scholarly journals Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities: a qualitative study on the perspectives of BAME community leaders

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fesani Mahmood ◽  
Dev Acharya ◽  
Kanta Kumar ◽  
Vibhu Paudyal
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Hate Crime ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Community Leaders ◽  
List Type ◽  
Religious Leaders ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Public Health Agencies ◽  
Community Organisations ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT Objectives The aim of this study was to explore the perspectives of BAME community leaders in relation to - the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their communities; and BAME community’s perception, understanding and adherence to Government guidelines on COVID-19 public health measures. Design A phenomenological approach was adopted using qualitative semi-structured interviews. Settings Community organisations and places of worships in the West Midlands region of England. Participants Community leaders were recruited through organisations representing BAME communities and religious places of worship. Results A total of 19 participants took part. Participants alluded to historical and structural differences for the observed disparities in COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. Many struggled with lockdown measures which impeded cultural and religious gatherings that were deemed to be integral to the community. Cultural and social practices led to many suffering on their own as discussion of mental health was still deemed a taboo within many communities. Many expressed their community’s reluctance to report symptoms for the fear of financial and physical health implications. They reported increase in hate crime which was deemed to be exacerbated due to perceived insensitive messaging from authority officials and historical structural biases. Access and adherence to government guidelines was an issue for many due to language and digital barriers. Reinforcement from trusted community and religious leaders encouraged adherence. Points of support such as food banks were vital in ensuring essential supplies during the pandemic. Many could not afford masks and sanitisers. Conclusion The study highlights the perceived impact of COVID-19 pandemic on BAME communities. Government agencies and public health agencies need to integrate with the community, and community leaders to penetrate the key messages and deliver targeted yet sensitive public health advice which incorporates cultural and religious practices. Addressing route cause of disparities is imperative to mitigate current and future pandemics. Strengths and limitations of this study To our knowledge, this is the first study in England to investigate the understanding of risk and impact of COVID-19 using the perspectives of BAME community leaders. Participants represented diverse BAME community organisations and places of worship. Participant recruitment was limited to one of the seven regions within England with the highest proportion of BAME populations. Results may not be generalizable to any BAME communities not represented in the data.

scholarly journals Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on ethnic minority communities: a qualitative study on the perspectives of ethnic minority community leaders

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. e050584
Author(s):  
Fesani Mahmood ◽  
Dev Acharya ◽  
Kanta Kumar ◽  
Vibhu Paudyal
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Ethnic Minority ◽  
Hate Crime ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Community Leaders ◽  
Minority Communities ◽  
Public Health Agencies ◽  
Minority Community ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Ethnic Minority Community

ObjectivesTo explore the perspectives of ethnic minority community leaders in relation to: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their communities; and their community’s perception, understanding and adherence to government guidelines on COVID-19 public health measures.DesignA phenomenological approach was adopted using qualitative semistructured interviews.SettingsCommunity organisations and places of worships in the West Midlands, England.ParticipantsCommunity leaders recruited through organisations representing ethnic minority communities and religious places of worship.ResultsA total of 19 participants took part. Participants alluded to historical and structural differences for the observed disparities in COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. Many struggled with lockdown measures which impeded cultural and religious gatherings that were deemed to be integral to the community. Cultural and social practices led to many suffering on their own as discussion of mental health was still deemed a taboo within many communities. Many expressed their community’s reluctance to report symptoms for the fear of financial and physical health implications. They reported increase in hate crime which was deemed to be exacerbated due to perceived insensitive messaging from authority officials and historical racism in the society. Access and adherence to government guidelines was an issue for many due to language and digital barriers. Reinforcement from trusted community and religious leaders encouraged adherence. Points of support such as food banks were vital in ensuring essential supplies during the pandemic. Many could not afford or have access to masks and sanitisers.ConclusionThe study highlights the perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ethnic minority communities. Government agencies and public health agencies need to integrate with the community, and community leaders can enable dissemination of key messages to deliver targeted yet sensitive public health advice which incorporates cultural and religious practices. Addressing the root causes of disparities is imperative to mitigate current and future pandemics.

