Lived experience of health-care providers during COVID-19: A meta-synthesis

AIM OF THE STUDY: There is currently no meta-synthesis focused on the lived experiences of health-care providers during COVID-19. This meta-synthesis adds to evidence-based literature with an in-depth exploration of how health-care providers responded to the COVID-19 crisis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The meta-synthesis approach was used for the extraction and synthesis of data. RESULTS: Fifteen qualitative research articles were identified and analyzed; the majority of which were done in China 7 (48%) and Iran 6 (40%). The total sample size was 383, and the majority of the samples were nurses 282 (74%). Three overarching themes identified were “It is my duty,” “I am exhausted and about to fall,” and “I have overcome it.” The subthemes were professional responsibility, challenges faced, the unexpected burden at work, self-coping and reflection, hospital support, government support, and social support. CONCLUSION: The recommendations for the policy-makers, put forward by the current study are; designing and engineering effective personal protective equipment (lightweight protective suit with long-lasting durable diapers and face masks with a portal for drinking juice or water), rostering minimal working hours, live-in care facilities, exclusion of pregnant and sick health care providers during an epidemic assignment and frequent outbreak training sessions for all department staff.