Evidence-based Leadership Practice: Healthcare Workforce and COVID-19

This report investigates the pivotal role of leadership in sustaining the healthcare workforce amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. It begins with an abstract outlining the study's scope, which focuses on leadership's impact on healthcare professionals during the crisis, referencing the British Medical Association. The introduction provides an overview of the research, rationale, aims, objectives, and research questions. The literature review explores key elements of leadership, including communication, positive working culture, and strategic decision-making, as well as the role of leadership within healthcare organizations, particularly in conflict management and managing stress. The research methodology includes a quantitative approach using questionnaires, supplemented by both primary and secondary sources. Data analysis and a feasibility study are also included, along with conclusions and recommendations drawn from the research findings. The report emphasizes the importance of effective leadership in navigating the challenges of the pandemic, ensuring workforce support, and improving patient care. The study highlights the need for leaders to possess strong communication, decision-making, and conflict resolution skills to foster a supportive and efficient healthcare environment.

Date submitted:
Word Count:5949
Module name: Evidence-based and Evidence-informed leadership practice
name: An investigation into the role played by leadership for sustaining
healthcare workforce in pandemic situation i.e COVID 19
Declaration: I certify that I have read and understood the University Regulations
relating to plagiarism. All the material in this assignment is my own work, except where I
have indicated with appropriate references
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Abstract
The present study initiates to determine the role which is played by the leaders to
sustaining healthcare workforce in pandemic of COVID 19. Therefore, the scope of this
study is wide as it is imperative in exploring individual skills and knowledge in relation to
a specified area. COVID 19 is a major health issue which has wider impact over the
entire world and influence human health. However, in the pandemic of COVID 19 world
has facing a lot challenges due to economic crises and also affecting the health of
people at global level. In the situation of COVID 19, leadership plays an effective role in
providing suitable assistance to the individual to providing them appropriate health
benefits to get over from the issue of Corona virus. Leadership mainly defined to the
procedure of motivating and affecting individual towards attainment of business
objectives. Leadership in health care is affirmative in the manner of determining the
behaviour of individual and aid individual in the manner of directing towards provide
health benefits to others. However, in the pandemic of COVID 19 leadership plays an
important role in the growth and success of the business via rendering them suitable
assistance in relation to providing appropriate health benefits to the people who are
needy or suffering from the issue of COVID 19. In this present study the analysis is
based over British Medical Association, therefore, it is a professional association and
registered trade union for doctors in the United Kingdom. The company association was
founded in the year of 1832 and the base office of the association within BMA House,
Tavistock Square, London. In this present analysis the quantitative research is being
applied by the researcher, thus it is most effective tool to execute descriptive analysis
which provides suitable information. In addition to this, both primary and secondary
sources are applied by the researcher as these two are imperative in assisting the entire
project in the right manner to generate valuable outcome. However, primary research is
mainly executed through developing questionnaire which covers the aim and objectives
of the project and this is also valuable in accumulation of first hand information. On the
contrary, secondary sources like books, journals, articles and published sources are
valuable in developing theoretical perspective which helps in providing literature to
enhance individual ability in relation to a specific area. Conclusion and
recommendations are drawn over the findings of the research, thus conclusion has

been developed to providing suitable summary about the project outcome and
recommendation helps in making suitable suggestions which are imperative in the
context of business success.
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Contents
1Comments on any unusual/mitigating circumstances:...................................................................1
Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................2
Title of the Research .......................................................................................................................5
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................5
1Overview of the Research ........................................................................................................5
2Rationale of Research...............................................................................................................6
3Aims and objectives..................................................................................................................6
6Research Hypothesis - .............................................................................................................7
7to maintain focus...a hypothesis is a supposition or an explanation made on the basis of
limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation......................................................7
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................8
8Key elements of leadership within healthcare..........................................................................8
9Role of leadership in context of healthcare organization..........................................................9
10Contribution of leadership for sustaining healthcare workforce during COVID 19...............9
11Challenges faced by healthcare leadership in sustaining of healthcare workforce during
pandemic situation....................................................................................................................10
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY...................................................................................................11
2DATA ANALYSIS......................................................................................................................15
3Feasibility Study- Resources and budgetary considerations........................................................23
4Impact .........................................................................................................................................24
5Conclusion and Recommendations .............................................................................................24
9REFERENCES ...........................................................................................................................26

