Emotional and Psychological Coping: Lived Experiences of Frontline Health Care Workers (HCW) in Mutare, Zimbabwe

COVID -19 is a pandemic that none worldwide has ever experienced. Its emergence has seen health care workers (HCWs) being in the forefront of responding. Apart from the physiological distress, responding to COVID-19 has taken an emotional and psychological toll on HCWs. This study explored the psychological and emotional experiences of healthcare workers during COVID 19 and provided recommendations that support a psychologically healthy work environment. Thirty participants, non-clinical and clinical, female (n=21;70%) male (n=9; 30%) were involved. Qualitative exploratory research design, a phenomenological approach was used. Nonprobability purposive sampling was used to choose participants. Interviews with open-ended questions were used. A modified version of Colaizzi’s interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) guided data analysis. COPE inventory was used to establish coping strategies. Findings showed that Covid-19 had caused substantial psychological and emotional distress to HCWs. The HCWs reported psychological burden, fear, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Four thematic conceptualizations of coping mechanisms were identified. The need for timely mental health support and intervention was stressed. The outcome of the study was the establishment of an emotional coping protocol (ECP) that will be used in health care settings to proactively mitigate the negative effects of COVID 19 among HCWs.