Health Care Leaders (HCLs) faced unprecedented challenges during the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Leaders played an important role in shaping the experiences of Health Care Workers (HCWs) during this time. However, research is needed on how HCWs experienced and characterized HCLs' response and support. The aim of our study was to examine HCWs' experiences with leadership and to identify aspects of HCLs' response that were effective in supporting HCWs in their roles during the early phases of the pandemic. This was a qualitative study based on open-ended semi-structured interviews conducted (June 1- July 18, 2020) with frontline HCWs during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Connecticut, USA. Participants (N = 45) included physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists and patient care assistants who worked in inpatient and outpatient settings in various specialties, roles and 3 health systems across Connecticut, USA during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were offered a $25 gift card as an incentive for participation. We used inductive techniques derived from grounded theory to develop themes. We identified 6 main themes related to leadership response and support of HCWs during the pandemic namely: 1) Effective communication and transparency; 2) Prioritizing their health and safety; 3) Employee scheduling considerations: autonomy, assignment support and respite; 4) Appreciation- financial and nonfinancial; 5) Showing up and listening and 6) Stepping up with resources. Our findings can inform leadership responses to future pandemics and other unanticipated crises leading to strengthening of the health care system as a whole.

中文翻译：

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如何在前所未有的危机中领导医护人员：美国康涅狄格州 COVID-19 大流行的定性研究。

在 COVID-19 大流行的初始阶段，医疗保健领导者 (HCL) 面临着前所未有的挑战。在此期间，领导者在塑造卫生保健工作者 (HCW) 的体验方面发挥了重要作用。然而，需要研究 HCWs 如何体验和描述 HCLs 的响应和支持。我们研究的目的是检查 HCW 的领导经验，并确定 HCL 响应的哪些方面可以有效地支持 HCW 在大流行的早期阶段发挥作用。这是一项定性研究，基于在美国康涅狄格州第一波 COVID-19 大流行期间对一线医护人员进行的开放式半结构化访谈（2020 年 6 月 1 日至 7 月 18 日）。参与者 (N = 45) 包括医生、护士、在 COVID-19 大流行期间，在美国康涅狄格州的各种专业、角色和 3 个卫生系统的住院和门诊环境中工作的呼吸治疗师和患者护理助理。参与者获得了一张 25 美元的礼品卡作为参与的奖励。我们使用源自扎根理论的归纳技术来开发主题。我们确定了与大流行期间医护人员的领导反应和支持相关的 6 个主要主题：1) 有效的沟通和透明度；2) 优先考虑他们的健康和安全；3) 员工排班注意事项：自主性、分配支持和喘息时间；4) 升值——财务和非财务；5) 出现并倾听 6) 加强资源。