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“We all really need to just take a breath”: Composite narratives of hospital doctors’ well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic

Creese, Jennifer orcid logoORCID: 0000-0002-6763-5997, Byrne, John-Paul orcid logoORCID: 0000-0002-9961-8710, Conway, Edel, Barrett, Elizabeth orcid logoORCID: 0000-0001-9793-478X, Prihodova, Lucia orcid logoORCID: 0000-0002-0632-9582 and Humphries, Niamh orcid logoORCID: 0000-0003-2959-1652 (2021) “We all really need to just take a breath”: Composite narratives of hospital doctors’ well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (4). ISSN 1660-4601

Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic poses a challenge to the physical and mental well-being of doctors worldwide. Countries around the world introduced severe social restrictions, and significant changes to health service provision in the first wave of the pandemic to suppress the spread of the virus and prioritize healthcare for those who contracted it. This study interviewed 48 hospital doctors who worked in Ireland during the first wave of the pandemic and investigated their conceptualizations of their own well-being during that time (March–May 2020). Doctors were interviewed via Zoom or telephone. Interview transcripts were analyzed using structured thematic analysis. Five composite narratives are presented which have been crafted to illustrate themes and experiences emerging from the data. This study found that despite the risks of contracting COVID-19, many doctors saw some improvements to their physical well-being in the first wave of the pandemic. However, most also experienced a decline in their mental well-being due to anxiety, emotional exhaustion, guilt, isolation and poor support. These findings shed light on doctor well-being during COVID-19, and the ways in which they have been affected by the pandemic, both professionally and personally. The paper concludes by highlighting how doctors’ work life and well-being can be better supported during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Metadata
Item Type:Article (Published)
Refereed:Yes
Additional Information:Article number: 2051
Subjects:Business > Personnel management
Business > Employee attitudes
DCU Faculties and Centres:DCU Faculties and Schools > DCU Business School
Publisher:MDPI
Official URL:https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18042051
Copyright Information:© 2021 The Authors. Open Access (CC-BY 4.0)
Funders:Health Research Board
ID Code:26817
Deposited On:24 Mar 2022 15:40 by Edel Conway . Last Modified 21 Feb 2023 11:34
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