Table 3.

Summary of Thematic Analysis

Main Themes	Code in the Texts
Inadequate preparedness	• Frontline work without preparedness28 • Limited pandemic preparedness31 • Poor coping with rapid changes32
Emotional challenges	• Fear of unpredictable enemy28 • Emotional distress due to the fear of contracting the virus30 • Stigma of contracting the virus29 • Anxiety and fear among frontline workers31 • New experiences of drastic changes32 • Negative psychological effects33 Fear of providing COVID-19 care27 • Fear of transmitting the virus34 • Fear of being in the frontlines25 • Fear of contracting the virus26 • Stigma26,29
Insufficient equipment and information	• Lack of standardized guidelines for COVID-19 prevention and control31 • Inadequate training and information on new diseases27,29 • Dealing with an unpredictable pandemic27 • Lack of PPEs26,29
Work burnout	• Burnout due to being in the frontlines, fighting against COVID-1928,29,33,34 • Exhaustion and burnout due to the widespread COVID-19 infection27 • Inequality within the healthcare system32

Abbreviations: COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; PPE, personal protective equipment.