The Organizational Atmosphere in Israeli Hospital during COVID-19: Concerns, Perceptions, and Burnout

The COVID-19 crisis poses challenges to healthcare systems and requires micro- and macro-organizational adaptations. This study examined the organizational atmosphere in Israeli hospitals by evaluating workers' perceptions and concerns about the COVID-19 crisis and its management. At the end of the pandemic's first wave in Israel, 547 healthcare workers responded to an online survey, which inquired about COVID-19 concerns at the individual and family level, perceptions at the national and organizational level, perceptions of the way the crisis was managed, self-assessment of coping with the crisis and burnout, and demographics. Findings showed that healthcare workers expressed deep concerns for family members and apprehension at a national level. Respondents noted that they were coping well with the crisis while expressing negative perceptions of how the crisis was managed. A regression model showed that the low self-assessment of medical staff of coping with the crisis, deep concerns at the organizational level, negative perceptions of crisis management, and providing care for COVID-19 patients were predictors of burnout. The findings emphasize the importance of developing a supportive organizational culture for hospital workers. Awareness of their concerns and perceptions is essential to improve organizational culture and healthcare systems' ability to continue fighting the virus and confront future health crises.

Automated summary

The study examined the organizational atmosphere in Israeli hospitals during the COVID-19 crisis and found that healthcare workers expressed deep concerns for family members and negative perceptions of crisis management, despite feeling that they were coping well with the crisis. Low self-assessment of coping ability, deep concerns at the organizational level, negative perceptions of crisis management, and providing care for COVID-19 patients were predictors of burnout among healthcare workers. Developing a supportive organizational culture is crucial for hospital workers and improving healthcare systems' ability to confront future health crises.