'You just don't feel like your work goes recognised': healthcare worker experiences of tension related to public discourse around the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: To understand the impact of public discourse and reaction around the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare worker (HCW) experiences and well-being caring for patients with COVID-19. METHODS: We conducted 60 min in-depth interviews with 11 physicians and 12 nurses who were providing care to patients with COVID-19 in acute care settings at two health systems in the Western USA. Interviews were conducted in Spring-Summer 2022 using a semi-structured interview protocol that guided respondents through different stages of the pandemic. RESULTS: Three themes emerged from the data around providing care in the unique social context of the COVID-19 pandemic including: (1) public polarisation and disagreement with science; (2) feelings of hope and optimism during the pandemic and (3) the compounded strain of providing care within this unique social context of the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: To prepare for future pandemics, improved public health communications and social-emotional supports for HCWs are critical to ameliorate the physical and emotional impacts related to the social context of modern US pandemic response.

Diverse Parental Perspectives of the Social and Educational Needs for Expanding Newborn Screening through Genomic Sequencing.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the parental views, attitudes, and preferences of expanded newborn screening (NBS) through genomic sequencing. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a semi-structured interview study with English and Spanish speaking mothers who had given birth within the USA in the past 5 years. The interviews explored opinions of expanding NBS, ethical and privacy concerns, and educational and social needs. RESULTS: All participants were interested in some degree of NBS expansion. However, there were differing opinions about the characteristics of conditions that should be included with less consensus for conditions with low penetrance, those without approved treatment, or onset outside of early childhood. All parents endorsed potential medical utility but also nonmedical utility as a motivating factor including being able to prepare and not being surprised by health issues as they occurred. Most felt that it was important to have some choice about the conditions screened, and many expressed the importance of proper education to make an informed choice and a desire to receive this education in the prenatal period. Responses to the type of education and information needed to make an informed decision varied. CONCLUSIONS: Parents anticipate value in expanded NBS through genomic sequencing both for medical and nonmedical/personal utility. In order to successfully implement expanded NBS, prospective parents need more and earlier education about the process. These needs may differ by language and culture. Information needs to be easily accessible and to be curated by appropriate experts and stakeholders, including parents representative of the diversity of the USA.