Introduction. The working conditions of medical personnel during emergencies significantly differ from those in regular circumstances. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the intensity of biological and psychophysiological factors in the working environment increased substantially, leading to the emergence of additional harmful and dangerous factors, resulting in disruptions to the living and working conditions of the staff. Since the regular work routine of healthcare facilities changes in such situations, there is a pressing need for clear action plans and guidelines to provide quality medical care and safeguard the lives and health of medical workers.
The aim of this study is to examine the experience of medical facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, investigate the impact of working conditions during quarantine and the resolution of dangerous situations, substantiate safety measures, and establish guidelines for the behavior of medical personnel and patients during other potential emergencies.

Materials and Methods. The research was conducted using questionnaire, survey, hygienic, bibliographic and statistical methods.

Results. Peculiarities of the labor activity of medical workers in health care facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was recognized as a particularly dangerous disease, and the working conditions of personnel in these conditions were studied. An analysis of the perception of medical workers during the pandemic and the evaluation of working conditions were conducted. The main negative effects on the working conditions of healthcare staff compared to the pre-pandemic period were identified: increased workload and demands on workers, growing emotional stress, insufficient organizational support, financial, and psychological assistance. Additionally, positive influences that eased the tasks of the medical workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and contributed to stabilizing the situation and personal and professional development were highlighted: competence, cooperation, and team cohesion (teamwork). Respondents stated that the acquired experience would prevent them from making numerous mistakes and shortcomings in their work in the future, and they are ready to work under epidemic conditions and other emergencies. To ensure the safety of medical personnel, it is necessary to implement comprehensive measures to prevent occupational diseases, care for human resources, and develop reward and motivation systems. To improve the quality of medical services during emergencies, reduce risks among patients, and safeguard the lives and health of medical workers, mandatory targeted training programs and educational materials are required for preparing healthcare personnel for work in different emergency situations.

Conclusions. The working conditions of medical personnel during the fight against the coronavirus infection are hazardous, posing threats to their lives and carrying a high risk of acute occupational diseases and severe forms of illnesses, including death. The main negative influences on the working conditions of healthcare staff include workload, emotional stress, and inadequate organizational support and assistance. Positive effects that facilitated the work of medical during the COVID-19 pandemic were also highlighted: competence, cooperation and cohesion (teamwork), which contributed to the stabilization of the situation in health care facilities, individual and professional development of medical workers. Therefore, it is crucial to create mandatory targeted training programs and educational materials for healthcare personnel to prepare them to work in different emergency situations effectively.

medical workers, COVID-19 pandemic, workload, emotional stress, organizational support, competence, cooperation, prevention, safety training

1. Montano D, Kuchenbaur M, Geissler H, Peter R. Working conditions of healthcare workers and clients’ satisfaction with care: study protocol and baseline results of a cluster-randomized workplace intervention. BMC Public Health. 2020 Aug 25;20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09290-4.

2. Yavorovskyi OP, Brukhno RP, Omelchuk ST, Skaletsky YM, Paustovskyi YO, Zenkina VI, Zinchenko TO. Occupational safety and hygiene of healthcare professionals in the context of hospital environment safety. Wiadomoњci lekarskie. 2022;75(12):2933-8. https://doi.org/10.36740/wlek202212107.

3. Maben J, Ball J, Edmondson AC. Workplace conditions. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2023. 60 p. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009363839

4. Yavorovskyi OP, Shkurba AV, Skaletskyi YM, Brukhno RP, Kharchuk LV, Bugro VI, Rygan MM. [Hygiene and labour protection of medical staff under conditions of the pandemic COVID-19 overcoming (first message)]. Dovkillia ta zdorovia [Environment & Health]. 2020 Sep;(3 (96)):10-8. Ukrainian https://doi.org/10.32402/dovkil2020.03.010

5. Bandyopadhyay S, Baticulon RE, Kadhum M, Alser M, Ojuka DK, Badereddin Y, Kamath A, Parepalli SA, et al. Infection and mortality of healthcare workers worldwide from COVID-19: a systematic review. BMJ Global Health. 2020 Dec; 5(12):e003097. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2020-003097

6. Alshamrani MM, El-Saed A, Al Zunitan M, Almulhem R, Almohrij S. Risk of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality among healthcare workers working in a Large Tertiary Care Hospital. International Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2021 Aug; 109:238-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2021.07.009

