Exploring the lived experience of secure patients' during COVID-19. [COVID-19]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the lived experience of secure patients' during COVID-19.
IRAS ID
283880
Contact name
Karen J Humphries
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton; Research Integrity and Governance
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
SHT428, Southern Health NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 0 days
Research summary
We are yet to understand the impact of COVID-19 on society. For the unique population of patients' detained in secure services across England, there is complexity to consider regarding the effects of COVID-19. Community leave from hospital is paramount for secure patients' wellbeing. Often community leave is long awaited and signifies an important transition: the gradual move back into community living. Whatever stage of community leave patients are working on, leave from hospital is therapeutic and an essential part of secure patients' recovery. When the UK government responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with a restrictive lockdown period, this was likely to have impacted greatly on the population of secure patients'.
Living within the confines of secure services, patients report a sense of powerlessness and oppression (Livingston & Rossiter, 2011). Being privy to widely publicised news reports that the public are flouting lockdown rules may lead to feelings of resentment, potentially further polarising them from the public.
COVID-19 is a global pandemic of epic proportion and this significantly limits those who are unaffected. The staff may also be suffering loss, additional stress and anxiety. Research exploring burnout in healthcare professionals have found it to be prevalent within secure services (Mason, 2002) causing loss of empathy (Coffey, 1999) and likely affecting the relational patterns which are crucial in the recovery process.This study seeks to understand secure patients experiences of secure services during the COVID-19 pandemic in England. Through qualitative IPA the study aims to give voice to secure patients in order to understand the lived experience of being detained in secure care through COVID-19. This new understanding and insight is likely to provide new knowledge, shaping our understanding of the well-being and needs of secure patients.
REC name
Wales REC 7
REC reference
20/WA/0272
Date of REC Opinion
29 Sep 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion