Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33980243›Full record

ArticleBMC women's health2021

Psychosocial, emotional and professional challenges faced by female healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 outbreak in Lahore, Pakistan: a qualitative study.

Sumbal Shahbaz, Muhammad Zeshan Ashraf, Rubeena Zakar, Florian Fischer

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC women's health, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
12citing papers in PubMed
4.9field-weighted citation impact, top 4% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

12 citing papers in PubMed, 43 citations in OpenAlex.

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  9. Preparedness level of frontline healthcare professionals in Tshwane regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.South African family practice : official journal of the South African Academy of Family Practice/Primary Care · 2022
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Sumbal ShahbazDepartment of Public Health, Institute of Social and Cultural Studies, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
Muhammad Zeshan AshrafDepartment of Architecture, University College of Arts & Design, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
Rubeena ZakarDepartment of Public Health, Institute of Social and Cultural Studies, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.
Florian FischerInstitute of Public Health, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. florian.fischer1@charite.de.ORCID 0000-0002-4388-1245
University of the Punjab · PKUniversity of Applied Sciences Ravensburg-Weingarten · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is spreading rapidly, increasing the stress and challenges for healthcare professionals around the world. This study aims to discover the psychosocial, emotional and professional challenges faced by female healthcare professionals (HCPs) treating COVID-19 patients in Pakistan.

methodsUsing an empirical phenomenological methodology, semi-structured telephone-based qualitative interviews were conducted with 22 female HCPs who were providing their expertise for COVID-19 patients in tertiary-level hospitals in Lahore, Pakistan. Purposive sampling was used for recruitment. The interviews were conducted between 20 July and 20 August 2020. The interviews were analysed using thematic analysis.

resultsThis study explored the psychosocial, emotional and professional challenges faced by female HCPs serving COVID-19 patients. Five themes were observed in the interviews: apprehension while treating COVID-19 patients; feelings towards COVID-19 patients; challenges as female HCPs and coping strategies; confidence in government, administration and self-reflection; and finally, future concerns and recommendations. Many of these themes have also been linked with cultural issues, making the results specific to Pakistan.

conclusionsDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, female frontline HCPs have faced immense psychosocial pressure, ranging from unsupportive family norms to an unwelcoming working environment and insensitive hospital administrations. Moreover, rumours among the general public, lack of proper training, missing incentives and improper system surveillance have increased the anxiety and stress among HCPs. Hence, legislators are advised to take appropriate actions countrywide in order to alleviate the still ongoing challenges and support female HCPs in their working environment.

Indexed as

COVID-19PandemicsDelivery of Health CareDisease OutbreaksEmotionsFemaleHealth PersonnelHumansPakistanSARS-CoV-2CoronavirusPhysicianPractitionerSARS-CoV-2WomenWorking environment

Identifiers

PMID33980243
PMCPMC8114660
OpenAlexW3160581141

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.