Hundah Shillah N, Sibiya Maureen N, Khoza Thandokuhle E
Department of Radiography, Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa.
Division of Research, Innovation and Engagement, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Umlazi Campus, Durban, South Africa.
Health SA. 2024 Jul 8;29:2532. doi: 10.4102/hsag.v29i0.2532. eCollection 2024.
Health crises have been linked with the exacerbation of pre-existing difficulties and the emergence of unique challenges, as evidenced by the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on health caregivers worldwide. Baseline data allow for reflection and preparation for any future health emergencies therefore giving impetus to phenomenological enquiries among the experiencers.
This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of the eThekwini district frontline radiology caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The study was conducted in public and private radiology departments in the eThekwini district of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
A qualitative, interpretative phenomenological analysis methodology was adopted in a multi-method data-collection context comprising semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) among 24 radiologists, radiographers, and radiology nurses obtained by non-probability sampling. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using an interpretative phenomenological approach.
Three superordinate themes emerged, namely: (1) duties and roles during the COVID-19 pandemic, (2) work-related challenges, (3) personal challenges.
Frontline radiology caregivers experienced increased workload, staff shortages, salary cuts, personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages, non-recognition, poor managerial support, disrupted social relations, and poor work-life balance. This necessitates the need for the radiology departments to address staffing, infection prevention and control deficits, and invest in support interventions to assist frontline radiology caregivers during health crises.
The findings comprise baseline information that can be used for reflection and guiding radiology departments in preparing for any future health crises.
健康危机与先前存在的困难加剧以及独特挑战的出现有关，2019年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）对全球医护人员的影响就证明了这一点。基线数据有助于对未来任何健康紧急情况进行反思和准备，因此推动了对经历者的现象学调查。
本研究旨在探讨夸祖鲁-纳塔尔省伊泰夸尼区一线放射科医护人员在COVID-19大流行期间的生活经历。
该研究在南非夸祖鲁-纳塔尔省伊泰夸尼区的公立和私立放射科进行。
采用定性、解释性现象学分析方法，在一个多方法数据收集背景下进行，该背景包括对24名放射科医生、放射技师和放射科护士进行的半结构化访谈和焦点小组讨论（FGD），这些人员通过非概率抽样获得。数据逐字转录，并采用解释性现象学方法进行分析。
出现了三个上位主题，即：（1）COVID-19大流行期间的职责和角色，（2）与工作相关的挑战，（3）个人挑战。
一线放射科医护人员经历了工作量增加、人员短缺、减薪、个人防护装备（PPE）短缺、未得到认可、管理支持不足、社会关系中断以及工作与生活平衡不佳等问题。这就需要放射科解决人员配备、感染预防和控制方面的不足，并投资于支持性干预措施，以在健康危机期间协助一线放射科医护人员。
这些发现包括基线信息，可用于反思并指导放射科为未来任何健康危机做准备。
