Psychosocial support for providers working high-risk exposure settings during a pandemic: A critical discussion
Authors
Plasse, Mechelle J.UMass Chan Affiliations
Graduate School of NursingDocument Type
Journal ArticlePublication Date
2020-12-31Keywords
healthcare providerspandemics
COVID-19
post-trauma
psychological first aid
stress disorder
traumatic distress
Health Services Administration
Infectious Disease
International Public Health
Mental and Social Health
Nursing
Psychiatry and Psychology
Psychology
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Psychological first aid is a form of support designed to lessen disaster-related distress. In a pandemic, providers may need such support but with the high risk of exposure, such a program is offered only virtually. The research is scant for traditional post-disaster support and non-existent for virtual; therefore, by using related research this discussion considers the likelihood of providers accessing and benefiting from this program. The virtual platform is heralded as the responsible way to provide support in a pandemic but this standard may be ineffective and is inherently inequitable. As a global event, pandemics require containment strategies applicable on an international level; therefore, psychosocial support should also be developed with an international audience in mind. Online psychosocial support falls short of being such a strategy as it incorrectly assumes global internet access. Many low-income areas such as Sub-Saharan Africa will need support strategies which compliment local frontline staff and fit with community-driven initiatives, whereas wealthier countries may use a combination of onsite and online support. Provider psychosocial support needs in a pandemic, if articulated, are globally similar but how this support is offered requires contextually sensitive considerations not yet found in the literature.Source
Plasse MJ. Psychosocial support for providers working high-risk exposure settings during a pandemic: A critical discussion. Nurs Inq. 2020 Dec 31:e12399. doi: 10.1111/nin.12399. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33382522; PMCID: PMC7883264. Link to article on publisher's site
DOI
10.1111/nin.12399Permanent Link to this Item
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/34482PubMed ID
33382522Related Resources
ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1111/nin.12399