Bringing Trauma Home: Reflections on Interviewing Survivors of Trauma while Working from Home

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, working from home became the new normal for many professionals. While this was beneficial in managing the rapidly spreading virus, it had varying impacts on the mental health of those previously not accustomed to remote work. This paper provides a critical reflection of the researcher's experience of conducting interviews with survivors of trauma while working from home. The research aimed to understand the experiences of significant others supporting patients with severe burn injury in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). As an experienced ICU nurse, the researcher has well developed personal coping strategies for dealing with complex trauma and in working with significant others of patients with severe burn injury in hospital settings. Due to the pandemic, data collection moved from face-to-face in the hospital, as originally intended, to phone or videoconference interviews. 17 participants were recruited, with all participants given the option of videoconference (n = 3) or telephone interviews (n = 14). Interviews had an average length of 55 minutes. This paper discusses the strategies adopted to cope with the sharing of significant others' experiences of trauma while in the home environment. Careful consideration was needed for the researcher, the participants and those within the homes of both researcher and participant, in terms of psychological safety, ethical considerations and rapport building. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of International Journal of Qualitative Methods is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Managing the elephant in the room: responding to COVID-19's impact on data collection.

BACKGROUND: The global COVID-19 pandemic has affected data collection for many researchers, in particular research that involves face-to-face interviews. AIM: To share learning about the challenges encountered when face-to-face interviews could not continue as planned in a study and how to adapt data collection so that it can continue despite severe disruption. DISCUSSION: This article examines the considerations and actions taken by the authors to ensure the continuity of data collection. The research aimed to use narrative inquiry to understand the experiences of significant others supporting people in intensive care units with severe burn injuries. But the pandemic meant the researchers could not meet face-to-face with participants as originally intended and so they had to consider new ways to approach data collection. The authors explore the process of adapting the interviews to video conferencing and telephone use while preserving the study's person-centred focus to remain coherent with narrative methodology. CONCLUSION: Adapting data collection is valuable in ensuring the continuity of research. Careful consideration and planning are required to ensure the research remains robust and ethically sound. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Adapting data collection methods can allow for greater flexibility when participants cannot attend face-to-face interviews.

The impact of a pandemic on dental professionals' work and personal lives: A qualitative study with implications for primary healthcare workers

During a pandemic, dentists face enormous challenges due to restrictions placed on their practice and the need to comply with biosafety measures. This study aimed to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and infection control measures on dentists and their practice in Jordan and the global implications for other primary healthcare workers. A qualitative exploratory study employing face-to-face or telephone interviews, was conducted with ten dentists from the 9th May to 20th September 2020. An inductive thematic approach to analysis was used identifying three themes, each with two accompanying subthemes: (1) Response to COVID-19 pandemic: (1a) Government response and (1b) People's response;(2) The effects of the pandemic and response measures: (2a) Impact on work and practice and (2b) Impact on personal and social life;(3) The unanticipated gains: (3a) Altruism and (3b) Leadership and change. Stringent infection control measures were implemented to slow the spread of the virus, however limited government support made implementation unsustainable and caused financial hardship. Lack of clear guidelines, changes in practice, social distancing measures, and altered social interactions, adversely impacted daily life, triggering mental distress. Misinformation influenced response to COVID safety measures. Despite the negatives, working during the pandemic reaffirmed dental professionals' roles and purpose, with strong leadership boosting morale. Education, adequate biosafety resources and clear guidelines or policies to support and sustain stringent infection control procedures are crucial in ensuring that measures are implemented to meet the safety requirements of the pandemic response. Promoting the well–being of the healthcare workforce is equally important. Finally, altruism and strong leadership among healthcare workers can contribute to a meaningful and humane pandemic response.

Conducting Population Health Research during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Impacts and Recommendations

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many changes, including restrictions on indoor gatherings and visitation to residential aged care facilities, hospitals and certain communities. Coupled with potential restrictions imposed by health services and academic institutions, these changes may significantly impact the conduct of population health research. However, the continuance of population health research is beneficial for the provision of health services and sometimes imperative. This paper discusses the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the conduct of population health research. This discussion unveils important ethical considerations, as well as potential impacts on recruitment methods, face-to-face data collection, data quality and validity. In addition, this paper explores potential recruitment and data collection methods that could replace face-to-face methods. The discussion is accompanied by reflections on the challenges experienced by the authors in their own research at an oral health service during the COVID-19 pandemic and alternative methods that were utilised in place of face-to-face methods. This paper concludes that, although COVID-19 presents challenges to the conduct of population health research, there is a range of alternative methods to face-to-face recruitment and data collection. These alternative methods should be considered in light of project aims to ensure data quality is not compromised.