Exploring coping strategies of emergency medical technicians against COVID-19 stress: a qualitative study.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has been shown to cause enormous psychological burden among health care workers, including first responders. However, the psychological well-being of first responders, essential in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, has often been ignored. This qualitative study aimed to explore the coping strategies used by EMTs to manage stress during the pandemic. Methods: The research was designed as a qualitative study, utilizing a thematic analysis framework. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 EMTs from a single geographic area between September 2022 and December 2022. The data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke analytic techniques, and this study used Lincoln and Guba's to assess the reliability of the data. Results: Four main coping strategies emerged from the data: seeking social support, practicing self-care, utilizing coping mechanisms, and finding meaning and purpose in work. EMTs sought support from both professional and personal sources, engaged in physical and emotional self-care, used humor and distraction as coping mechanisms, and found meaning and purpose in helping others and growing as professionals. Conclusion: Based on the extracted results from the study on EMTs in Iran, it can be concluded that the importance of social support cannot be overstated, as it serves as a crucial buffer against the negative effects of stress and trauma. The findings suggest that addressing the social and emotional needs of EMTs is important for promoting their mental health and well-being during the pandemic.

Exploring the challenges of Iranian government hospitals related to Covid-19 pandemic management: a qualitative content analysis research from the nurses perspective.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic poses a major threat to global public health. As a result, to prepare healthcare systems for this unprecedented threat, a coordinated worldwide response is required. This study aimed to explore the hospitals challenges related to covid-19 pandemic management from the iranian nurses perspective. METHODS: This study was conducted as a qualitative content analysis in Iran. Using the purposive sampling method, data were collected through in-depth individual interviews with 35 nurse personnel. Graneheim and Lundman's conventional content analysis methods were used to analyze the data and for the trustworthiness of the data, this study used Lincoln and Guba's recommendations. RESULTS: After multiple rounds of analyzing and summarizing the data and taking into consideration similarities and differences, 5 main categories and 14 subcategories created based on the results of data analysis and including1) Leadership and management 2) Service delivery management 3) Human resources management 4) Equipment and Supplies Management and 5) Economic resources management. CONCLUSION: Identifying the most important challenges of nursing can play an important role in improving the management of COVID-19pandemic. The analysis of the challenges by managers at local, provincial and national levels can lead to the presentation of effective solutions to address these challenges and improve the pandemic management process in the country.

A qualitative content analysis for determining indexes and factors affecting for evaluation of disaster exercises immediate feedback stage.

BACKGROUND: Taking exercise in health sector is one of the important steps to implement the disaster risk management programs, especially preparedness phase. The present study aimed to identify indexes and factors affecting successful evaluation of disasters preparedness exercises in hot wash stage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a qualitative content analysis. Data were collected by purposeful sampling through in-depth and semi-structured individual interviews with 25 health professionals in the field of disasters. The data were analyzed using directed content analysis method by which the initial codes were extracted after transcribing the recorded interviews and immersing them in the data analysis. The initial codes were reviewed, classified, and subdivided into several stages to determine the main classes. RESULTS: The data analysis resulted in the production of 24 initial codes, 5 subcategories, 2 main categories of "evaluation and exercise debriefing" and "modification of programs and promotion of exercise operational functions" under the original theme of "exercise immediate feedback." CONCLUSION: This study can be considered a suitable standard guide for health care organizations to evaluate successfully disasters exercises in hot wash stage, maintain and promote their preparedness, and properly respond to disasters.

Investigating the burden of disease dimensions (time-dependent, developmental, physical, social and emotional) among family caregivers with COVID-19 patients in Iran.

