The Forgotten (Invisible) Healthcare Heroes: Experiences of Canadian Medical Laboratory Employees Working During the Pandemic
ObjectiveThe purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the stressors and coping strategies of medical laboratory technologists (MLTs) and assistants (MLAs) working during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada.MethodsIn this descriptive qualitative study, we held two focus groups with ML...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.854507/full |
| _version_ | 1818992244334526464 |
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| author | Basem Gohar Basem Gohar Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia |
| author_facet | Basem Gohar Basem Gohar Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia |
| author_sort | Basem Gohar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ObjectiveThe purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the stressors and coping strategies of medical laboratory technologists (MLTs) and assistants (MLAs) working during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada.MethodsIn this descriptive qualitative study, we held two focus groups with MLTs and MLA who were working during the COVID-19 pandemic. The focus group sessions were transcribed verbatim followed by thematic analysis to develop codes and themes.FindingsA total of 13 participants across Ontario were involved in our study, which included one MLT (n = 7) group and one MLA (n = 6) MLA. Overall, the stressors and coping methods identified between both focus groups were consistent. Our results revealed four main themes: (1) COVID-19 contributing to the notable and existing staff shortage; (2) the pandemic reinforced that medical laboratory employees are forgotten within the healthcare system; (3) a poor work environment exacerbated by the pandemic; and (4) a resilient and passionate group. Rich descriptions explained the underlying issues related to the themes.ConclusionsMLTs and MLAs are critical members of the healthcare team and provide vital patient care services. This study explored their experiences working during the pandemic and offers timely recommendations to mitigate against occupational stressors. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T20:23:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d501103cb7a44e04a613553fa3db7540 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-0640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T20:23:05Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-d501103cb7a44e04a613553fa3db75402022-12-21T19:27:32ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402022-03-011310.3389/fpsyt.2022.854507854507The Forgotten (Invisible) Healthcare Heroes: Experiences of Canadian Medical Laboratory Employees Working During the PandemicBasem Gohar0Basem Gohar1Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia2Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia3Department of Population Medicine, The University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, CanadaCentre for Research in Occupational Safety & Health, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, CanadaCentre for Research in Occupational Safety & Health, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, CanadaDepartment of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, CanadaObjectiveThe purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the stressors and coping strategies of medical laboratory technologists (MLTs) and assistants (MLAs) working during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada.MethodsIn this descriptive qualitative study, we held two focus groups with MLTs and MLA who were working during the COVID-19 pandemic. The focus group sessions were transcribed verbatim followed by thematic analysis to develop codes and themes.FindingsA total of 13 participants across Ontario were involved in our study, which included one MLT (n = 7) group and one MLA (n = 6) MLA. Overall, the stressors and coping methods identified between both focus groups were consistent. Our results revealed four main themes: (1) COVID-19 contributing to the notable and existing staff shortage; (2) the pandemic reinforced that medical laboratory employees are forgotten within the healthcare system; (3) a poor work environment exacerbated by the pandemic; and (4) a resilient and passionate group. Rich descriptions explained the underlying issues related to the themes.ConclusionsMLTs and MLAs are critical members of the healthcare team and provide vital patient care services. This study explored their experiences working during the pandemic and offers timely recommendations to mitigate against occupational stressors.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.854507/fullmedical laboratory professionalsCOVID-19mental healthOntarioCanadaqualitative |
| spellingShingle | Basem Gohar Basem Gohar Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia The Forgotten (Invisible) Healthcare Heroes: Experiences of Canadian Medical Laboratory Employees Working During the Pandemic Frontiers in Psychiatry medical laboratory professionals COVID-19 mental health Ontario Canada qualitative |
| title | The Forgotten (Invisible) Healthcare Heroes: Experiences of Canadian Medical Laboratory Employees Working During the Pandemic |
| title_full | The Forgotten (Invisible) Healthcare Heroes: Experiences of Canadian Medical Laboratory Employees Working During the Pandemic |
| title_fullStr | The Forgotten (Invisible) Healthcare Heroes: Experiences of Canadian Medical Laboratory Employees Working During the Pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Forgotten (Invisible) Healthcare Heroes: Experiences of Canadian Medical Laboratory Employees Working During the Pandemic |
| title_short | The Forgotten (Invisible) Healthcare Heroes: Experiences of Canadian Medical Laboratory Employees Working During the Pandemic |
| title_sort | forgotten invisible healthcare heroes experiences of canadian medical laboratory employees working during the pandemic |
| topic | medical laboratory professionals COVID-19 mental health Ontario Canada qualitative |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.854507/full |
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