Health Care Workers' Reflections, Experiences, and Sequela throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective: Health care workers (HCW) experienced significant stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. This qualitative study describes how they contextualized the experience several years later. Methods: In August 2023, 1832 HCW at an academic medical center completed a confidential electronic survey; 443 of them responded to an open-ended question about their experiences during the pandemic. The statements were analyzed qualitatively, using a grounded theory approach to allow themes to emerge from the data. Results: Common themes included fear/anxiety (22%), burnout (15%), protecting family from risk (11%), lack of employer support (11%), fear of illness (8%), increased appreciation for life (8%), and exposure to death/illness (5%). Conclusion: HCW experienced substantial stress during the pandemic. Mental health services and structural changes in the health care system are needed to protect HCW during future public health emergencies.