scholarly journals Designing Workplace Stress Management Mobile Apps for Frontline Health Workers during COVID-19 and Beyond: A Qualitative Study (Preprint)

10.2196/30640 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beenish Chaudhry
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Stress Management ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Workplace Stress ◽  
Frontline Health Workers

scholarly journals Toward Designs of Workplace Stress Management Mobile Apps for Frontline Health Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond: Design Implications for a Mixed Methods Qualitative Study (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beenish Moalla Chaudhry ◽  
Ashraful Islam ◽  
Monica Matthieu
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
Stress Management ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Workplace Stressors ◽  
Frontline Health Workers ◽  
Google Search ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND In recent years, mobile apps have been developed to prevent burnout, promote anxiety management, and provide health education to workers in various workplace settings. However, there remains a paucity of such apps for frontline health workers (FHWs), even though FHWs are the most susceptible to stress due to the nature of their jobs. OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to provide suggestions for designing stress management apps to address workplace stressors of FHWs based on the understanding of their needs from FHWs’ own perspectives and theories of stress. METHODS A mixed methods qualitative study was conducted. Using a variety of search strings, we first collected 41 relevant web-based news articles published between December 2019 and May 2020 through the Google search engine. We then conducted a cross-sectional survey with 20 FHWs. Two researchers independently conducted qualitative analysis of all the collected data using a deductive followed by an inductive approach. RESULTS Prevailing uncertainty and fear of contracting the infection was causing stress among FHWs. Moral injury associated with seeing patients die from lack of care and lack of experience in handling various circumstances were other sources of stress. FHWs mentioned 4 coping strategies. Quick coping strategies such as walking away from stressful situations, entertainment, and exercise were the most common ways to mitigate the impact of stress at work. Peer support and counseling services were other popular methods. Building resilience and driving oneself forward using internal motivation were also meaningful ways of overcoming stressful situations. Time constraints and limited management support prevented FHWs from engaging in stress management activities. CONCLUSIONS Our study identified stressors, coping strategies, and challenges with applying coping strategies that can guide the design of stress management apps for FHWs. Given that the pandemic is ongoing and health care crises continue, FHWs remain a vulnerable population in need of attention.

scholarly journals Health workers’ perspectives of a mobile health tool to improve diagnosis and management of paediatric acute respiratory illnesses in Uganda: a qualitative study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. e049708
Author(s):  
Laura Elizabeth Ellington ◽  
Irene Najjingo ◽  
Margaret Rosenfeld ◽  
James W Stout ◽  
Stephanie A Farquhar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Mobile Health ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Respiratory Illnesses ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Frontline Health Workers ◽  
Primary Care Health ◽  
Care Health

ObjectivesMobile health tools have potential to improve the diagnosis and management of acute lower respiratory illnesses (ALRI), a leading cause of paediatric mortality worldwide. The objectives were to evaluate health workers’ perceptions of acceptability, usability and feasibility of Acute Lower Respiratory Illness Treatment and Evaluation (ALRITE), a novel mobile health tool to help frontline health workers diagnose, treat and provide education about ALRI in children <5 years.DesignA qualitative study including semistructured interviews with health facility administrators and focus groups with primary care health workers.SettingTwo federally funded Ugandan primary care health facilities, one peri-urban and one rural.ParticipantsWe enrolled 3 health administrators and 28 health workers (clinical officers and nurses).InterventionThe ALRITE smartphone application was developed to help frontline health workers adhere to ALRI guidelines and differentiate wheezing illnesses from pneumonia in children under 5 years of age. ALRITE contains a simple decision tree, a partially automated respiratory rate counter, educational videos and an adapted respiratory assessment score to determine bronchodilator responsiveness. We performed a demonstration of ALRITE for participants at the beginning of interviews and focus groups. No participant had used ALRITE prior.ResultsThemes impacting the potential implementation of ALRITE were organised using individual-level, clinic-level and health-system level determinants. Individual-level determinants were acceptability and perceived benefit, usability, provider needs and provider–patient relationship. Clinic-level determinants were limited resources and integration within the health centre. Systems-level determinants included medication shortages and stakeholder engagement.ConclusionsIncorporation of these themes will ready ALRITE for field testing. Early engagement of end users provides insights critical to the development of tailored mHealth decision support tools.

scholarly journals Qualitative Assessment of the Feasibility, Usability, and Acceptability of a Mobile Client Data App for Community-Based Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Care in Rural Ghana

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica D. Rothstein ◽  
Larissa Jennings ◽  
Anitha Moorthy ◽  
Fan Yang ◽  
Lisa Gee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Workers ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Qualitative Assessment ◽  
District Health ◽  
Mobile Client ◽  
Rural Ghana ◽  
Frontline Health Workers ◽  
Client Data

