Clinical leadership and coping strategies in times of COVID-19: observational study with health managers in Mendoza

• Autores: Gil Hernández, Eva; Falaschi, Andrea; Carrillo, Irene; Rodríguez, Viviana; Peralta Roca, María Belén; Garcia Elorrio, Ezequiel; Mira, José Joaquín
• Año de publicación: 2023
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Materia: Adaptation; COVID-19; Healthcare workers; Leadership; Pandemic
• Institución: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas

Background: The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic required an immediate response to the healthcare challenges it posed. This study was conducted to identify actions that helped healthcare professionals to overcome the initial impact in Mendoza (Argentina).Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in a non-random sample of managers and staff of the public health system of Mendoza (Argentina) (n = 134). An ad-hoc and voluntary survey was carried out with 5 multi-response questions that combined questions referring to the management of the pandemic at the organizational level with others referring to coping at the individual level. The survey questions were formulated based on the results of six focus groups that were conducted previously. Descriptive frequency analysis was performed.Results: 60 people agreed to participate and 45 answered the full questionnaire. At both the organizational and individual level, there was consensus with at least 50% of votes. The most outstanding at the organizational level was "Prioritize the need according to risk" and at the individual level it was "Support from family or friends", being also the most voted option in the whole questionnaire.Conclusions: The responses that emerged for coping with COVID-19 must be seen as an opportunity to identify strategies that could be effective in addressing future crisis situations that jeopardize the system´s response capacity. Moreover, it is essential to retain both changes at the organizational level (e.g., new protocols, multidisciplinary work, shift restructuring, etc.) and coping strategies at the individual level (e.g., social support, leisure activities, etc.) that have proven positive outcomes.
Fil: Gil Hernández, Eva. Foundation for the Promotion of Health and Biomedical Research of Valencia Region; España
Fil: Falaschi, Andrea. Gobierno de la Provincia de Mendoza. Ministerio de Salud Desarrollo Social y Deportes.; Argentina
Fil: Carrillo, Irene. Universidad de Miguel Hernández; España
Fil: Rodríguez, Viviana. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria; Argentina
Fil: Peralta Roca, María Belén. Gobierno de la Provincia de Mendoza. Ministerio de Salud Desarrollo Social y Deportes.; Argentina
Fil: Garcia Elorrio, Ezequiel. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
Fil: Mira, José Joaquín. Universidad de Miguel Hernández; España