Title of the Research
An investigation into the role played by leaders to sustaining healthcare workforce in
pandemic i.e. COVID 19.
INTRODUCTION
Overview of the Research
Leadership within healthcare is among an important component that can lead a
company to successful and effective outcomes. The necessary positive association
among better leadership styles and also high patient satisfaction level and also
minimize adverse impact. An effective leadership directly impact on minimizing mortality
rate through sustaining, inspiring and also supporting the experienced staff. The corona
virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become one of the central health crises
of a generation. Therefore, the pandemic has influenced individual of all nations,
continents, races, and socio-economic groups. The responses needed, likewise
quarantining of entire communities, closing of schools, social isolation, and shelter-in-
place orders, have abruptly changed individual’s daily life. However, health care
professionals of all sorts are caring for patients with this disease. The rapid spread of
COVID-19 and the severity of symptoms it can cause in a segment of infected people
have intensely taxed the restrictions of health care systems (Adalja, Toner and Inglesby,
2020). Although the significant shortage of ventilators and intensive care unit beds
essential to care for the surge of decisively ill patients has been well described,
additional supplies and beds will not be helpful unless there is an adequate workforce.
Assisting appropriate health care employees in this crisis needed not only an
appropriate number of physicians, nurses, advanced practice clinicians, pharmacists,
respiratory therapists, and other clinicians, but also developing the potential of each
clinician to care for a high volume of patients. Therefore, leadership in the term of
healthcare plays effective role in providing suitable guidance to the business in
managing resources to render effective health care facilities to the others. Leadership
initiatives are connected with improvements in patients care or organizational outcome
when followed with the healthcare setting. Leadership is essential part of healthcare
because it supports an organization in sustaining of workforce in any kind of situation.
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COVID 19 is a pandemic situation that highly impacts on workforce. As the corona virus
situation rise, there continues to be a huge amount of physical and mental pressure on
the healthcare workforce (Adams and Walls, 2020).
Rationale of Research
The rationale to conduct present investigation is to determine the main role of the
leader in healthcare. COVID-19 is central issue and in this it is necessary to provide
better healthcare services to patients. This research mainly conducted because through
this, the main role of leader can be determined and the issues faced by the leaders in
context to healthcare. On the other hand, through conducting this investigation, the
researcher can enhance greater understanding as well as the research skills (Binnicker,
2020).
Aims and objectives
Research Aim:
Main aim of this research is “To identify the role of leadership in sustaining of
healthcare workforce during pandemic situation i.e. COVID 19. A study on British
Medical Association
Research Objectives:
● To explore key elements of leadership within healthcare.
● To determine the role of leadership in context of healthcare organisation.
● To identify the contribution of leadership for sustaining healthcare workforce
during COVID 19.● To analyse the challenges faced by healthcare leadership in sustaining of
healthcare workforce during pandemic situation.
Research Questions
● What are the key elements necessary as a leader to manage a healthcare crisis?
● What is the main role of leadership in healthcare?

