EXPLORING THE PERCEPTIONS OF FRONTLINE WORKERS DURING THE

OUTBREAK OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE IN ARGAO, CEBU

Albeos O. Rembrant

Cabiling P. Mary Julianne

Espenida M. Ryan

Licuanan O. Lovely Shaine

Mamalias R. Mayell

Sardido P. Hannah Mae

Sarinina E. Tommy Fritzpatrick

Argao National High School

Practical Research 1

Mrs. Zendy K. Chavez

 CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE

Rationale

The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2

virus. It can range from mild symptoms such as fever, cough, and fatigue, to severe illness such

as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and death. The virus is highly contagious and

can be transmitted through respiratory droplets when an infected person talks, coughs, or

sneezes.

According to the World Health Organization (2021), Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-

19) is declared as a public health emergency that requires drastic interventions. Concretely, the

disease started back in December 2019 in Wuhan city then continued to spread throughout the

world. As a result, numerous people around the world got infected whereas, the virus has caused

serious illnesses, even death, and social disruption around the world. At the time of this writing

(March 2023), there are 681,543,865 confirmed cases of COVID 19, 6,811,920 deaths, and

654,481,009 people that recovered worldwide. Despite the availability of vaccines, the pandemic

continues to pose a significant threat, particularly to unvaccinated individuals and those with

weakened immune systems. Ongoing efforts to monitor and control the spread of the virus

remain critical.

Nowadays, quantitative research predominates investigation of the epidemiological

literature COVID-19's immunological and clinical features. Despite being advantageous, a

drawback of quantitative methods is that it frequently overlooks the sociocultural effects of

illnesses and other factors that affect behavior and health. In this regard, qualitative methods are

perfect for capturing social reactions to this epidemic that reveal socioeconomic realities about

people and communities, and religious norms. Most reported qualitative researches regarding

COVID-19 are from the country China, in which results for it as not really applicable to other

nations including Philippines. Thus, it is crucial to conduct qualitative study on COVID-19 to fill

in these holes in the research.

In the country Philippines,from January 3, 2020 to March 7, 2023, it has reported to

WHO that there have been 4,077,109 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 66,160 deaths.. As of 

March 2023, a total of 170,638,379 vaccine doses have been administered. At the high level

supreme committee and governmental level, several interventions were made in the various

governmental and business sectors. These measures might have had social and financial effects

that need to be looked into.

Lockdowns and regulatory changes to stop the spread of COVID-19 have significant

effects on the health system, the economy, and society in the Philippines. Community

quarantines, combined with travel and border restrictions, have adversely affected everyone's

access to and delivery of health services, especially those patients who need specialized

treatment. Existing resources were used to carry out COVID19-related duties, which interfered

with current record-keeping and surveillance mechanisms. These included infection control

measures, taking swabs, the clinical presentation of the disease and follow up plans. With

referral systems and the implementation of telemedicine services, local health systems

strengthened gatekeeping mechanisms for secondary and tertiary care, therefore reducing the

need for face-to-face consultation. The Philippines' health system has had varying effects
depending on the municipal income level and terrain, which has been a result of long-standing

signs of unequal resource distribution.

Healthcare workers have been on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, caring for

infected patients and working to stop the virus's spread. They have been overwhelmed and

stressed as a result of the pandemic's demands, frequently lacking adequate personal protective

equipment (PPE) and facing shortages of other essential supplies. Despite these challenges, many

healthcare workers have felt a sense of purpose and commitment to their work, motivated by the

opportunity to make a difference and inspired by the resilience of their patients and colleagues.

They have, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of support and recognition they have

received from their employers and the larger community. In the face of this global health crisis,

healthcare workers have shown extraordinary dedication and resilience. Therefore, it is important

to recognize and support healthcare workers as they continue to provide essential care and

services during the pandemic.