scholarly journals Evaluating interventions with victims of intimate partner violence: a community psychology approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cinzia Albanesi ◽  
Carlo Tomasetto ◽  
Veronica Guardabassi
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Professional Training ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Purpose Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is one of the most common forms of domestic violence, with profound implication for women's physical and psychological health. In this text we adopted the Empowerment Process Model (EPM) by Cattaneo and Goodman (Psychol Violence 5(1):84–94) to analyse interventions provided to victims of IPV by a Support Centre for Women (SCW) in Italy, and understand its contribution to women’s empowerment. Method We conducted semi-structured interviews with ten women who had been enrolled in a program for IPV survivors at a SCW in the past three years. The interviews focused on the programs’ aims, actions undertaken to reach them, and the impact on the women’s lives, and were analysed using an interpretative phenomenological approach. Results Results showed that the interventions provided by the SWC were adapted according to women's needs. In the early phases, women’s primary aim was ending violence, and the intervention by the SCW was deemed as helpful to the extent it provided psychological support, protection and safe housing. Women’s aims subsequently moved to self-actualisation and economic and personal independence which required professional training, internships, and social support. Although satisfying the majority of the women’s expectations, other important needs (e.g., economic support or legal services) were poorly addressed, and cooperation with other services (e.g., police or social services) was sometimes deemed as critical. Conclusions By evaluating a program offered by a SCW to IPV survivors through the lens of the EPM model, we found that women deemed the program as effective when both individual resources and empowerment processes were promoted. Strengths, limitations and implications are discussed.

scholarly journals A tale of two parts of Switzerland: regional differences in the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on parents

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Seiler ◽  
Georg Staubli ◽  
Julia Hoeffe ◽  
Gianluca Gualco ◽  
Sergio Manzano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Regional Differences ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Pediatric Emergency ◽  
The South ◽  
Public Health Agencies ◽  
The North ◽  
Regional Strategies ◽  
Health Agencies ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background We aimed to document the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on regions within a European country. Methods Parents arriving at two pediatric emergency departments (EDs) in North of Switzerland and two in South of Switzerland completed an online survey during the first peak of the pandemic (April–June 2020). They were asked to rate their concern about their children or themselves having COVID-19. Results A total of 662 respondents completed the survey. Parents in the South were significantly more exposed to someone tested positive for COVID-19 than in the North (13.9 and 4.7%, respectively; P <  0.001). Parents in the South were much more concerned than in the North that they (mean 4.61 and 3.32, respectively; P <  0.001) or their child (mean 4.79 and 3.17, respectively; P <  0.001) had COVID-19. Parents reported their children wore facemasks significantly more often in the South than in the North (71.5 and 23.5%, respectively; P <  0.001). Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significant regional differences among families arriving at EDs in Switzerland. Public health agencies should consider regional strategies, rather than country-wide guidelines, in future pandemics and for vaccination against COVID-19 for children.

scholarly journals Lockdowns, lives and livelihoods: the impact of COVID-19 and public health responses to conflict affected populations - a remote qualitative study in Baidoa and Mogadishu, Somalia

