Social impact of COVID-19 perceived by staff in a Mental Health Trust [COVID-19]
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The social impacts of COVID-19 as perceived by staff in a Mental Health Trust
IRAS ID
286207
Contact name
Clare Eddy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
The potential social impacts of COVID-19 may be direct (e.g. through fear of catching the virus) or indirect (e.g. through related safety practices). They could range from effects on an individual’s perspectives about other people and related social interaction, to the effectiveness of workplace communication. The aim of this study is to understand the perceptions of NHS staff in relation to the social impacts of COVID-19 and related safety measures on themselves, patients, and interactions with others while working in a mental health trust. Study participants will be recruited though email and advertisements on the Trust website. Volunteers will give informed consent to take part and complete a single online questionnaire. They will answer a few basic demographic questions but responses will remain anonymous. Questions will seek to understand whether staff feel more socially isolated or have changed in their willingness to directly interact with other people as a result of COVID-19, how they think safety measures such as the use of PPE and social distancing influence their work interactions and what effects they perceive COVID-19 related issues appear to have had on patients and social aspects of service delivery. We will ask about different categories of people (family, friends, colleagues, patients, strangers) and different settings (inside or outside of work) for comparison. By including some questions which ask about the broader impacts of measures such as social distancing in everyday life, we will be able to identify any differences between staff attitudes towards COVID-19 related measures inside and outside of the workplace and understand the specificity of any issues raised. This information will be used to improve help improve our service and support for staff, by identifying staff concerns, any barriers to effective treatment of patients, and exploring the impact of COVID-19 measures on social and emotional wellbeing.
REC name
N/A
REC reference
N/A