ABSTRACT
The prevalence of occupational stress has been on the rise for decades. Now, with the emergence of COVID-19, employees face even more challenges that can lead to increased levels of occupational stress. To buffer against the negative health outcomes and costs associated with occupational stress, organizations often implement wellness programs. However, the way in which wellness programs are implemented can have significant effects on their success. Although various implementation models have been proposed, researchers have little understanding as to the extent to which practitioners implementing wellness programs use the prescribed steps and sequences provided. Additionally, with the nature of work rapidly evolving due to COVID-19, it is important for researchers to understand how the pandemic impacts program implementation. Thus, the current study explores: (1) the extent to which the steps and sequences characterized by both an occupational health model and an organizational change model are used by practitioners implementing wellness programs in the workplace;and (2) how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted wellness program implementation. Results suggest both models describe valuable steps practitioners use when implementing wellness programs, these processes are not linear, and COVID-19 affected wellness implementation by forcing wellness to the forefront of organizations, encouraging a greater emphasis be placed on a wider definition of wellness, and by introducing volatility in the workplace and in wellness programming. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: While COVID-19 has had far-reaching consequences on society and health care providers, there is a paucity of research exploring frontline emergency medicine (EM) provider wellness over the course of a pandemic. The objective of this study was to assess the well-being, resilience, burnout, and wellness factors and needs of EM physicians and advanced practice providers (e.g., nurse practitioners and physician assistants; APPs) during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A descriptive, prospective, cohort survey study of EM physicians and APPs was performed across ten emergency departments in a single state, including academic and community settings. Participants were recruited via email to complete four weekly, voluntary, anonymous questionnaires comprised of customized and validated tools for assessing wellness (Well Being Index), burnout (Physician Work Life Study item), and resilience (Brief Resilience Scale) during the initial acceleration phase of COVID-19. Univariate and multivariate analysis with Chi-squared, Fisher's Exact, and logistic regression was performed. RESULTS: Of 213 eligible participants, response rates ranged from 31 to 53% over four weeks. Women comprised 54 to 60% of responses. Nonrespondent characteristics were similar to respondents. Concern for personal safety decreased from 85 to 61% (p < 0.001). Impact on basic self-care declined from 66 to 32% (p < 0.001). Symptoms of stress, anxiety, or fear was initially 83% and reduced to 66% (p = 0.009). Reported strain on relationships and feelings of isolation affected > 50% of respondents initially without significant change (p = 0.05 and p = 0.30 respectively). Women were nearly twice as likely to report feelings of isolation as men (OR 1.95; 95% CI 1.82-5.88). Working part-time carried twice the risk of burnout (OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.10-5.47). Baseline resilience was normal to high. Provider well-being improved over the four weeks (30 to 14%; p = 0.01), but burnout did not significantly change (30 to 22%; p = 0.39). CONCLUSION: This survey of frontline EM providers, including physicians and APPs, during the initial surge of COVID-19 found that despite being a resilient group, the majority experienced stress, anxiety, fear, and concerns about personal safety due to COVID-19, putting many at risk for burnout. The sustained impact of the pandemic on EM provider wellness deserves further investigation to guide targeted interventions.