In accordance with the National Health Library of Medicine (2022), several studies

showed that the frontline health care workers (HCWs) were at risk for mental and stress related

problems during crisis. According to a recent cross-sectional study from Iran, during the

COVID-19 epidemic, 53.0% of HCWs were burned out. According to another study, doctors

who explicitly experience emotional weariness, depersonalization, and a lack of personal success

are more likely to be burned out. Also, it has been noted that greater incidence of stress-related

diseases among HCWs during crises might be attributed to social isolation, particularly when

staff members are subjected to extended quarantine, as well as the dread of contracting an

infection or having a family member already afflicted. Staff members may also be anxious as a

result of their emotions of uncertainty while dealing with seriously sick patients. Hence, the
purpose of this study is to explore the perceptions of the frontline health care workers (HCWs) in

Argao, Cebu, Philippines in the management of COVID-19 with respect to:

 1. Medical response experiences 

2. Psychological impressions 

3. Lessons learned

Theoretical Background

This study is anchored in two theories, namely: Hobfoll’s theory of Conservation of

Resources (COR), and Self-Determination Theory (SDT) by Edward Deci and Richard Ryan.

The Conservation of Resources (COR) Theory, a stress theory, explains why people are

motivated to preserve their current resources as well as seek for new ones. Dr. Stevan E. Hobfoll

put forth this theory in 1989 as a way to add to the body of research on stress as a construct. This

theory provides a framework for comprehending how people react under stress and contends that

stress is a result of situations where valuable resources are at risk of being lost or have already

been lost. Additionally, human conduct under stress is driven by the urge to protect, preserve,

and obtain these priceless resources. The COR theory states that loss is more significant than

gain and that loss propagates itself. The theory has a strong empirical foundation and is

particularly useful for figuring out how stress and physical health are related. It provides

essential understandings that have influenced studies on managing chronic illness, the medical

repercussions of natural disasters, and the long-term effects of occupational burnout. It has

implications for emergency preparedness and for enhancing medical treatment, particularly for

patients with histories of trauma. COR theory may prove especially useful in understanding
health-related resource caravan passageways – that is, mechanisms by which risk and resilience

factors cluster together and impact health.

This theory suggests that individuals strive to acquire, retain, and protect the resources

they value, including personal, social, and material resources. In regards of the healthcare

workers during the pandemic, the theory will be used to explore how healthcare workers

perceive and respond to the depletion of their resources. The study will examine how healthcare

workers' perceptions and behaviors are influenced by the availability and accessibility of

resources such as personal protective equipment, staffing, and social support, as well as how they

cope with resource loss and depletion.

Self-Determination is a theory of human motivation developed by psychologists Edward

Deci and Richard Ryan back in 2000. It represents a broad framework for the study of human

motivation and personality. SDT articulates a meta-theory for framing motivational studies, a

formal theory that defines intrinsic and varied extrinsic sources of motivation, and a description

of the respective roles of intrinsic and types of extrinsic motivation in cognitive and social

development and in individual differences. Perhaps more importantly, SDT propositions also

focus on how social and cultural factors facilitate or undermine people’s sense of volition and

initiative, in addition to their well-being and the quality of their performance.  Conditions

supporting the individual’s experience of autonomy, competence, and relatedness are argued to

foster the most volitional and quality forms of motivation and engagement for activities,

including enhanced performance, persistence, and creativity. In addition, SDT proposes that the

degree to which any of these three psychological needs is unsupported or thwarted within a

social context will have a robust detrimental impact on wellness in that setting.
 This theory focuses on the psychological needs that drive human behavior, including

autonomy, competence, and relatedness. In the context of healthcare workers during the

pandemic, the theory will be used to explore how healthcare workers perceive and respond to the

challenges and stressors of their work. The study will examine how healthcare workers'
Recomm
perceptions and behaviors are influenced by their need for autonomy, competence, and

relatedness, as well as how they maintain motivation and well-being during the pandemic.

Suggests that individuals strive to

Conservation of acquire, retain, and protect the
Resources (COR)
Theory resources they value, including
personal, social, and material
(Hobfoll , 1989) resources.
THE PERCEPTIONS OF FRONTLINE
WORKERS DURING THE OUTBREAK
OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE IN These enable the researchers
ARGAO, CEBU to explore the perceptions of
health care workers

Self- Focuses on the psychological needs

Determination Theory that drive human behavior, including
(SDT) autonomy, competence, and
(Deci & Ryan, 2000) relatedness.

