Frontline Healthcare Professionals’ Views Regarding the Impact of COVID-19 on Ethical Decision-Making: A Multicentre Mixed-Methods Study from Estonia
Background: The objective of the study was to investigate frontline healthcare professionals’ experiences and attitudes in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic’s ethical and psychosocial aspects in Estonia. There were two research foci: first, ethical decision-making related to treating patients in the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Healthcare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/4/711 |
| _version_ | 1797434623746113536 |
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| author | Kadri Simm Jay Zameska Kadi Lubi |
| author_facet | Kadri Simm Jay Zameska Kadi Lubi |
| author_sort | Kadri Simm |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The objective of the study was to investigate frontline healthcare professionals’ experiences and attitudes in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic’s ethical and psychosocial aspects in Estonia. There were two research foci: first, ethical decision-making related to treating patients in the context of potential medical resource scarcity, and second, other psychosocial factors for healthcare professionals pertaining to coping, role conflicts, and the availability of institutional support. Methods: An online survey was conducted in the fall of 2020 amongst the frontline healthcare professionals working in the three most impacted hospitals; respondents were also drawn from two ambulance services. The focus of the survey was on the first wave of COVID-19 (spring 2020). A total of 215 respondents completed the quantitative survey and qualitative data were gathered from open comments. Results: Over half of the surveyed healthcare professionals in Estonia expressed confidence in their roles during the pandemic. More than half cited the complex ethical aspects related to their decisions as their main source of doubt and uncertainty. In response to this uncertainty, Estonian healthcare professionals drew on their previous training and experience, the policies and guidelines of their institution, and support from their colleagues, to aid their decision-making during the pandemic. Conclusions: Although frontline healthcare professionals faced difficult decisions during the first wave of the pandemic, overall, most agreed that experiencing the pandemic reconfirmed that their work mattered greatly. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:35:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e2e711d1e4b349c9ade080f5894ff3a9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:35:37Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-e2e711d1e4b349c9ade080f5894ff3a92023-12-01T20:59:24ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322022-04-0110471110.3390/healthcare10040711Frontline Healthcare Professionals’ Views Regarding the Impact of COVID-19 on Ethical Decision-Making: A Multicentre Mixed-Methods Study from EstoniaKadri Simm0Jay Zameska1Kadi Lubi2Department of Philosophy, Institute of Philosophy and Semiotics, University of Tartu, 50090 Tartu, EstoniaTallinn Healthcare College, Tallinn University of Technology, 19086 Tallinn, EstoniaTallinn Healthcare College, Tallinn University of Technology, 19086 Tallinn, EstoniaBackground: The objective of the study was to investigate frontline healthcare professionals’ experiences and attitudes in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic’s ethical and psychosocial aspects in Estonia. There were two research foci: first, ethical decision-making related to treating patients in the context of potential medical resource scarcity, and second, other psychosocial factors for healthcare professionals pertaining to coping, role conflicts, and the availability of institutional support. Methods: An online survey was conducted in the fall of 2020 amongst the frontline healthcare professionals working in the three most impacted hospitals; respondents were also drawn from two ambulance services. The focus of the survey was on the first wave of COVID-19 (spring 2020). A total of 215 respondents completed the quantitative survey and qualitative data were gathered from open comments. Results: Over half of the surveyed healthcare professionals in Estonia expressed confidence in their roles during the pandemic. More than half cited the complex ethical aspects related to their decisions as their main source of doubt and uncertainty. In response to this uncertainty, Estonian healthcare professionals drew on their previous training and experience, the policies and guidelines of their institution, and support from their colleagues, to aid their decision-making during the pandemic. Conclusions: Although frontline healthcare professionals faced difficult decisions during the first wave of the pandemic, overall, most agreed that experiencing the pandemic reconfirmed that their work mattered greatly.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/4/711COVID-19ethical decision-makingtriagefrontline healthcare workersmental healthEstonia |
| spellingShingle | Kadri Simm Jay Zameska Kadi Lubi Frontline Healthcare Professionals’ Views Regarding the Impact of COVID-19 on Ethical Decision-Making: A Multicentre Mixed-Methods Study from Estonia Healthcare COVID-19 ethical decision-making triage frontline healthcare workers mental health Estonia |
| title | Frontline Healthcare Professionals’ Views Regarding the Impact of COVID-19 on Ethical Decision-Making: A Multicentre Mixed-Methods Study from Estonia |
| title_full | Frontline Healthcare Professionals’ Views Regarding the Impact of COVID-19 on Ethical Decision-Making: A Multicentre Mixed-Methods Study from Estonia |
| title_fullStr | Frontline Healthcare Professionals’ Views Regarding the Impact of COVID-19 on Ethical Decision-Making: A Multicentre Mixed-Methods Study from Estonia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Frontline Healthcare Professionals’ Views Regarding the Impact of COVID-19 on Ethical Decision-Making: A Multicentre Mixed-Methods Study from Estonia |
| title_short | Frontline Healthcare Professionals’ Views Regarding the Impact of COVID-19 on Ethical Decision-Making: A Multicentre Mixed-Methods Study from Estonia |
| title_sort | frontline healthcare professionals views regarding the impact of covid 19 on ethical decision making a multicentre mixed methods study from estonia |
| topic | COVID-19 ethical decision-making triage frontline healthcare workers mental health Estonia |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/4/711 |
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