RESUMO
BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on the fractures of healthcare systems around the world, particularly in relation to the healthcare workforce. Frontline staff have been exposed to unprecedented strain and delivering care during the pandemic has impacted their safety, mental health and wellbeing. Rapid Research methods and big qualitative data offered a unique opportunity to gain insight into perceptions and experiences during this time. ObjectiveThe aim of this paper was to explore the experiences of Health Care Workers (HCWs) delivering care in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic to understand their wellbeing needs, experiences and strategies used to maintain wellbeing at individual and organizational levels. MethodsWe analysed 94 telephone interviews with HCWs and 2000 tweets about HCWs mental health during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic applying Collaborative and Digital Analysis of Big Qualitative Data in Time Sensitive Contexts (LISTEN). ResultsResults fell under six themes: redeployment, clinical work, and sense of duty; wellbeing support and HCWs coping strategies; negative mental health effects; organisational support; social network and support; and public and government support. Redeployment generated anxiety mainly due to limited prior training and risk assessments, and the barriers of adapting to a new working environment while wearing PPE. HCWs struggled to access wellbeing support due to time constraints. In terms of ill mental health, mentions of feelings of trauma, PTSD and anxiety were prominent. HCWs mental health was particularly affected by the copious amount of bad news on media and at home and the fear of infecting their loved ones. ConclusionsThese findings demonstrate a need for open conversations, where staff wellbeing needs and the strategies they adopted can be shared and encouraged, rather than implementing solely top-down psychological interventions. At the macro level, findings also highlighted the impact on HCWs wellbeing of public and government support, as well as the need for ensuring protection through PPE, testing, and/or vaccines for frontline workers.
RESUMO
ObjectivesTo explore healthcare workers (HCWs) perceptions and attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccination programme in the UK, including their expectations, concerns and views on whether to promote vaccination to others. To understand the key factors shaping HCWs attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination in the UK. DesignThis study was designed as a rapid qualitative appraisal integrating data from a review of UK policies and guidance on COVID-19 vaccination with data from in-depth semi-structured telephone interviews with frontline HCWs in the UK. Data were analysed using framework analysis. ParticipantsInterviews were carried out with a purposive sample of HCWs from two large London-based hospital Trusts (n=24) and 24 government policies and guidelines on the vaccination programme were reviewed. ResultsThe level of uncertainty about the vaccines long-term safety and efficacy against mutant strains made it difficult for HCWs to balance the benefits against the risks of vaccination. HCWs felt that government decisions on vaccine rollout had not been supported by evidence-based science and this impacted their level of trust and confidence in the programme. The spread of misinformation online also impacted HCWs attitudes towards vaccination, particularly among junior level and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) HCWs. Most HCWs felt encouraged to promote vaccination to their patients and the majority said they would advocate vaccination or engage in conversations about vaccination with others when relevant. ConclusionIn order to improve HCWs trust and confidence in the UKs COVID-19 vaccination programme, there needs to be clarity about what is known and not known about the vaccines and transparency around the evidence-base supporting government decisions on vaccine rollout. Effort is also needed to dispel the spread of vaccine-related misinformation online and to address specific concerns, particularly among BAME and junior level HCWs. Strengths and limitations of this studyO_LIThis is the first qualitative study to understand the factors influencing healthcare workers (HCWs) attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination in the UK C_LIO_LIThis study integrated interview and policy data and captured HCWs perceptions and attitudes in real-time as the vaccination programme was being rolled out in the UK C_LIO_LIOur interview study sample was limited in its representation of junior level HCWs and areas of the UK C_LIO_LIThis research may have been impacted by selection bias as those with stronger views on vaccination may have been more likely to participate in the study C_LI