● What are major contributions of leadership in sustaining of healthcare workforce
during the COVID 19 situation?
● What are the major challenges that will be faced by leadership while sustaining
healthcare workforce in pandemic situation?
Research Hypothesis -
Hypothesis 1:
● Null hypothesis μ = Confidence is the key elements that will be necessary as a
leader to manage a healthcare crisis● Alternative hypothesis μ ≠ Confidence is the key elements that will be necessary
as a leader to manage a healthcare crisis
Hypothesis 2:
● Null hypothesis μ = Hand hygiene and surface decontamination is a main
contributions of leadership in sustaining of healthcare workforce during the
COVID 19 situation.
Hypothesis 4:
● Null hypothesis μ = Protecting of health workers from Corona virus is major
challenge faced by leaders while sustaining healthcare workforce in pandemic
situation.
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LITERATURE REVIEW
Key elements of leadership within healthcare
Abdulaziz Al- Sawai (2020) stated that Leadership is explained as behavior of a
person when directing group activities, main aspects of leadership role consists
influencing the group related activities as well as coping with the change. In context to
the healthcare, effective leadership through healthcare professionals is necessary in
healthcare setting. Delivery of the clinical care depends on the careful investigation to
identify effective way of giving care for the patients. The leadership makes difference
among effective team and team which struggle or even fail to meet with the objectives.
Being leader in healthcare sector taken unique skill set. Through working to make
improvement the skill, leader can help team to become efficient. In context to
healthcare, the leaders needs the business competencies, interpersonal and clinical
skills to leader the firms successfully. There are some of the key elements of leadership
in healthcare mention below:
Communication- It is based on how many of people have in team and also their
particular responsibilities which require to be handle. It is necessary for a leader to find
effective ways and assure that every one should stay on same page. In context of
communication, if member of team is more struggling with certain task then it is
necessary to take time that assists team members on their abilities. The positive
communication needs that they have command over the technology (Chan and et. al.,
2020).
Develop positive working culture- In this, successful leaders should develop
the better culture of organization by their expectations, behavior and words. The culture
is of high quality, care of patient is values, use of the resources effectively, expectation
for the community service. Develop the positive working environment is helpful in
motivate the employees and they can able to provide the better health care related
services to patients.
Strategic decision making- Successful leader should handle the different
decisions on daily basis which could influence on staff members. For an example,
solving issues of employees with own teams without the escalating issues that

demonstrates ability of leader to strategic decision maker. It is necessary element for
the healthcare leaders because they have navigate high consequence sector (Chen
and Huang, 2020).
Role of leadership in context of healthcare organization
On the basis of Robin D.C.Kumar leadership role consists influencing the group
activities as well as coping with the change. Complexity when considering the
leadership in context to health care is that the most of theories were not to be
developed within healthcare were created for business and after then it applied to the
healthcare. The leadership initiatives are related with the improvement in the patient
care or the organizational outcomes when they are applied in healthcare setting. In
context to this, conflict management is main role of a leader in healthcare. The conflict
can be pervasive force as the gaps in communication create and potentiated. Common
sources of the conflict is identifies as individualistic behavior, organizational structure,
inter- group conflicts and poor communication. The conflict mainly develop the latent
issues and can be progress to perceived conflict. In order to resolve the conflict, a
leader can employ the strategies for an instance avoidance, collaboration, mediation,
communication and compromise in order to resolve conflict (Chopra and et. al., 2020).
Other than this, leaders determine uncertainty and also anxiety people are more
experiencing. It is necessary when the leaders are taking the decision that arise the
stress to people like minimizing working hours, business closure etc. It is necessary that
leader should make this clear that there is path to good future and let the people to
know about their contribution. Giving the particular steps person can take will assist
them for managing stress and develop hopefulness. The better leadership related to
healthcare professionals is necessary for strengthening the quality as well as care
integration. In this, main aspect of role of leadership consist impacting group related
activities and also coping with the change. Mainly the leaders are responsible for
assuring the safe care deliver so they should be intimately familiar with safety protocols
and standards of medical healthcare facility and profession. They are mainly expected
to be supervise the members of leadership team in order to guarantee that all the
patience can receive the safe care. Other than this, better clinical leadership skills
empower the leaders while providing with abilities and skills to direct as well as support
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the healthcare teams and patients. This improve care to delivered to the patients that
turn to make improvement in the patient outcomes.
Contribution of leadership for sustaining healthcare workforce during COVID 19
On the basis of CHRISTOPHER CHENEY (2020), Healthcare professionals are
under resourced and also exhausted. They are mainly struggling to handle the
intensifying the patient loads as well as death rates. Coronavirus is uphill and long battle
with end that is visible on horizon. On the basis of survey conducted, it has been stated
that 47% of healthcare workers are agree with that employer has to be communicated
clear action plan for the COVID-19 (Curtis, Kross and Stapleton, 2020). 36% healthcare
workers said that they are confident that they are safe and follow health policies of
company. Other than this, there are some effective measures taken through leadership
for retaining the healthcare workforce during COVID 19:
Infection prevention- The protective gear is necessary to prevent the healthcare
worker from infection when they are treating the patients of COVID-19. Use of the
personal protective equipment consisting gloves, gown and N95 respirator plus face
shield (Daodu and et. al., 2020).
Emergency department protocols- The emergency department are on front
line of Coronavirus pandemic and the crowding is main concern for the individual to
individual contact between patients with the respiratory symptoms.
Hand hygiene and surface decontamination- The hand hygiene is necessary
for the healthcare workers at the COVID-19 pandemic. The healthcare employees
should focus on the hand hygiene and also neglecting the contaminating work spaces.
In context to this, COVID-19 has been shown to the live on surface so it is necessary for
the healthcare employees to disinfect the workspaces as well as personal items like
keyboards and cellphones (Domínguez and et. al., 2020). It is sensible for the
environmental services employees to enhance frequency of the cleaning the touches
the surfaces like countertops, elevator buttons, light switches etc.
Healthcare worker precautions- With spread of the COVID-19, health workers
are at the exposure of high risk to virus. The healthcare employees should be self
monitor, not engage in the patient care and also sign of the illness wile exhibiting the
infectious symptoms (Everett and et. al., 2020).