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorien H. Braam ◽  
Sharath Srinivasan ◽  
Luke Church ◽  
Zakaria Sheikh ◽  
Freya L. Jephcott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Narrative Analysis ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Or Education ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Authorities in Somalia responded with drastic measures after the first confirmed COVID-19 case in mid-March 2020, closing borders, schools, limiting travel and prohibiting most group functions. However, the impact of the pandemic in Somalia thereafter remained unclear. This study employs a novel remote qualitative research method in a conflict-affected setting to look at how some of the most at-risk internally displaced and host populations were impacted by COVID-19, what determined their responses, and how this affected their health and socio-economic vulnerability. Methods We conducted a remote qualitative study, using Katikati, a 1-to-1 conversation management and analysis platform using short message service (SMS) developed by Lark Systems with Africa’s Voices Foundation (AVF), for semi-structured interviews over three months with participants in Mogadishu and Baidoa. We recruited a gender balanced cohort across age groups, and used an analytical framework on the social determinants of health for a narrative analysis on major themes discussed, triangulating data with existing peer-reviewed and grey literature. Results The remote research approach demonstrated efficacy in sustaining trusted and meaningful conversations for gathering qualitative data from hard-to-reach conflict-affected communities. The major themes discussed by the 35 participants included health, livelihoods and education. Two participants contracted the disease, while others reported family or community members affected by COVID-19. Almost all participants faced a loss of income and/or education, primarily as a result of the strict public health measures. Some of those who were heavily affected economically but did not directly experienced disease, denied the pandemic. Religion played an important role in participants’ beliefs in protection against and salvation from the disease. As lockdowns were lifted in August 2020, many believed the pandemic to be over. Conclusions While the official COVID-19 burden has remained relatively low in Somalia, the impact to people’s daily lives, income and livelihoods due to public health responses, has been significant. Participants describe those ‘secondary’ outcomes as the main impact of the pandemic, serving as a stark reminder of the need to broaden the public health response beyond disease prevention to include social and economic interventions to decrease people’s vulnerability to future shocks.

scholarly journals Using RE-AIM to examine the potential public health impact of an integrated collaborative care intervention for weight and depression management in primary care: Results from the RAINBOW trial

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. e0248339
Author(s):  
Megan A. Lewis ◽  
Laura K. Wagner ◽  
Lisa G. Rosas ◽  
Nan Lv ◽  
Elizabeth M. Venditti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Collaborative Care ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Public Health Impact ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
Care Intervention ◽  
The Impact

Background An integrated collaborative care intervention was used to treat primary care patients with comorbid obesity and depression in a randomized clinical trial. To increase wider uptake and dissemination, information is needed on translational potential. Methods The trial collected longitudinal, qualitative data at baseline, 6 months (end of intensive treatment), 12 months (end of maintenance treatment), and 24 months (end of follow-up). Semi-structured interviews (n = 142) were conducted with 54 out of 409 randomly selected trial participants and 37 other stakeholders, such as recruitment staff, intervention staff, and clinicians. Using a Framework Analysis approach, we examined themes across time and stakeholder groups according to the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) framework. Results At baseline, participants and other stakeholders reported being skeptical of the collaborative care approach related to some RE-AIM dimensions. However, over time they indicated greater confidence regarding the potential for future public health impact. They also provided information on barriers and actionable information to enhance program reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance. Conclusions RE-AIM provided a useful framework for understanding how to increase the impact of a collaborative and integrative approach for treating comorbid obesity and depression. It also demonstrates the utility of using the framework as a planning tool early in the evidence-generation pipeline.

scholarly journals Barriers to hospital electronic public health reporting and implications for the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (8) ◽  
pp. 1306-1309
Author(s):  
A Jay Holmgren ◽  
Nate C Apathy ◽  
Julia Adler-Milstein
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Surveillance Data ◽  
Electronic Data ◽  
American Hospital ◽  
American Hospital Association ◽  
Public Health Agencies ◽  
Hospital Referral ◽  
Health Agencies ◽  
The Impact ◽  
To Receive

Abstract We sought to identify barriers to hospital reporting of electronic surveillance data to local, state, and federal public health agencies and the impact on areas projected to be overwhelmed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Using 2018 American Hospital Association data, we identified barriers to surveillance data reporting and combined this with data on the projected impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital capacity at the hospital referral region level. Our results find the most common barrier was public health agencies lacked the capacity to electronically receive data, with 41.2% of all hospitals reporting it. We also identified 31 hospital referral regions in the top quartile of projected bed capacity needed for COVID-19 patients in which over half of hospitals in the area reported that the relevant public health agency was unable to receive electronic data. Public health agencies’ inability to receive electronic data is the most prominent hospital-reported barrier to effective syndromic surveillance. This reflects the policy commitment of investing in information technology for hospitals without a concomitant investment in IT infrastructure for state and local public health agencies.