7. Pro zatverdzhennia Derzhavnykh sanitarnykh norm ta pravyl «Hihiienichna klasyfikatsiia pratsi za pokaznykamy shkidlyvosti ta nebezpechnosti faktoriv vyrobnychoho seredovyshcha, vazhkosti ta napruzhenosti trudovoho protsesu» [Hygienic classification of work according to indicators of harmfulness and dangerous factors of the production environment, difficulty and tension of the labor process : Order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine No. 248, 2014 Apr 8]. https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/z0472-14#Text. Ukrainian

8. WHO. Occupational health: health workers. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/occupational-health--health-workers

9. Derzhavna sluzhba Ukrainy z pytan pratsi [State Service of Ukraine on Labor Issues]. Operatyvna informatsiia shchodo nadkhodzhennia povidomlen pro hostri profesiini zakhvoriuvannia na COVID-19 pid chas vykonannia posadovykh oboviazkiv [Operational information about acute occupational diseases due to COVID -19]. Ukrainian https://dsp.gov.ua/operativna-informacia-covid19/

10. Andreichyn MA, Markiv BYe, Zavidniuk NH, Yosyk YaI. [Occupational incidence of COVID -19 among medical workers]. Infektsiini khvoroby [Infectious diseases]. 2022 Apr 11; (4):21-5. Ukrainian https://doi.org/10.11603/1681-2727.2021.4.12835.

11. Yavorovskyi OP, Zenkina VI. Medyky Ukrainy naimensh zakhyshcheni [Doctors of Ukraine are the least protected]. Okhorona pratsi [Labor protection]. 2020; 312(6):46-9. Ukrainian

12. Awan S, Diwan MN, Aamir A, Allahuddin Z, Irfan M, Carano A, Vellante F, Ventriglio A, et al. Suicide in healthcare workers: determinants, challenges, and the impact of COVID-19. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 2022 Feb 3; 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.792925.

13. Gupta N, Dhamija S, Patil J, Chaudhari B. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers. Industrial Psychiatry Journal. 2021;30(3):282. https://doi.org/10.4103/0972-6748.328830

14. Boluarte Carbajal A, Sбnchez Boluarte A, Rodrнguez Boluarte A, Merino Soto C. Working conditions and emotional impact in healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Healthcare Quality Research. 2020 Nov; 35(6):401-2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhqr.2020.08.002

15. Tahernejad S, Ghaffari S, Ariza-Montes A, Wesemann U, Farahmandnia H, Sahebi A. Post-traumatic stress disorder in medical workers involved in earthquake response: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Heliyon. 2023 Jan;9(1):e12794. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e12794

16. Veje M, Linden K, Sengpiel V, Carlsson Y, Jonsdottir IH, Degl’Innocenti A, Ahlstrom L, Wijk H, Akerstrom M. Working conditions for healthcare workers at a Swedish university hospital infectious disease department during the COVID-19 pandemic: barriers and facilitators to maintaining employee wellbeing. Frontiers in Psychology. 2023 May 18;14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1183084

17. Gбlvez–Herrer M, Via–Clavero G, ┴ngel–Sesmero JA, Heras–La Calle G. Psychological crisis and emergency intervention for frontline critical care workers during the COVID–19 pandemic. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 2021 Sep 20. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16050

18. Blanchard J, Li Y, Bentley SK, Lall MD, Messman AM, Liu YT, Diercks DB, Merritt–Recchia R, Sorge R, et al. In their own words: experiences of emergency health care workers during the COVID–19 pandemic. Academic Emergency Medicine. 2022 Mar 24. https://doi.org/10.1111/acem.14490

19. Razu SR, Yasmin T, Arif TB, Islam MS, Islam SM, Gesesew HA, Ward P. Challenges faced by healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative inquiry from Bangladesh. Frontiers in Public Health. 2021 Aug 10;9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.647315

20. Balut MD, Der-Martirosian C, Dobalian A. Disaster preparedness training needs of healthcare workers at the US department of veterans affairs. Southern Medical Journal. 2022;115(2):158-63. https://doi.org/10.14423/SMJ.0000000000001358

21. Canady VA. Study finds COVID–19 first responders prone to MH problems. Mental Health Weekly. 2022 Jan 21;32(4):7. https://doi.org/10.1002/mhw.33088

22. WHO’s response to health emergencies: annual report 2022. Geneva: WHO; 2023. 65 p.