Challenges faced by healthcare leadership in sustaining of healthcare workforce during
pandemic situation
Stephan Ross (2020) stated that no person is immune from many stressors
which being caused through COVID-19. It is symptom of interdependent and
interconnected world with healthcare system and related supply chain that bearing the
acute pain from indiscriminate spread. The healthcare leaders face the uncertainty
regarding the funds in context to healthcare and also capability to retain the workforce.
In situation of the COVID-19, healthcare leader face the issue about retaining the
healthcare workforce in the pandemic situation. The safety of the workers is main
priority for the healthcare professionals (Hirpara and Taylor, 2020). One of the main
challenge that faced through the leaders in COVID- 19 situation is protecting the health
of workers from the COVID-19.When they give the treatment to coronavirus diseased
person then there is a chance infection to healthcare workers and to save from this,
they leave job or not to sustain. Job security is also a challenge because in pandemic
situation, organizations face the heavy loss and they are not able to pay the proper
salary to healthcare workers. This reduces the motivation of workers as to work
effectively (KIT, 2020). Other than this, COVID-19 presents complex situation, needing
many stakeholders in healthcare industry to work together in a better manner. Many of
the healthcare employees are experiencing the high stress level and also making the
personal sacrifices in order to care for the patients with COVID-19. In regards to this,
leadership in healthcare should be focus on the employee engagement and also
fostering meaningful relationship among staff. They should be assist the
acknowledgment of staff and also deal with trauma which many be experiencing. In this
industry, leaders required to show the empathy. They should assist the
acknowledgment of staff and also deal with trauma which they are may be experiencing.
On the other hand, leadership approaches and decision-making through healthcare
leaders were mainly considered effectively for attaining the healthcare objectives in
hospitals. Surge in the COVID-19 infections and patients admission has been
overwhelmed all the professional staff as well as support at the healthcare facilities
across country. This is necessary that leaders in healthcare facilities give required
support structures for the front line employees.
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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research methodology is identifies as effective way to collecting as well as
analyzing data from the different sources philosophies, approaches, analysis tools and
others. In conducting the present investigation, there has been research onion used
through an investigator in order to gathering the accurate data and information related
to specific subject area. The research onion consists different layers for an instance
research philosophy, research approaches, research choice, research strategy, and
time horizon, methods of data collection, sampling and analysis tool. These all are the
necessary layers for a research in achieving the objectives related to this study. The
various layers considered in research onion are explained in detailed manner:
Research aim and objectives
Research Aim:
Main aim of this research is “To identify the role of leadership in sustaining of
healthcare workforce during pandemic situation i.e. COVID 19. A study on British
Medical Association
Research Objectives:
● To explore key elements of leadership within healthcare.
● To determine the role of leadership in context of healthcare organisation.
● To identify the contribution of leadership for sustaining healthcare workforce
during COVID 19.● To analyse the challenges faced by healthcare leadership in sustaining of
healthcare workforce during pandemic situation.
Study design and development:
Research design is important part of research methodology because it helps
investigator in identification of research issue. There are basically three type of research
design including exploratory, experimental and descriptive. All these are essential but
according to the current project descriptive type of research design is useful and