Influential factors of healthcare provider resilience in disasters: A thematic analysis

Abstract

Objective: To identify the influential factors of healthcare staff resilience in disasters. Methods: In this qualitative study, the influential factors of healthcare staff resilience in disasters were investigated through interviewing 20 experts. The interviews were conducted face-to-face, and MAXQDA software version 10 was used to organize the data and thematic analysis. Results: The participants included 5 medical emergency technicians, 5 physicians, 2 Red Crescent technicians, and 8 nurses. The main influential factors of healthcare providers’ resilience were limited relief infrastructure, supportive empowerment, organizational capitals, and contradictory consequences. Other important factors were resource limitation, confusion and uncertainty, empowerment training, comprehensive support, human and value capital, social capital, physical capital, suffering, disability, calm, and excellence. Conclusion: Improving healthcare providers’ resilience can be achieved by reducing uncertainty, providing the physical, economic, and human resources, strengthening motivation and comprehensive supports. It is suggested that disaster managers consider all identified dimensions to improve the resilience of healthcare providers to serve better in disasters. Moreover, researchers should study each dimension to provide profound knowledge regarding resilience in disasters.

Keywords

• resilience; influential factors; disaster; health care provider; thematic analysis