The clarity and adaptability of instructions preventing the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Perceptions of staff in care of older people in Sweden and their association with individual factors and organisational factors regarding the psychosocial work environment. A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Background Older people in residential care had the highest mortality rates, followed by those who received home care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden. Staff working in the care of older persons assumed responsibility for preventing the spread of the virus in spite of lacking the prerequisites and training to do so. This study aimed to investigate how staff in the care of older people described their psychosocial work environment during the COVID-19 pandemic; it also aimed to examine the perceived clarity of the instructions and the staff’s ability to follow the instructions to prevent the spread of the virus and its association with individual factors and organisational factors regarding the psychosocial work environment.Methods A cross-sectional web survey was conducted for the data collection. The staff’s perceptions of their psychosocial environment were analysed using descriptive statistics. The association between organisational and individual factors, as well as the degree of clarity of the instructions and the staff’s ability to follow them, were assessed using multivariate (ordinal) regression analysis.Results The main findings were that perceptions of the clarity and adaptability of the instructions were primarily correlated with organisational factors, as higher responses (positive) for the subscales focusing on positive challenges, role clarity, control, support and encouragement in leadership at work were associated with the belief that the instructions were clear. Similarly, those indicating high job demands and high individual learning demands were less likely to report that the instructions were clear.Conclusions High job demands and individual learning demands were demonstrated to decrease the staffs understanding and adoption of instructions. These findings are significant on an organisational level, since the work environment must be prepared for potential future pandemics to promote quality improvement and to generally increase patient safety as well as the health of staff.