How positive deviants helped in fighting the early phase of Covid-19 pandemic? A qualitative study exploring the roles of frontline health workers in Nepal

Bibliographic Data

ID19591968
AuthorsRolina Dhital (0000-0002-9491-2881, Nepal Participatory Action Network, corresponding author), M Subedi (0000-0001-6495-0601, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, corresponding author), Pawan Kumar Hamal (0000-0003-4887-3487, National Academy of Medical Sciences, corresponding author), Carmina Shrestha (0000-0003-0056-3009, Nepal Participatory Action Network, corresponding author), Sandesh Bhusal (0000-0002-3060-5823, Nepal Participatory Action Network, corresponding author), Reshika Rimal (0000-0003-3030-9159, Nepal Participatory Action Network, corresponding author), Lovin Gopali (0000-0003-0787-2656, Nepal Participatory Action Network, corresponding author), Richa Shah (0000-0002-3625-8228, Nepal Participatory Action Network, corresponding author)
EditorsJulia Robinson (0000-0003-0719-3995)
Year2023
Volume3
Issue3
Pagese0000671
Publication date2023-03-08
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePLOS Global Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2767-3375 • E-ISSN: 2767-3375
PublisherPublic Library of Science (PLoS) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1371/journal.pgph.0000671
PMID36962974
OpenAlexW4323540086
LanguageEN
References cited31

Positive deviance is an approach wherein learnings from persons who fare better than their peers under similar circumstances are used to enable behavioral and social change. Such behaviors and solutions are likely affordable, acceptable, sustainable, and fit into the socio-cultural milieu. Despite the wide use of positive deviance in many public health programs and research, it has yet to be used to study frontline workers in the context of COVID-19. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the positive deviance traits among frontline health workers during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal. This qualitative study followed a grounded theory approach. The data was collected through in-depth interviews among the 17 identified participants representing different cadres of the health workforce, types of health facilities, and regions across Nepal purposively. The findings are structured around four major themes: challenges, finding solutions and innovations, positive lessons, and motivations. The personal challenges included fear and anxiety about the uncertainties. The professional challenges included stigma, infection control, and changing work style with the use of personal protective equipment. Despite the challenges, they managed available resources and innovated low-cost, technological, and practice-based solutions. They were able to reflect upon the positive lessons learned, such as self-sustainability, teamwork, and policy direction and research, and self-reflection of personal growth and patient care. The intrinsic motivation included their inherent value system, and the extrinsic motivation included appreciation and acknowledgment, family and social support, psychosocial support from peers, and support from higher authorities. This study provides insights into how the positive deviance approach can help identify the solution amid the most challenging circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic in low-resource settings. However, more extensive studies are warranted to explore deeper into positive deviance and its long-term effects in bringing positive outcomes during the pandemic

Health care · Pandemic · Political science · Positive deviance · Psychosocial · Public relations · Qualitative research · Sociology · Workforce · COVID-19 and Mental Health · COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Social Psychology · Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy

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