Experience of Burnout Syndrome In Resident Physicians

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S488-S488
Author(s):  
P. Cigarroa-Vázquez ◽  
I. Vargas-Huicochea
Keyword(s):  
Basic Needs ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Burnout Syndrome ◽  
Medical Residents ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Competing Interest ◽  
The Impact

Medical residents, as a population that is in formation and that represents the workforce in public hospitals, are in a particularly vulnerable situation for the development of burnout syndrome (BOS), defined as a psychosocial disease in response to chronic stress in the work environment. This study analyzed the impact of BOS on a personal level, residents’ ways of coping, and the perceived needs to prevent it.ObjectivesTo analyze the experience of BOS in medical residents of Mexico City.MethodsQualitative design with a phenomenological approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. Participants were medical residents in training who agreed to participate. Data analysis was based meaning categorization and condensation, as well as some elements of discourse analysis.ResultsWe had interviews with residents of gynaecology, otorhinolaryngology, family medicine and psychiatry. We have found that there are some specific aspects that contribute to the development BOS:– the hidden curriculum that has become evident through unnecessary punishments;– various roles to be met simultaneously by residents;– the basic needs like sleeping and eating right are not being met due to excessive workload.– impact in general health.ConclusionsIt is necessary to make visible the complexity of the BOS and its impact on trainees to prevent deterioration in the quality of life and overall health status. It would be to achieve the satisfaction of basic needs as essential conditions for physical and mental well-being of all human beings, and more so for those whose task is to contribute to the health of others.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Health and mass unemployment events—developing a framework for preparedness and response

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 665-673
Author(s):  
A R Davies ◽  
L Homolova ◽  
C N B Grey ◽  
M A Bellis
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Population Health ◽  
Early Warning System ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Adverse Impact ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Health Studies ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Detrimental Impact

Abstract Background Mass unemployment events are not uncommon yet the impact on health is not well recognised. There is a need for a preparedness and response framework, as exists for other events that threaten population health. Methods Framework informed by a narrative review of the impact of mass unemployment on health (studies published in English from 1990 to 2016), and qualitative data from 23 semi-structured interviews with individuals connected to historical national and international events, addressing gaps in published literature on lessons learnt from past responses. Results Economic and employment shock triggered by mass unemployment events have a detrimental impact on workers, families and communities. We present a public health informed response framework which includes (i) identify areas at risk, (ii) develop an early warning system, (iii) mobilise multi-sector action including health and community, (iv) provision of support across employment, finance and health (v) proportionate to need, (vi) extend support to family members and (vii) communities and (viii) evaluate and learn. Conclusion Mass unemployment events have an adverse impact on the health, financial and social circumstances of workers, families, and communities. This is the first framework for action to mitigate and address the detrimental impact of mass unemployment events on population health.

scholarly journals Motherhood and Home Quarantine: Exploring the Experiences of Iranian Mothers in Caring for their Children During the COVID-19 Outbreak

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-96
Author(s):  
Anahita Khodabakhshi-koolaee ◽  
◽  
Mahsa Aghaei Malekabadi ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Mother Child Relationships ◽  
Role Concerns ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Beliefs And Attitudes

