The work challenges faced by primary healthcare workers in Guangzhou during the COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control period of 2021–2022: a qualitative study

BackgroundPrimary healthcare workers in China were vital in controlling COVID-19, facing unprecedented challenges due to the pandemic’s suddenness and transmissibility. This paper analyzed their work in Guangzhou, highlighting key difficulties in past epidemic control efforts.MethodsSemi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with selected primary healthcare workers in Guangzhou City and audio-recorded until saturation of themes was reached. The data were analyzed independently for themes using NVivo V.12.ResultsThematic analysis of qualitative interview data revealed that challenges and difficulties encountered in grassroots epidemic prevention and control work during the COVID-19 pandemic were primarily categorized into seven dimensions: human resource allocation, material and vehicle support, epidemic prevention subsidies and compensation, humanistic care, upper-level management, horizontal collaboration, and resident cooperation.ConclusionBased on the findings, the research team recommends that administrative departments and institutions related to primary healthcare should appropriately schedule personnel work and rest time, adjust work content flexibly, optimize the allocation of medical and logistical resources, and increase investment in primary healthcare work as well as staff protection.