Exploring the needs of healthcare workers receiving psychological first aid during the COVID19 pandemic

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers (HCW; e.g., nurses, social workers) work in stressful conditions, a situation that has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. A review of the supportive role of Psychological first aid (PFA) suggested that it can protect HCW from psychological distress. Despite the growing interest of PFA among public health organizations, there is a dearth of literature on its potential impact for the psychological well-being of HCW and its implementation within organizations. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate whether PFA met the psychological needs of HCW in Montreal, Quebec. METHODS: A sample of 15 HCW who received PFA by a peer within their organization were recruited to participate in semi-structured interviews. Qualitative research using thematic analysis was conducted. RESULTS: Five themes were identified: 1) PFA satisfied participants’ psychosocial needs; 2) PFA provided by peers allowed participants to feel understood and supported; 3) High availability and multiple modalities facilitated PFA access; 4) Occupational and organizational cultures hindered PFA access; and 5) Recommendations to promote the use of the PFA service. CONCLUSION: Results describe four psychosocial needs met by the PFA intervention: to have resources/strategies, to be validated, to obtain a better understanding of the psychological reactions they were experiencing, and to be guided and supported in their difficulties at work. Overall, these findings illustrate how PFA goes beyond the reduction of distress symptoms in the aftermath of a potentially traumatic event. The relevance to further the assessment of PFA’s positive effects on psychological adaptation and/or recovery is also highlighted.