Two Sides, Same Coin: Posttraumatic Growth Among Selected Nurses with History of Covid-19 Virus in Bataan, Philippines

  • Ronnel Magpantay Bataan Peninsula State University
  • Jayvie Villazor Bataan Peninsula State University
Keywords: COVID-19, descriptive phenomenology, nurse, pandemic, posttraumatic growth

Abstract

Over the past three years, the pandemic has substantially altered the field of healthcare. Consequently, the general well-being of nurses was negatively impacted as a result of this change. It affects both their professional and personal lives, specifically their psychological, social, and physical sequelae. However, positive transformation, also known as posttraumatic growth, is possible. In the current study, the objective is to provide an account and analysis of the essence of the experience of posttraumatic growth among nurses after being exposed to COVID-19 during the pandemic. Twelve participants from Bataan, Philippines, were interviewed in person using a semi-structured interview format based on descriptive phenomenology. The study's findings unveiled three distinct themes, each of which possesses its own complementary opposition. One of the dichotomies is referred to as "heads," while the other is known as "tails" to represent the idea of "two sides of the same coin." The three dichotomies are spirituality vs. uncertainty, affinity vs. incompatibility, and prosperity vs. adversity. The findings will provide mental health providers with guidance regarding the causes and conditions that promote posttraumatic growth. Furthermore, the aforementioned research will contribute valuable insights into the areas of nursing, clinical psychology, and positive psychology in the Philippines.

References

Agence France-Presse. ‘Burned out:’ Philippine nurses battle Covid-19, resignations. Available: https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/09/21/opinion/burned-out-philippine-nurses-battle-covid-19-resignations/1815452.

Bartzik, M., Aust, F. & Peifer, C.(2021) Negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on nurses can be buffered by a sense of humor and appreciation. BMC Nurs 20, 257.

Bautista, R., Lapuz, P., Montano., R & Ignacio L., (2017). The Mediating Role of Posttraumatic Growth in Predicting Generalized Gratitude of Resilient PWDS. Philippine E-Journal, 4 (2).

Cresswell JW, Plano Clark VL. Designing and conducting mixed method research. 2nd Sage

Cui PP, Wang PP, Wang K, et al. (2021). Post-traumatic growth and influencing factors among frontline nurses fighting against COVID-19. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 78(1), 129-135.

d'Ettorre G, Ceccarelli G, Santinelli L, Vassalini P, Innocenti GP, Alessandri F, et al. (2021)Post-traumatic stress symptoms in healthcare workers dealing with thecovid-19 pandemic: a systematic review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 18(1), 601.

Ellis P (2016) Understanding research for Nursing Students (3rd edn). Sage Publications, London

Galletta M, Piras I, Finco G, Meloni F, D'Aloja E, Contu P, Campagna M, Portoghese I., (2021) Worries, Preparedness, and Perceived Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Nurses' Mental Health. Front Public Health. 26(9), 566-700.

Han S.J., Chun, J. Y., & Bae, H.J., (2022). Post-Traumatic Growth of Nurses in COVID-19 Designated Hospitals in Korea. International Journal Environmental Research and Public Health, 20 (1), 56.

Häussl A, Ehmann E, Pacher A, Knödl K, Huber T, Neundlinger L, Osmanovic A, Plank-Straner A, Walter P, Schüssler S, Schoberer D., (2021). Psychological, physical, and social effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital nurses. Int Nurse Rev. 68(4), 482-492.

Joseph, Stephen; Linley, P. Alex (2005). Positive Adjustment to Threatening Events: An Organismic Valuing Theory of Growth Through Adversity.. Review of General Psychology, 9(3), 262–280.

Kisely, S., Warren, N., McMahon L., Dalais C., Henry I., & Siskind D. (2020). Occurrence, prevention, and management of the psychological effects of emerging virus outbreaks on healthcare workers: rapid review and meta-

analysis. BMJ 2020; 369.

Mo Y, Tao P, Liu G, Chen L, Li G, Lu S, Zhang G, Liang R and Huang H (2022). Post-Traumatic Growth of Nurses Who Faced the COVID-19 Epidemic and Its Correlation With Professional Self-Identity and Social Support. Front. Psychiatry 12:562938.

Nelson H, Hubbard Murdoch N, Norman K. The Role of Uncertainty in the Experiences of Nurses During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Phenomenological Study. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research. 2021;53(2):124-133.

O'Donnell ML; Elliott P, Lau W. PTSD symptom trajectories: from early to chronic response. Behav Res Ther. (2007) 45:601–6.

O’Donovan, R.; Burke, J. Factors Associated with Post‐Traumatic Growth in Healthcare Professionals: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Healthcare 2022, 10, 2524.

Peng X, Zhao HZ, Yang Y, Rao ZL, Hu DY, He Q., (2021). Post-traumatic Growth Level and Its Influencing Factors Among Frontline Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Front Psychiatry. 9(12),632-640.

Tedeschi, R. G. & Calhoun, L. G. (2004). Posttraumatic growth: Conceptual foundations and empirical evidence. Psychological Inquiry, 15, 1– 18.

Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (1996). The posttraumatic growth inventory: measuring the positive legacy of trauma. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 9(3), 455-472.

Tominaga, Y., Goto, T., Shelby, J., Oshio, A., Nishi, D. & Takahashi, S. (2019). Secondary trauma and posttraumatic growth among mental health clinicians involved in disaster relief activities following the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 1– 21.

Turgut, Y; Oz, H; Akgun, M; Boz I; Yangin, H, (2022). Qualitative exploration of nurses' experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic using the Reconceptualized Uncertainty in Illness Theory: An interpretive descriptive study. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 78 (7), 2111-2122.

Villazor J., & De Guzman, R., (2022), More than Grief and Resilience: The Posttraumatic Growth of Grieving Parents by Suicide in Bataan, Philippines, Journal of Education, Management and Development Studies, 2 (1), 1-12.

Wijoyo, E.B., Susanti, H., Panjaitan, R.U. et al (2020). Nurses’ perception about posttraumatic growth (PTG) after natural disasters. BMC Proc 14(13), 19.

World Health Organization (2020). WHO and Partners Call for Urgent Investment

In Nurses. ttps://www.who.int/news-room/detail/07-04-2020-who-and-partners-call-for-urgent- investment-in-nurses

Wu X, Kaminga AC, Dai W, Deng J, Wang Z, Pan X, et al.. The prevalence of moderate-to-high posttraumatic growth: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord. (2019) 243:408–15.

Yim, J. Y., Kim J., A., (2022). Factors influencing posttraumatic growth among nurses caring for COVID-19 patients: A path analysis. Journal of Nursing Management 30(6), 1940-1948

Zulueta, F. M. and Costales Jr., N. E. B.Methods of Research: Thesis Writing and AppliedStatistics, Navotas, Metro Manila, Philippines: Navotas Press, 2003.

Published
2024-10-23
How to Cite
Magpantay, R., & Villazor, J. (2024). Two Sides, Same Coin: Posttraumatic Growth Among Selected Nurses with History of Covid-19 Virus in Bataan, Philippines. Indonesian Journal of Global Health Research, 7(1), 437-448. https://doi.org/10.37287/ijghr.v7i1.4507