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Protective and Risk Factors of Italian Healthcare Professionals during the COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak: A Qualitative Study

Author

Listed:
  • Amalia De Leo

    (Department of Psychology, Università degli studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 81100 Caserta, Italy)

  • Eloisa Cianci

    (Department of Psychology, Cattolica University, 20123 Milan, Italy)

  • Paolo Mastore

    (Department of Psychology, Cattolica University, 20123 Milan, Italy)

  • Caterina Gozzoli

    (Department of Psychology, Cattolica University, 20123 Milan, Italy)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic put the Italian health system under great stress. The sudden reorganization of work practices and the emotional impact of the large number of the victims had many consequences on the well-being of the healthcare professionals (HCPs) involved in managing the crisis. In the available literature, most studies have focused on the risk aspects while only few studies also take into account protective factors. For this reason, it was decided to conduct, within psycho-sociological perspective, a qualitative study with the aim to explore in depth the protective and risk factors as experienced by HCPs who worked in the Italian healthcare system during the COVID-19 outbreak. A total of 19 semi-structured interviews were conducted with HCPs–9 nurses and 10 physicians (7M and 12F) with an average age of 43 (SD = 13.4)–selected using snowball sampling. Considering three different levels of analysis the results highlight the protective and risk factors: personal history level (intrinsic/ethical motivation and flexible role versus extrinsic motivation and static role), interpersonal level (perception of supportive relationships with colleagues, patients, and family versus bad relationships), and organizational level (good leadership and sustainable work purpose versus absence of support from management and undefined or confused tasks).

Suggested Citation

  • Amalia De Leo & Eloisa Cianci & Paolo Mastore & Caterina Gozzoli, 2021. "Protective and Risk Factors of Italian Healthcare Professionals during the COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-17, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:2:p:453-:d:476905
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Judith E. Arnetz & Courtney M. Goetz & Bengt B. Arnetz & Eamonn Arble, 2020. "Nurse Reports of Stressful Situations during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Qualitative Analysis of Survey Responses," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-12, November.
    2. Tiziana Maiorano & Monia Vagni & Valeria Giostra & Daniela Pajardi, 2020. "COVID-19: Risk Factors and Protective Role of Resilience and Coping Strategies for Emergency Stress and Secondary Trauma in Medical Staff and Emergency Workers—An Online-Based Inquiry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-18, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chiara Costa & Michele Teodoro & Annalisa De Vita & Federica Giambò & Carmela Mento & Maria Rosaria Anna Muscatello & Angela Alibrandi & Sebastiano Italia & Concettina Fenga, 2022. "Factors Affecting Perceived Work Environment, Wellbeing, and Coping Styles: A Comparison between Physicians and Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-14, September.
    2. Caterina Gozzoli & Diletta Gazzaroli, 2022. "When Are Organizations Sustainable? Well-Being and Discomfort in Working Contexts: Old and New Form of Malaise," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-4, July.
    3. Natasha Smallwood & Amy Pascoe & Leila Karimi & Marie Bismark & Karen Willis, 2021. "Occupational Disruptions during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Their Association with Healthcare Workers’ Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-14, September.

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