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- Title
How to Prepare Mental Health Resources for Future Pandemics: A Mixed Method Study in a Pediatric Oncology Ward During the COVID-19 Outbreak.
- Authors
Kenichiro Kobayashi; Michiko Inoue; Mariko Shibata; Koichi Ochi; Toshiro Maihara; Ikuya Usami; Koichi Mino; Toshio Heike
- Abstract
Purpose: Psychological distress in health care workers (HCWs) caring for pediatric patients with cancer was evaluated during the COVID-19 outbreak to inform future perspectives of mental health resources for frontline providers. Design and Methods: A qualitative and quantitative mixed method study was conducted using a semi-structured interview to understand the occupational distress and dilemma of HCWs employed in a pediatric cancer ward. A follow-up survey was used to further validate results. Results: Pediatric oncology HCWs were highly willing to cope with difficulties during the earliest phase of the pandemic. Still, nursing staff perceived more intense psychological distress in comparison with physicians and were challenged to maintain interpersonal communication. Nurses also felt incompetent to prioritize physical distancing. Their negative emotions were further exacerbated with limited help-seeking behavior and professional self-stigma. Conclusions: To foster the mental health resilience and a self-care attitude in a vulnerable subgroup (nursing staff with less than 5 years of professional experience), it is important to provide a broad range of mental health resources, including institutional support and/or digital health tools (e.g., web-based decision aids, online cognitive behavioral therapy, and telemedicine) aimed to meet their diverse psychosocial needs. A series of individualized approaches might be helpful to promote frontline providers' stress-coping strategies as comprehensible, manageable, and meaningful.
- Subjects
COVID-19; RESEARCH methodology; QUARANTINE; MENTAL health; QUANTITATIVE research; INTERVIEWING; DIGITAL health; HELP-seeking behavior; CANCER patients; QUALITATIVE research; SURVEYS; EPIDEMICS; QUALITY of life; QUESTIONNAIRES; SOCIAL distancing; COGNITIVE therapy; TELEMEDICINE
- Publication
Pediatric Nursing, 2022, Vol 48, Issue 6, p296
- ISSN
0097-9805
- Publication type
Article