Nurses' emotions in conflict and catastrophe humanitarian aid projects: Scoping Review

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29352/mill0215e.36443

Keywords:

emotions; nursing; humanitarian aid; catastrophes; conflict

Abstract

Introduction: Providing nursing care in humanitarian aid contexts is both complex and emotionally challenging. Nurses face significant difficulties, including cultural differences, insecurity, adverse living conditions, and limited resources.

Objective: This review aims to identify and map the scientific evidence on the emotions experienced by nurses providing care in international humanitarian aid settings, particularly in conflict and catastrophe scenarios.

Methods: Following the Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewers' methodology, a comprehensive search was conducted in the MEDLINE, CINAHL, SCOPUS, and PUBMED databases from October 2023 to April 2024. The review considered articles available in full text, without time restrictions, and published in English or Portuguese. This scoping review included all types of studies that addressed the emotions experienced by nurses in this context.

Results: Five relevant articles published between 2004 and 2017 across four countries were identified. The predominant emotions were negative, including worry, fear, anxiety, stress, emotional vulnerability, and surprise. However, positive emotions such as joy, hope, and gratitude were also reported. Two key recommendations emerged to improve the management of these emotions: the importance of thorough preparation and the inclusion of experienced professionals in the team.

Conclusion: A better understanding of the emotions experienced by nurses in humanitarian contexts can improve knowledge and coping strategies, thereby optimizing care delivery and mitigating emotional impacts. However, the limited scientific evidence highlights the need for further research in this area.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Albuquerque, S., Eriksson, A., & Alvesson, H. M. (2018). The rite of passage of becoming a humanitarian health worker: experiences of retention in Sweden. Global Health Action, 11(1), 1417522. https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2017.1417522

Almonte, A. L.C. (2009) Humanitarian nursing challenges: A grounded theory study. Military Medicine, 174(5), 479-485. https://doi.org/10.7205/MILMED-D-01-7908

Bjerneld, M., Lindmark, G., Diskett, P., & Garrett, M. J. (2004). Perceptions of work in humanitarian assistance: interviews with returning Swedish health professionals. Disaster Management & Response, 2(4), 101-108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dmr.2004.08.009

Chao, L., Niu, T., Gu, H., Yang, Y., Wei, Q., Xia, Y., Hui, W., Zuo, S., Zhu, Z., Pei, C., Li, X., Zhang, J., Fang, J., Xing, G., Li, H., Huang, X., Gao, X., Ran, C., Song, L., … Huang, W. (2020). Origin of high efficiency and long-term stability in ionic liquid perovskite photovoltaic. Research, 2020, Article 2616345. https://doi.org/10.34133/2020/2616345

Danna, D., & Bennett, M. (2011). Nurses' experiences of responding to a health care disaster or adventitious crisis: a systematic review of qualitative evidence. JBI library of systematic reviews, 9(64 Suppl), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.11124/01938924-201109641-00009

Damásio, A. (2020). Sentir & Saber: A caminho da consciência. Temas e Debates.

Diogo, P. (2015). Trabalho com as emoções em enfermagem pediátrica: Um processo de metamorfose da experiência emocional no ato de cuidar (2º ed.). Lusodidacta

Diogo, P., Sousa, M., Rodrigues, J., Silva, T., & Santos, M. (2021). Emotional labor of nurses in the front line against the COVID-19 pandemic. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, 74, e20200660. https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2020-0660

Diogo, P. (2023). Modelo de trabalho emocional em enfermagem pediátrica. Lisbon International Press.

Global Humanitarian Assistance Report (2023). Development Initiatives. https://devinit.org/resources/global-humanitarian-assistance-report-2023/#exec-summary.

Guimaro, M. S., Caiuby, A. V., dos Santos, O. F., Lacerda, S. S., & Andreoli, S. B. (2013). Sintomas de estresse pós-traumático em profissionais durante ajuda humanitária no Haiti, após o terremoto de 2010. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 18(11), 3175-3181. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1413-81232013001100008

Finnegan, A, Lauder, W., & McKenna, H. (2016). The challenges and psychological impact of delivering nursing care within a war zone. Nursing Outlook, 64(5), 450-458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2016.05.005

Joanna Briggs Institute (2015). Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewers’ Manual: 2015. The Joanna Briggs Institute. https://reben.com.br/revista/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Scoping.pdf

Kollie, E. S., Winslow, B. J., Pothier, P., & Gaede, D. (2017). Deciding to work during the Ebola outbreak: The voices and experiences of nurses and midwives in Liberia. International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences, 7,75-81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijans.2017.09.002

Lal, S., & Spence, D. (2014). Humanitarian nursing in developing countries: A phenomenological analysis. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 27(1), 18-24. https://doi.org/10.1177/1043659614536585

Peters, M. D. J., Marnie, C., Tricco, A. C., Pollock, D., Munn, Z., Alexander, L., McInerney, P., Godfrey, C. M., & Khalil, H. (2020). Updated methodological guidance for the conduct of scoping reviews. JBI Evidence Synthesis, 18(10), 2119-2126. https://doi.org/10.11124/JBIES-20-00167

Pourvakhshoori, N., Norouzi, K., Ahmadi, F., Hosseini, M., & Khankeh, H. (2017) Nurse in limbo: A qualitative study of nursing in disasters in Iranian context. PLoS ONE 12(7): e0181314. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0181314

Resolução do Conselho de Ministros nº 65/2015 (2015). Aprova a Estratégia Operacional de Ação Humanitária e de Emergência. Presidência do Conselho de Ministros. Diário da República, Série I (N.º 167 de 2015-08-27), 6421 - 6427. https://data.dre.pt/eli/resolconsmin/65/2015/08/27/p/dre/pt/html

Santos, P., Rabiais, I.M. (2015). Enfermagem de catástrofe: preparação para o desenvolvimento de competências. In M. Vieira, B. Araújo, S. Deodato (coord.), 9th International Seminar on Nursing Research Proceedings (p. 49). Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde. https://repositorio.ucp.pt/handle/10400.14/21279

Watson, J. (2018). Unitary caring science: the philosophy and praxis of nursing. University Press of Colorado.

Wei, H., & Watson, J. (2019). Healthcare interprofessional team members' perspectives on human caring: A directed content analysis study. International Journal of Nursing Sciences, 6(1), 17-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnss.2018.12.001

Published

2024-09-26

How to Cite

Almeida, T., Diogo, P., & Barros, L. (2024). Nurses’ emotions in conflict and catastrophe humanitarian aid projects: Scoping Review. Millenium - Journal of Education, Technologies, and Health, (15e), e36443. https://doi.org/10.29352/mill0215e.36443

Issue

Section

Life and Healthcare Sciences