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COVID-Well Study: Qualitative Evaluation of Supported Wellbeing Centres and Psychological First Aid for Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Holly Blake

    (School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2HA, UK
    NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK)

  • Alisha Gupta

    (School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK)

  • Mahnoor Javed

    (School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK)

  • Ben Wood

    (Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK)

  • Steph Knowles

    (Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK)

  • Emma Coyne

    (Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK)

  • Joanne Cooper

    (Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK)

Abstract

Supported wellbeing centres were set up in UK hospital trusts as an early intervention aimed at mitigating the psychological impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers. These provided high quality rest spaces with peer-to-peer psychological support provided by National Health Service (NHS) staff volunteers called ‘wellbeing buddies’, trained in psychological first aid. The aim of the study was to explore the views of centre visitors and operational staff towards this COVID-19 workforce wellbeing provision. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were undertaken with twenty-four (20F, 4M) employees from an acute hospital trust in the UK. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed, data were handled and analysed using thematic analysis. Interviews generated 3 over-arching themes, and 13 sub-themes covering ‘exposure and job roles’, ‘emotional impacts of COVID-19 and ‘the wellbeing centres’. Supported wellbeing centres were viewed as critical for the wellbeing of hospital employees during the first surge of COVID-19 in the UK. Wellbeing initiatives require managerial advocacy and must be inclusive. Job-related barriers to work breaks and accessing staff wellbeing provisions should be addressed. High quality rest spaces and access to peer-to-peer support are seen to benefit individuals, teams, organisations and care quality. Training NHS staff in psychological first aid is a useful approach to supporting the wellbeing of the NHS workforce during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Holly Blake & Alisha Gupta & Mahnoor Javed & Ben Wood & Steph Knowles & Emma Coyne & Joanne Cooper, 2021. "COVID-Well Study: Qualitative Evaluation of Supported Wellbeing Centres and Psychological First Aid for Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-27, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:7:p:3626-:d:527420
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Holly Blake & Mehmet Yildirim & Ben Wood & Steph Knowles & Helen Mancini & Emma Coyne & Joanne Cooper, 2020. "COVID-Well: Evaluation of the Implementation of Supported Wellbeing Centres for Hospital Employees during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-22, December.
    2. Holly Blake & Fiona Bermingham & Graham Johnson & Andrew Tabner, 2020. "Mitigating the Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Workers: A Digital Learning Package," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-15, April.
    3. Serena Barello & Anna Falcó-Pegueroles & Debora Rosa & Angela Tolotti & Guendalina Graffigna & Loris Bonetti, 2020. "The psychosocial impact of flu influenza pandemics on healthcare workers and lessons learnt for the COVID-19 emergency: a rapid review," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 65(7), pages 1205-1216, September.
    4. Virya Koy & Jintana Yunibhand & Sue Turale, 2020. "“It is really so exhausting”: Exploring intensive care nurses’ perceptions of 24‐hour long shifts," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(17-18), pages 3506-3515, September.
    5. Marit Sijbrandij & Rebecca Horn & Rebecca Esliker & Fiona O’May & Relinde Reiffers & Leontien Ruttenberg & Kimberly Stam & Joop de Jong & Alastair Ager, 2020. "The Effect of Psychological First Aid Training on Knowledge and Understanding about Psychosocial Support Principles: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-11, January.
    6. Stella E. Hines & Katherine H. Chin & Danielle R. Glick & Emerson M. Wickwire, 2021. "Trends in Moral Injury, Distress, and Resilience Factors among Healthcare Workers at the Beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-11, January.
    7. Hussain-Gambles, Mah & Atkin, Karl & Leese, Brenda, 2006. "South Asian participation in clinical trials: The views of lay people and health professionals," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(2), pages 149-165, July.
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    2. Ameet Bakhai & Leah McCauley & Liba Stones & Saria Khalil & Jay Mehta & Nicola Price & Vinodh Krishnamurthy & Lucy H. H. Parker & Derralynn Hughes, 2022. "Shining a light on an additional clinical burden: work-related digital communication survey study – COVID-19 impact on NHS staff wellbeing," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Katarzyna Olcoń & Julaine Allan & Mim Fox & Ruth Everingham & Padmini Pai & Lynne Keevers & Maria Mackay & Chris Degeling & Sue-Anne Cutmore & Summer Finlay & Kristine Falzon, 2022. "A Narrative Inquiry into the Practices of Healthcare Workers’ Wellness Program: The SEED Experience in New South Wales, Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-14, October.

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