Department of Educational Policy Studies, Faculty of Education, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
College of Architecture and Planning, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (Formerly, University of Dammam), Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
HERD. 2022 Oct;15(4):343-353. doi: 10.1177/19375867221111530. Epub 2022 Jul 13.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created considerable implications for healthcare staff around the globe. During the pandemic, the frontline healthcare workers experience intense anxiety, stress, burnout, and psychological breakdown, with severe implications on their mental and physical well-being. In addition to these implications, anxiety and stress can hinder their productivity and ability to perform their duties efficiently. The literature indicates that hospital gardens and contact with nature can help alleviate psychological distress among hospital staff. However, few studies investigated the role of outdoor spaces as areas for respite and work breaks in healthcare facilities during the pandemic. The present opinion paper highlights the challenges of job stress and psychological distress health workers face during the pandemic. This article also underscores the role of hospital outdoor spaces and garden facilities in coping with the challenges. While other measures to reduce stress among hospital staff and ensure their health and safety are important, hospital administrators and relevant government agencies should also emphasize the provision of gardens and open spaces in healthcare facilities. These spaces can act as potential areas for respite for hospital staff to help them cope with the stress and anxiety accumulated through working under crises.
新冠疫情对全球医护人员产生了重大影响。在疫情期间，一线医护人员经历了强烈的焦虑、压力、倦怠和心理崩溃，对他们的身心健康产生了严重影响。除了这些影响，焦虑和压力会妨碍他们的工作效率和工作能力。文献表明，医院花园和与大自然接触可以帮助缓解医护人员的心理困扰。然而，很少有研究调查户外空间在疫情期间作为医护人员喘息和工作休息区的作用。本观点文章强调了疫情期间医护人员面临的工作压力和心理困扰的挑战。本文还强调了医院户外空间和花园设施在应对这些挑战中的作用。虽然减轻医院员工压力和确保他们健康和安全的其他措施很重要，但医院管理人员和相关政府机构也应强调在医疗设施中提供花园和开放空间。这些空间可以作为医院员工的潜在休息区，帮助他们应对在危机下工作所积累的压力和焦虑。