Figure 1. Theoretical Framework

Statement of the Problem

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on frontline workers globally,

including healthcare workers, first responders, and essential workers. The purpose of this study is

to explore the perceptions of frontline workers during the outbreak of COVID-19 in terms of
medical responses, psychological impression, and lessons learned. Specifically, this study seeks

to gain insights into the experiences, challenges, and coping mechanisms of frontline workers

during the COVID-19 outbreak in Argao, Cebu.

This research will aim to answer the following questions in terms of:

1. Medical Responses:

1.1 Can you describe your experience in responding to the outbreak of COVID-19?

1.2 What were the most significant challenges you faced during this time?

1.3 How did you feel about the medical responses to COVID-19?

1.4 What strategies did you use to protect yourself from the virus while working on the

front lines?

2. Psychological Impression:

2.1 How did the outbreak of COVID-19 affect your mental health and well-being?

2.2 Can you describe your experience in coping with stress and anxiety during this time?

2.3 Did you feel that you received adequate support for your psychological needs?

2.4 What do you think could have been done differently to better support the mental

health of frontline workers during the outbreak?

3. Lessons Learned:

3.1 What lessons did you learn from your experience during the COVID-19 outbreak?

3.2 How do you think organizations and policymakers can better support and protect

frontline workers during future health crises?

3.3 How can the experiences of frontline workers be used to improve the overall response

to pandemics or other health emergencies?

3.4 What would you like to see change to better support frontline workers in the future?
Significance of the Study

The significance of exploring the perceptions of frontline workers during the outbreak of

coronavirus disease is relevant to various groups, including:

Students. The findings from the study can help students in the healthcare field to

understand the challenges and experiences of frontline workers, which can help them prepare

better for their future careers.

Parents and Teachers. The study can help parents and teachers to educate children

about the importance of frontline workers and the sacrifices they make to protect public health.

Health professionals. The findings can inform the development of guidelines and

policies to better support and protect frontline workers during pandemics or other public health

emergencies.

Community. The study can raise awareness among the general public about the

sacrifices and challenges faced by frontline workers, fostering greater appreciation and empathy

towards them.

Government. The findings from the study can inform the development of policies and

practices to better protect the health and safety of frontline workers during future health crises.

This can help to ensure that frontline workers have the necessary support, resources, and

protection to respond effectively to pandemics or other health emergencies.

Future researchers. The findings from the study can serve as a foundation for future

research on the experiences of frontline workers during pandemics or other public health

emergencies.
 Overall, the significance of exploring the perceptions of frontline workers during the

outbreak of coronavirus disease extends beyond the healthcare field, as it can raise awareness,

inform future research, and help to develop policies and practices that better support and protect

frontline workers during pandemics or other public health emergencies.

Scope and Delimitations

The study focuses on exploring the perceptions of frontline workers during the COVID-

19 pandemic in Argao, Cebu. An interview will be conducted to frontline workers in order for

the researchers to collect data. The responses from the frontline workers will be used to gain

insights into the experiences, challenges, and coping mechanisms of frontline workers during the

COVID-19 outbreak. The researchers will collect data from respondents by roaming around

different workplaces of frontline workers within the municipality of Argao. The collection of

data will be conducted by the researchers in 7 days.

The study will focus on frontline workers in different healthcare settings, including

hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities in the municipality of Argao. It will explore the

perceptions of frontline workers from different healthcare professions, including doctors, nurses,

respiratory therapists, pharmacists, and more. Also, the study will investigate the perceptions of

frontline workers from different demographic backgrounds, such as age, gender, ethnicity, and

years of experience.. The researchers will focus on the perceptions of frontline workers during

the period of pandemic when the rise of death was rapidly increasing and quarantines were

implemented.

Definition of Key Terms

The following key terms are defined:

Coronaviruses - are a family of viruses that can cause respiratory illness in humans which are

spread worldwide.

Frontline workers- employees within essential industries who physically show up to their jobs

during the Coronavirus disease pandemic.

Pandemic- widespread occurrence of disease such as the Coronavirus over the world.

Perception- the act or faculty of perceiving, or apprehending by means of the senses or of the

mind; cognition; understanding of the pandemic situation and experiences of healthcare workers.