The experience of Saudi respiratory therapists dealing with COVID-19 patients: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare professionals have fought hard to restrain the COVID-19 pandemic by providing high-quality care for their infected patients, but in doing so they have developed fears of becoming sick and feelings of isolation and loneliness. The lived experience of respiratory therapists (RTs) in Saudi Arabia who works with these infected patients needs further investigation. The study sought to describe the experiences and coping strategies of Saudi RT managing patients with COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study utilized qualitative research methods, specifically employing a phenomenological research design. A total of 25 Saudi RT (RTs) who were in direct contact with COVID-19 patients were selected after they agreed to participate in this study. The study followed a one-on-one semi-structured interview process using the Zoom platform. This qualitative data collection technique focuses on the participants' lived experiences and feelings to discover shared patterns. The data were analyzed via an inductive approach. RESULTS: Six themes were found in the RT perceptions including stress while treating COVID patients, managing the fear of catching of Covid 19, feelings towards COVID-19 patients, challenges faced by female RTs, workplace experiences, and excessive workload. CONCLUSIONS: RTs feelings dramatically changed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. All the RTs have developed a self-copying style that has helped them improve their psychosocial behavior to face the pandemic. During the outbreak, frontline RTs' positive and negative emotions intertwined and coexisted. Negative emotions predominated in the beginning, while good feelings emerged gradually. Self-coping methods and psychosocial development were significant factors in RTs mental health while caring for COVID-19 patients.

Pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic: an exploration of patients' lived experiences.

BACKGROUND: Infectious outbreaks are known to cause fear and panic. Exploration of pregnant individuals' psychosocial condition using a qualitative lens during an infectious outbreak is limited. In this study we explore pregnant individuals' lived experiences as well as their psychological and behavioural responses during COVID-19 with the goal of providing useful strategies from the patient's perspective to enable health care providers to help pregnant patients navigate this and future pandemics. METHODS: Pregnant individuals between 20-weeks gestation and 3 months postpartum who received maternity care from an urban academic interprofessional teaching unit in Toronto, Canada were invited to participate. Semi-structured 60 min interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analyzed using descriptive thematic analysis. Interview questions probed psychological responses to the pandemic, behavioural and lifestyle changes, strategies to mitigate distress while pregnant during COVID-19 and advice for other patients and the healthcare team. RESULTS: There were 12 participants, mean age 35 years (range 30-43 years), all 1 to 6 months postpartum. Six main themes emerged: 1) Childbearing-related challenges to everyday life; 2) Increased worry, uncertainty and fear; 3) Pervasive sense of loss; 4) Challenges accessing care; 5) Strategies for coping with pandemic stress; 6) Reflections and advice to other pregnant people and health care professionals. Pregnant individuals described lack of social support due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and a profound sense of loss of what they thought their pregnancy and postpartum period should have been. Advice to healthcare providers included providing mental health support, clear and up to date communication as well as more postpartum and breastfeeding support. CONCLUSIONS: These participants described experiencing psychosocial distress during their pregnancies and postpartum. In a stressful situation such as a global pandemic, health care providers need to play a pivotal role to ensure pregnant individuals feel supported and receive consistent care throughout the pregnancy and postpartum period. The health care provider should ensure that mental health concerns are addressed and provide postpartum and breastfeeding support. Without addressing this need for support, parental mental health, relationships, parent-infant bonding, and infant development may be negatively impacted.