BACKGROUND: The caregivers of patients with covid-19 face constant responsibilities such as providing personal, health, and social care to family, which can be physically, and emotionally exhausting resulting in a considerable stress burden. Therefore, given the importance of the subject, this study aimed to investigate the burden of disease dimensions (time-dependent, developmental, physical, social and emotional) among family caregivers with covid-19 patients in Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted one year after the onset of the Covid-19 outbreak in Iran. Family caregivers of Covid-19 patients discharged from the hospitals in Kerman city, Iran, were chosen by simple randomization (n = 1500). Data were collected utilizing a demographic characteristics inventory created by the researcher as well as the Novak and Guest Caregiver Burden Inventory. Descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviations, frequency, and percentages and analytical statistics such as Kolmogorov-Smirnov, T-test, ANOVA, and Multivariate Linear Regression were used for data analysis using the 20, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL Software at the level of P < 0.05. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that the mean score of family caregiver burden was 2.61±0.6 and the severity of this burden was in a moderate range. The finding showed a statistical difference was seen between the family caregiver burden mean score of participants in terms of gender, duration of treatment, age and employed status. The multivariable linear regression model showed demographic variables of caregivers included (female, married, employed, elderly, low income and poor education) had a beneficial influence on family caregiver burden. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study can increase the awareness of health managers, about the level of burden of disease among family caregivers from the covid-19 patients and can help to provide economic, social and psychological support programs for improvement and reducing the burden of disease of caregivers during the covid-19 outbreaks.

Emotional Intelligence and Self-Efficacy among deputy's administrative staff of Kerman University of Medical Sciences.

INTRODUCTION: Emotional intelligence (EI) and self-efficacy are important factors that lead to success in work, life, and education. Various studies assessed the relationship between EI and well-being, performance, and self-efficacy in educational levels, but this topic has been rarely assessed in the occupational and administrative environments. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between EI and self-efficacy among administrative staffs of Kerman University of Medical Sciences. METHODS: The study employed a descriptive-correlational design and was conducted in six deputies supervised by the Kerman University of Medical Sciences in 2019, and 275 participants were selected using a census method. The research data were collected using the Goleman's EI framework with a reliability coefficient of α = 0.87 and Sherer General Self-Efficacy Scale with a reliability coefficient of α = 0.78. Data analysis was performed through Kolmogorov-Smirnov, analysis of variance, Tukey, and Pearson's correlation coefficient techniques at P < 0.05 significance level. RESULTS: The mean score of EI was 98.8 ± 11.1 and the mean score of self-efficacy was 60 ± 7.17. There was a significant positive relationship between the scores of EI and self-efficacy. In addition, the findings indicated a positive significant correlation between self-efficacy with self-awareness, self-regulation, and social skills. CONCLUSION: The findings of the current study confirm that EI has positive relationships with administrative personnel's self-efficacy. Therefore, implications of the findings can help in the selection, training, counseling, and retention of administrative personnel to the improvement of medical sciences universities' occupational performance.

The effect of educational workshop on emergency department nurses' self-efficacy in patient training.

OBJECTIVE: Self-efficacy is an individual's self-perception of one's ability to perform competently and to achieve a task or goal effectively. In the nursing field, self-efficacy can be useful in predicting performance, job satisfaction, or well-being. Therefore, due to the importance of this issue, this study aimed to determine the effect of educational workshop on nurses' self-efficacy along with follow-up in patient training. METHODS: The study employed a single group quasi-experimental study with a pretest/posttest design and was conducted in one educational hospital supervised by the Kerman University of Medical Sciences in 2016. Nurses' self-efficacy was analyzed through a researcher-made questionnaire prior and after the workshop and along with the follow-up period (n = 20). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics including mean and standard deviation and analytic statistics such as Pearson correlation coefficient, independent t-test, paired t-test, and ANOVA with P ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: This study showed that 1 month after educational workshop, the score of self-efficacy dimensions increased (P < 0.05). Furthermore, results showed that after a 3-month follow-up period, self-efficacy score increased in comparison to preintervention self-efficacy score. Results showed that the total score means of self-efficacy before the workshop was 59.01 ± 14.91 while postworkshop, self-efficacy score means was 79.83 ± 11.90. CONCLUSION: The present research results presented that educational workshop may enhance self-efficacy among nurses. According to the obtained results, it is recommended that the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Training, in cooperation with nursing institutions responsible for nursing and medical in-service education adopt necessary measures to enhance self-efficacy among employees in addition to improving patient training condition at medical processes through similar workshops or conducting related studies.