Measuring the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Public Health Pandemic Response Activities on the Local PH Workforce

Date

2022-08

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Abstract

Currently, in the United States, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 exceeded 87 million and one million deaths in 2022 (World Health Organization, 2022). The pandemic has been an incredibly hectic time for the public health (PH) workforce. While there has been worldwide recognition of the efforts of PH workers in ensuring that the morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19 reduced, there has not been enough recognition and acknowledgement about the impact of COVID-19 and COVID-19 response activities on the well-being of PH workers. The current study was a cross-sectional analysis measuring the impact of COVID-19 and the PH pandemic response activities on 372 local PH workforce. The study examined if there was a significant level of burnout, comfortability, job burnout, reduced attrition, and stress due to COVID-19 and COVID response activities. In this study, most of the employees reported a higher level of burnout following the COVID-19 pandemic compared to prior to the pandemic. In addition, the study showed that non-supervisory employees were twice as likely as their supervisors to report a negative economic impact from COVID-19. As a result, COVID-19 and COVID-19 response negatively affected local PH workers. Collectively, the study revealed how the pandemic indirectly and directly impacted the wellness and personal lives of the PH workers.

Description

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Public Health

Keywords

Public Health

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