Sains Malaysiana 50(9)(2021): 2847-2858

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2021-5009-27

A Qualitative Study on Emergency Health Care Worker (EHCW) Perception towards COVID-ACLS Simulation Training in Resuscitating Suspected COVID-19 Patients

(Suatu Kajian Kualitatif terhadap Persepsi Pekerja Kesihatan Kecemasan (EHCW) terhadap Latihan Simulasi COVID-ACLS dalamResusitasi Pesakit Disyaki COVID-19)

JEBBY YII, ALIAS MAHMUD*, AZLAN HELMY ABD SAMAT, DAZLIN MASDIANA SABARDIN, MOHD HISHAM MOHD ISA, ISMAIL MOHD SAIBOON & MOHD JOHAR JAAFAR

Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

Received: 31 January 2021/Accepted: 20 July 2021

ABSTRACT

The emergence of COVID-19 pandemic has caused difficulty to emergency-HCW (EHCW) in resuscitating high-risk patients. We set out to explore EHCW’s perception after undergoing COVID-ACLS resuscitation training and address their anxiety of working in this pandemic. A qualitative case study using focused group discussion was conducted among EHCW who have undergone COVID-ACLS training. Five semi-structured questions exploring respondent’s confidence level, anxiety factors, areas of improvement for COVID-ACLS and if this COVID-ACLS training is sufficient. Inductive and deductive thematic analysis approach was done to analyse the result. 20 EHCW participated in this study. Out of 4 themes, 11 subthemes were identified based on the respondents. They were acquired new knowledge, self-precaution, method of delivery, concerns of self and family members, stigmatisation, insufficient protective methods, underappreciation, regular training sessions, other modalities for learning, course duration; and unsatisfactory reading material. New knowledge and self-precaution were noted to be an important aspect that boosts confidence among EHCW. The main factor that increased anxiety was safety issues and disease spreading to family members, colleagues, and society. In conclusion, COVID-ACLS training is able to boost EHCW confidence in resuscitating high-risk patients. Factors leading to anxiety among EHCW should also be addressed during this pandemic to ensure psychological welfare and mental health are not affected. Regular training and utilisation of other teaching modalities such as video are perceived as a helpful adjunct in boosting their confidence. The utilisation of new training approach should be explored in enhancing EHCW’s knowledge and confidence.

Keywords: Anxiety; COVID-19; emergency; health care worker; resuscitation

ABSTRAK

Pandemik COVID-19 telah menyebabkan kesusahan kepada anggota kecemasan-HCW (EHCW) dalam melaksanakan resusitasi pesakit berisiko tinggi. Tujuan kajian ini adalah untuk mengkaji pandangan EHCW yang telah menjalani latihan COVID-ACLS serta menangani kerisauan semasa bertugas dalam pandemik ini. Kajian kualitatif ini menggunakan sesi temu bual berfokus dengan lima soalan semi-struktur bagi melihat tahap keyakinan responden, faktor kegelisahan, cara penambahbaikan COVID-ACLS dan untuk mengetahui adakah latihan COVID-ACLS ini mencukupi. Sesi temu bual dianalisis dan ditafsir menggunakan tematik analisis secara induktif dan deduktif. 20 anggota EHCW telah menyertai kajian ini. Dalam keempat-empat tema ini, 11 subtema telah ditemui. Antaranya ialah pembelajaran ilmu baru, kaedah untuk melindungi diri, keselamatan diri dan keluarga, stigma, kekurangan sumber pelindungan, rasa kurang dihargai, sesi latihan yang lebih kerap, modaliti lain untuk pembelajaran, jangka masa latihan dan bahan bacaan yang kurang memuaskan. Pembelajaran ilmu baru dan kaedah melindungi diri merupakan aspek penting dalam menjana keyakinan ECHW. Faktor utama yang meningkatkan kerisauan adalah isu keselamatan dan penyakit boleh menjangkiti kepada ahli keluarga, rakan sekerja dan masyarakat. Kesimpulannya, COVID-ACLS berkemampuan untuk meningkatkan keyakinan EHCW untuk melaksanakan resusitasi pesakit berisiko tinggi. Faktor yang menyumbang kepada kerisauan EHCW perlu diberi perhatian semasa pendemik ini supaya kesejahteraan psikologi dan kesihatan mental mereka dapat dijaga. Latihan yang kerap dan penggunaan modaliti pengajaran seperti video juga boleh membantu untuk meningkatkan keyakinan ECHW. Penggunaan latihan kaedah lain perlu diterokai untuk menambah ilmu pengetahuan dan keyakinan ECHW.

Kata kunci: COVID-19; kecemasan; kegelisahan; pekerja kesihatan; resusitasi

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*Corresponding author; email: alias6972@gmail.com