Healthcare Professionals' Experiences in Managing a Global Biological Disaster (COVID-19): A Phenomenological Study

With the COVID-19 biological disaster, it is important to evaluate the physical, psychological, and social needs of healthcare professionals whose working conditions have become more challenging and who operate under high-risk conditions. This study aims to detail the experiences of healthcare professionals before, during, and after a biological disaster, including individual and institutional preparations, challenges faced during disaster response, coping experiences, feelings at the end of the process, and demands for potential future biological disasters. This study was conducted using a phenomenological approach. Face-to-face interviews were carried out in the workplace with 15 volunteer healthcare professionals who were involved in responding to the COVID-19 global biological disaster. The interview was transcribed verbatim, coded, and significant statements were identified and themes were created. The coding process was conducted using the MAXQDA 2020 qualitative data analysis software to organize, categorize, and code the information. Healthcare professionals faced numerous challenges during the global biological disaster of COVID-19. Among the demands of healthcare professionals in responding to biological disasters are avoiding staff rotations, planning quarantine measures, improving working conditions, providing psychological support, ensuring accurate information, fostering professional specialization, and offering administrative support. Healthcare professionals with experience in biological disasters should be regarded as valuable human resources for future scenarios, and these experiences should be appropriately rewarded. Addressing the experiences of healthcare professionals holistically can enhance preparedness for biological disasters, contribute to the development of health policies, increase resilience, design appropriate responses, and identify necessary supportive strategies.