Mobile phone applications may enhance the delivery of critical health services and the accuracy of health service data. Yet, the opinions and experiences of frontline health workers on using mobile apps to track pregnant and recently delivered women are underreported. This evaluation qualitatively assessed the feasibility, usability, and acceptability of a mobile Client Data App for maternal, neonatal, and child client data management by community health nurses (CHNs) in rural Ghana. The mobile app enabled CHNs to enter, summarize, and query client data. It also sent visit reminders for clients and provided a mechanism to report level of care to district officers. Fourteen interviews and two focus groups with CHNs, midwives, and district health officers were conducted, coded, and thematically analyzed. Results indicated that the app was easily integrated into care, improved CHN productivity, and was acceptable due to its capacity to facilitate client follow-up, data reporting, and decision-making. However, the feasibility and usability of the app were hindered by high client volumes, staff shortages, and software and device challenges. Successful integration of mobile client data apps for frontline health workers in rural and resource-poor settings requires real-time monitoring, program investments, and targeted changes in human resources.

scholarly journals Exploring the knowledge, attitudes, practices and lived experiences of frontline health workers in the times of COVID-19 : a qualitative study from Bangladesh

BMJ Open ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. e051893
Author(s):  
Samiun Nazrin Bente Kamal Tune ◽  
Bushra Zarin Islam ◽  
Mir Raihanul Islam ◽  
Zarin Tasnim ◽  
Syed Masud Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Lived Experiences ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Emotional Health ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Common Source ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Community Healthcare ◽  
Frontline Health Workers

ObjectiveThis study explored Frontline Health Workers’ (FLWs) knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) on COVID-19 and their lived experiences, in both their personal and work lives, at the early stage of the pandemic in Bangladesh.Design, setting and participantsThis was a qualitative study conducted through telephone interviews in May 2020. A total of 41 FLWs including physicians, nurses, paramedics, community healthcare workers and hospital support staff from 34 public and private facilities of both urban and rural parts of Bangladesh participated in the interview. A purposive sampling technique supplemented by a snowball sampling method was followed to select the participants. The in-depth interviews followed a semi-structured interview guide, and we applied the thematic analysis method for the qualitative data analysis.FindingsExcept physicians, the FLWs did not receive any institutional training on COVID-19, including its prevention and management, in most instances. Also, they had no training in the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Their common source of knowledge was the different websites or social media platforms. The FLWs were at risk while delivering services because patients were found to hide histories and not maintaining safety rules, including physical distancing. Moreover, inadequate supply of PPE, fear of getting infected, risk to family members and ostracisation by the neighbours were mentioned to be quite common by them. This situation eventually led to the development of mental stress and anxiety; however, they tried to cope up with this dire situation and attend to the call of humanity.ConclusionThe uncertain work environment during the COVID-19 pandemic simultaneously affected FLWs’ physical and emotional health in Bangladesh. However, they showed professional devotion in overcoming such obstacles and continued to deliver essential services. This could be further facilitated by a quick and targeted training package on COVID-19, and the provision of supplies for delivering services with appropriate safety precautions.

Telepsychiatry for the Rohingya refugees (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanjir Rashid Soron
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Service ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
The Social ◽  
Health Need

UNSTRUCTURED Though health and shelter are two basic human rights, millions of refugees around the world are deprived of these basic needs. Moreover, the mental health need is one of least priority issues for the refugees. Bangladesh a developing country in the Southeast Asia where the health system is fragile and the sudden influx of thousands of Rohingya put the system in a more critical situation. It is beyond the capacity of the country to provide the minimum mental health care using existing resource. However, the refuges need immediate and extensive mental health care as the trauma, torture and being uprooted from homeland makes them vulnerable for various mental. Telepsychiatry (using technology for mental health service) opened a new window to provide mental health service for them. Mobile phone opened several options to reach to the refugees, screen them with mobile apps, connect them with self-help apps and system, track their symptoms, provide distance intervention and train the frontline health workers about the primary psychological supports. The social networking sites give the opportunity to connect the refugees with experts, create peer support group and provide interventions. Bangladesh can explore and can use the telepsychiatry to provide mental health service to the rohingya people.

scholarly journals The perception of training and professional development according to nursing students as health workers during COVID-19: A qualitative study

2021 ◽  
pp. 103072
Author(s):  
Olga Canet-Vélez ◽  
Teresa Botigué ◽  
Ana Lavedán Santamaría ◽  
Olga Masot ◽  
Tània Cemeli Sánchez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Nursing Students ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Health Workers
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