Affiliations 

  • 1 School of Social Sciences and Humanities, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan. dr.wajihahaq@s3h.nust.edu.pk
  • 2 Faculty of Business and Accountancy, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 3 Department of Anaesthesia, Ameer ud din Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan
J Infect Dev Ctries, 2021 03 07;15(2):191-197.
PMID: 33690199 DOI: 10.3855/jidc.13954

Abstract

COVID-19 spread rapidly and jeopardised the physicians with not only treatment but also with limited resources and new working style. This study aimed to investigate the experience of physicians in Pakistan as frontline workers for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. The study employed a qualitative design and used Haas's adaptation of Colaizzi method for analysis. The respondents for the interview were selected based on purposive sampling and only those physicians were contacted who were treating COVID-19 patients in Lahore, Pakistan. The results of the study revealed many challenges faced by Pakistani physicians which included physical and psychological stress due to the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Moreover, infrastructural flaws have added in the vulnerabilities of the physicians. In developing countries, the fight is much harder for physicians as evidenced by their first-hand experience. The policymakers in developing countries especially in Pakistan can direct policies facilitating physicians to reduce their physical and psychological stress as well as increasing resources for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.