The relationships between the perception of epidemic management and manager support and work stress, workload and work performance: Scale development and adaptation study

It is important to determine the relationship between epidemic management practices and manager support of healthcare institutions and workload, work stress and work performance through the perception of healthcare professionals during the epidemic, in order to be prepared for future epidemics. A model was created using structural equation modeling to determine the relationships between existing variables through relevant research and various analyzes during the epidemic period. A study evaluating healthcare workers as a whole during the epidemic has not been conducted and it is thought to be the first. In this regard, our other aims are to develop the "Epidemic Management Perception Scale" and to adapt the "Manager Support Perception Scale" into Turkish and to produce current and comprehensive scales, which we see are lacking in the literature. The research was conducted with 365 healthcare professionals at a university hospital in Istanbul. In the research, data were obtained using the systematic random sampling method. The research is a cross-sectional methodological and cross-sectional descriptive research.In the research, correlation and difference tests were used in the relationships between variables. In the validity analysis of the scales, item analysis, explanatory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis; In the reliability analysis, Cronbach Alpha, CR and AVE values were used. In the research, "Epidemic Management Perception Scale" Cronbach Alpha was determined as 0.963, and "Manager Support Perception Scale" was determined as 0.97. In the research, relationships between variables were modeled using structural equation modeling.As a result of the research, a highly positive (r = 0.606;36%) significant relationship was found between healthcare workers' perception of managerial support and their perception of epidemic management and sub-dimensions (Planning 30 %, Organizing 26 %, Management 21.9 % and Control 36.2 %). In addition, a high level of positive relationship was found between the workload and work stress of healthcare workers during the epidemic (r=0.780; %60). No relationship was found between workload and work performance. Low and moderate relationships were detected between other variables. According to the results of the difference test between the average scores of the scales and socio-demographic variables; It was concluded that there were differences according to gender, education, job title, working time in the profession and department they worked in. It was determined that during the epidemic period, female health workers' perception of workload and manager support was high, and nurses' workload and work stress were high. Department of Surgery staff perceived the workload as high and epidemic management as low. Work performance was found to be higher in male and high school graduate employees. In the research, it was determined that protective equipment was the biggest deficiency during the epidemic. As a result of the research, it is recommended that the developed and adapted scales be adapted and used in other institutions and organizations.