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http://hdl.handle.net/11375/30310
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DC Field | Value | Language |
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dc.contributor.advisor | Vanstone, Meredith | - |
dc.contributor.author | Scholes, Alison | - |
dc.date.accessioned | 2024-10-02T17:34:53Z | - |
dc.date.available | 2024-10-02T17:34:53Z | - |
dc.date.issued | 2024 | - |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11375/30310 | - |
dc.description.abstract | Background: Insufficient resources and dynamic infection control policies during the COVID-19 pandemic created a resource-strained environment which necessitated frontline Health Care Providers (HCPs) to make ethical decisions frequently. Many of these ethical decisions included allocating scarce resources to optimally prioritize patients, resources, and clinician time. The transition from usual patient-centred care to care centred around infection control mandates and rationing resources forced HCPs to balance competing demands while trying to uphold high standards of care. This research aimed to understand the resource allocation decisions HCPs had to navigate during the pandemic and the ethical considerations guiding them. Methods: Using a qualitative case study approach, we aimed to document the type of ethical decision, reasoning used, and the action frontline HCPs took during the pandemic. Twenty-five semi-structured interviews were conducted with multi-disciplinary HCPs employed in a single community Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in Ontario. Resource allocation decisions were extracted from the transcripts and were analyzed using conventional content analysis. Results: Resource allocation decisions within critical care practice were ubiquitous and diverse. The constraints imposed by the pandemic and multiple provincial and organizational policies formed the context that necessitated these decisions. HCPs drew upon a range of ethical theories, notably Utilitarianism and Virtue Ethics, while prioritizing HCP safety and patient well-being. Resulting actions included prioritizing clinical tasks, establishing boundaries, and adapting practice patterns. Although these situations commonly evoked stress and frustration amongst HCPs, some positive internal responses were also described, including feelings of self-efficacy, resourcefulness, and team cohesion. Conclusion: In conclusion, analysis of resource allocation-derived decision-making illuminated a variety of challenges that HCPs faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, driven by institutional policies and pragmatic limitations. Insights from this study underscore how these ethical decisions are an inherent part of clinical practice and have the potential to foster positive professional development amidst adversity. | en_US |
dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
dc.subject | Critical Care | en_US |
dc.subject | Resource Allocation | en_US |
dc.subject | COVID-19 | en_US |
dc.subject | Ethical Decision Making | en_US |
dc.title | A Qualitative Study of Resource Allocation Decisions Navigated by Frontline Critical Care Providers During The COVID-19 Pandemic: Educational Insights and Implications | en_US |
dc.type | Thesis | en_US |
dc.description.degreetype | Thesis | en_US |
dc.description.degree | Master of Health Sciences (MSc) | en_US |
dc.description.layabstract | During the COVID-19 pandemic, Health Care Providers (HCPs) faced difficult choices due to limited resources and evolving infection control rules. HCPs had to decide how to allocate scarce resources and balance competing demands while maintaining high standards of care. This research aimed to understand the types of resource allocation decisions HCPs made and the ethical considerations guiding them. Through twenty-five interviews with HCPs from an Intensive Care Unit in Ontario, we found that such decisions were both frequent and diverse. HCPs considered ethical theories like Utilitarianism and Virtue Ethics, prioritizing patient well-being and HCP safety. They often had to adapt their practices, establish boundaries, and determine priorities. Although these decisions caused stress and frustration, they also fostered team cohesion and personal growth. Overall, this research sheds light on some challenges HCPs faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and underscores the importance of preparing learners to navigate ethical decision-making in clinical practice. | en_US |
Appears in Collections: | Open Access Dissertations and Theses |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
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scholes_alison_k_finalsubmission2024july_MSc.pdf | 1.15 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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