrası etkiler ve genel süreç değerlendirmesi. Bulgular, sağlık çalışanlarının ağır iş yükü, enfeksiyon riski ve aile üyelerini bulaştırma korkusu nedeniyle yoğun stres yaşadığını ortaya koymaktadır. Sonuç olarak, pandeminin ruh sağlığı üzerindeki olumsuz etkilerinin uzun vadede devam edebileceği; sağlık çalışanlarının psikososyal desteğe, iyileştirilmiş çalışma koşullarına ve ekonomik desteklere ihtiyaç duyduğu belirlenmiştir. Çalışma, bu süreçte sosyal hizmet mesleğinin kritik rolüne dikkat çekmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Pandemi
• sağlık çalışanları
• tıbbi sosyal hizmet
• psikososyal müdahale

Kaynakça

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