Journal of
Public Health and Epidemiology

  • Abbreviation: J. Public Health Epidemiol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2316
  • DOI: 10.5897/JPHE
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 660

Article in Press

Challenges of Health Care Workers Caring for COVID-19 Patients in a Teaching Hospital, Nepal

Ram Prasad Sharma

  •  Received: 18 March 2022
  •  Accepted: 02 June 2022
Background: Health Care Workers (HCWs) treating Coronavirus Diseases (COVID-19) patients face many physical and psychosocial challenges when working in COVID wards and ICUs. This study aimed to explore the challenges of HCWs caring for COVID-19 patients. Method: A qualitative phenomenological study was adopted and 12 HCWs (8 nurses and 4 doctors) working with COVID-19 patients were selected purposively as the study sample. Semi-structured interview guideline was used for data collection and Giorgi’s method was applied for the analysis. Results: Health care workers faced many challenges while working with COVID-19 patients in a hospital during this pandemic. There were five major challenges faced by HCWs: (i) increase work load and shortage of staff, (ii) mental stress, (iii) social stigma and isolation, (iv) scarcity of resources and (v) lack of specific skill training. Conclusion: Health care workers have faced many physical, psychological and social challenges while caring for the COVID-19 patients during this pandemic. Hence, these issues have to be considered for the quality care services in the hospital.

Keywords: Challenges, Healthcare Workers, COVID-19 patients.