J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs.  2021 Dec;32(4):578-592. 10.12799/jkachn.2021.32.4.578.

Experiences of Public Officials for the COVID-19 Response in the Community Health Center

• Son HM
• Yang HR
• Park B

• KMID: 2526358
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12799/jkachn.2021.32.4.578

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of public officials working for the Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) response in community health centers in South Korea.
Methods
A qualitative thematic analysis was conducted using data collected from three focus groups and two individual interviews.
Results
The participants performed quarantine tasks in a poor working environment with several problems, such as significant workload, lack of manpower, and inappropriate compensation system. Participants experienced obstacles in performing quarantine works, which had the lack of the detailed quarantine guidelines, work support and cooperation system. Participants suffered from civil complaints. Participants endured sacrifices in their personal lives while partaking in COVID-19 response work without holidays, and subsequently experienced health problems. And also participants said that it was necessary to secure expertise and effective communication for infectious disease management.
Conclusion
The study results suggest that policies are required that are aimed to improve the working environment and the recruitment of experts in infectious diseases. In addition, the job stress related to the COVID-19 response by public officials in community health centers must be evaluated, and the relation of their job stress to physical and mental problems, as well as psychosocial stress, must be examined.

Keyword

COVID-19; Pandemics; Community health workers; Qualitative research