considine-didyoubringit-2022.pdf (574.19 kB)
“Did You Bring It Home with You?” A Qualitative Investigation of the Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Victorian Frontline Healthcare Workers and Their Families
journal contribution
posted on 2022-04-01, 00:00 authored by Jade SheenJade Sheen, Elizabeth ClancyElizabeth Clancy, Julie ConsidineJulie Considine, A Dwyer, P Tchernegovski, A Aridas, B E C Lee, A Reupert, L BoydConcerns regarding the physical and mental health impacts of frontline healthcare roles during the COVID-19 pandemic have been well documented, but the impacts on family functioning remain unclear. This study provides a unique contribution to the literature by considering the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on frontline healthcare workers and their families. Thirty-nine frontline healthcare workers from Victoria, Australia, who were parents to at least one child under 18 were interviewed. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Five superordinate and 14 subordinate themes were identified. Themes included more family time during lockdowns, but at a cost; changes in family responsibilities and routines; managing increased demands; healthcare workers hypervigilance and fear of bringing COVID-19 home to their family members; ways in which families worked to “get through it”. While efforts have been made by many healthcare organisations to support their workers during this challenging time, the changes in family functioning observed by participants suggest that more could be done for this vulnerable cohort, particularly with respect to family support.
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Journal
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public HealthVolume
19Issue
8Pagination
1 - 20Publisher
MDPI AGLocation
Basel, SwitzerlandPublisher DOI
ISSN
1661-7827eISSN
1660-4601Language
engPublication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalUsage metrics
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