Homepage > Research abstracts > Risk Perception, Emotions, Trust and Risky Decision Making under the Coronavirus Crisis: A Field Study among Health Care Professionals
Risk Perception, Emotions, Trust and Risky Decision Making under the Coronavirus Crisis: A Field Study among Health Care Professionals
Researchers: Shosh Shahrabani1, Shiran Bord1, Hanna Admi1
- The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has forced healthcare professionals into a sustained state of emergency that is accompanied by a great deal of uncertainty and risk-taking Hence, it is important to examine emotional status, risk perceptions and decision-making among healthcare workers during the epidemic
Objectives: To examine the factors that influence decision-making and compliance with professional guidelines among medical staff in Israel during the COVID-19 epidemic, including emotional levels, risk perceptions, resilience and trust in the health system
Method: Two online surveys were conducted in December 2020. (a) a cross-sectional study among 681 nurses and physicians; (b) a comparative longitudinal study among 80 nurses. The questionnaire included measures of emotional assessment, risk perceptions at work, threat perceptions, level of trust in the healthcare system and decision-making regarding compliance with guidelines for treating patients and preventing the virus from spreading.
Findings: A. The degree of compliance with the guidelines increases with higher levels of trust in the healthcare system, higher risk perceptions, and higher levels of personal resilience. In addition, compliance with the guidelines was higher among nurses than among physicians.B. Between the first and third waves of the pandemic, degree of compliance with hygiene guidelines and perceptions of risk significantly decreased, while the intensity of negative emotions significantly increased.
Conclusions: Higher trust in the health care system and higher levels of personal resilience among medical staff were found to be associated with more careful decision-making, as reflected in stricter adherence to guidelines.
Recommendations: Taking steps to increase resilience and level of trust in the system among medical staff members will contribute to higher rates of compliance with work guidelines and strengthen their decision-making ability under conditions of pandemic and uncertainty.
Research number: R/383/2020
Research end date: 10/2021