Background: Following the spread of new coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) in Iran, people began a new lifestyle in quarantine to survive the disease. Mother-child relationships were affected by this new lifestyle. This phenomenological study was conducted to explore the experiences of Iranian mothers in caring for their children during COVID-19 outbreak. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted with an interpretive phenomenological approach. The participants were selected using purposive sampling among mothers living in Tehran in 2020. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The participants were mothers with 7- to 9-year-old children with the experience of living in quarantine.  The collected data were theoretically saturated after 17 interviews. All the interviews were recorded and transcribed, and the resulting data were analyzed using van Manen’s phenomenological approach. Results: Four main themes were extracted from the collected data: the mother’s health and physical concerns, confusion in playing the motherhood role, concerns about educational quality and wasting learning opportunities, and concerns about the impact of financial disputes on children.  Conclusion: The experiences of the mothers as the main caregivers in home quarantine were very unique. Understanding the complexities of their experiences, beliefs, and attitudes about motherhood and caring for children in quarantine can provide useful insights for decision-makers, healthcare professionals, and mental health professionals.

scholarly journals Protocol for the COG-UK hospital onset COVID-19 infection (HOCI) multicentre interventional clinical study: evaluating the efficacy of rapid genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 in limiting the spread of COVID-19 in United Kingdom NHS hospitals

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Blackstone ◽  
Oliver Stirrup ◽  
Fiona Mapp ◽  
Monica Panca ◽  
Andrew Copas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United Kingdom ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Genome Sequencing ◽  
Secondary Care ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
List Type ◽  
The Impact

AbstractIntroductionNosocomial transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been a significant cause of mortality in National Health Service (NHS) hospitals during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of rapid whole genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2, supported by a novel probabilistic reporting methodology, to inform infection prevention and control (IPC) practice within NHS hospital settings.Methods and analysisCOG-UK HOCI (COG-UK Consortium Hospital-Onset COVID-19 Infections study) is a multicentre, prospective, interventional, superiority study. Eligible patients must be admitted to hospital with first confirmed SARS-CoV-2 PCR positive test result >48h from time of admission, where COVID-19 diagnosis was not suspected upon admission. The projected sample size for 14 participating sites covering all study phases over winter-spring 2020/2021 in the United Kingdom is 2,380 patients. The intervention is the return of a sequence report, within 48 hours in one phase (rapid local lab) and within 5-10 days in a second phase (mimicking central lab use), comparing the viral genome from an eligible study participant with others within and outside the hospital site. The primary outcomes are the incidence of Public Health England (PHE)/IPC-defined SARS-CoV-2 hospital-acquired infection during the baseline and two interventional phases, and proportion of hospital-onset cases with genomic evidence of transmission linkage following implementation of the intervention where such linkage was not suspected by initial IPC investigation. Secondary outcomes include incidence of hospital outbreaks, with and without sequencing data; actual and desirable changes to IPC actions; periods of healthcare worker (HCW) absence. A process evaluation using qualitative interviews with HCWs will be conducted alongside the study and analysis, underpinned by iterative programme theory of the sequence report. Health economic analysis will be conducted to determine cost-benefit of the intervention, and whether this leads to economic advantages within the NHS setting.Ethics and disseminationThe protocol has been approved by the National Research Ethics Service Committee (Cambridge South 20/EE/0118). This manuscript is based on version 5.0 of the protocol. The study findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications.Study Registration numberISRCTN50212645Strengths and limitations of this studyThe COG-UK HOCI study harnesses the infrastructure of the UK’s existing national COVID-19 genome sequencing platform to evaluate the specific benefit of sequencing to hospital infection control.The evaluation is thought to be the first interventional study globally to assess effectiveness of genomic sequencing for infection control in an unbiased patient selection in secondary care settings.A range of institutional settings will participate, from specialist NHS-embedded or academic centres experienced in using pathogen genomics to district general hospitals.The findings are likely to have wider applicability in future decisions to utilise genome sequencing for infection control of other pathogens (such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, norovirus, clostridium difficile and antimicrobial resistant pathogens) in secondary care settings.The study has been awarded UK NIHR Urgent Public Health status, ensuring prioritised access to NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) research staff to recruit patients.The study does not have a randomised controlled design due to the logistics of managing this against diverse standard practice.

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