Struggling to ‘do family’ during COVID-19: evidence from a German mixed-methods study

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Zerle-Elsäßer ◽  
Anna Buschmeyer ◽  
Regina Ahrens
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Panel Data ◽  
Everyday Life ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Growing Up ◽  
Paid Work ◽  
Mothers And Fathers ◽  
Everyday Lives ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Depth Interviews

Applying the concept of doing family, which centres on the organisation of, and the practices in, families’ everyday lives, our research questions focus on the efforts mothers and fathers undertake to keep everyday life going during the pandemic. We analysed two-wave panel data of the project ‘Growing up in Germany’, and conducted 20 in-depth interviews with mothers and fathers in order to examine their strategies in detail. Our findings confirm gender and other important differences, and reveal three major strategies to reconcile caring obligations with demands from paid work before and during the crisis.

scholarly journals Facing the Unknown: Healthcare Workers’ Concerns, Experiences, and Burnout during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Mixed-Methods Study in an Israeli Hospital

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 9021
Author(s):  
Keren Dopelt ◽  
Osnat Bashkin ◽  
Nadav Davidovitch ◽  
Noam Asna
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Support Network ◽  
Depth Interviews

The aim of this study was to describe the experiences of healthcare workers during the first wave of the coronavirus crisis. In a mixed-methods study, data were collected through an online survey completed by 263 hospital staff members, as well as 10 semi-structured, in-depth interviews with physicians, nurses, and medical technologists working on coronavirus wards. Respondents expressed extremely high levels of concern for family members, but they were less apprehensive about their own health and safety. Nurses displayed more apprehension and burnout compared to healthcare workers in other professional roles. The in-depth interviews reinforced and supplemented the survey findings and deepened our understanding of the experience of healthcare workers directly involved in the first wave of coronavirus patient care. The findings of this study illuminate the main concerns of hospital staff during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and deepen our understanding of issues that require systemic attention in order to strengthen mental resilience among hospital staff. The steps required to continue fighting the virus include the development of a mental and emotional support network for healthcare workers to safeguard them and their health, as they care for patients, and to provide ongoing psychosocial support. As later waves of COVID-19 continued, these recommendations are even more pertinent.

scholarly journals “My Husband Thinks I’m Crazy”: COVID-19-Related Conflict in Couples with Young Children

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica McCrory Calarco ◽  
Emily Victoria Meanwell ◽  
Elizabeth Anderson ◽  
Amelia Knopf
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Economic Security ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Paid Work ◽  
Health Decision Making ◽  
Health Decision ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
The U.S

Objective: We examine how disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic are creating conflicts for couples with young children. Background: National polls suggest that COVID-19 has led to increased conflict for couples in the U.S. Although scholars have not examined the source of these new conflicts, pre-pandemic research suggests that pandemic-related disruptions may create conflicts around paid work and parenting, economic security, politics, and health decision-making. Method: This study uses the Pandemic Parenting Study, a mixed-methods study of Southern Indiana mothers, conducted April-May 2020, and involving surveys (N=139), diary entries (N=104), and in-depth interviews (N=65). We examine mothers’ reports of pandemic-related changes in their frustrations with their partners and how those changes vary with the disruptions couples have experienced during the pandemic. We then use qualitative data to understand how pandemic-related disruptions are generating conflicts for couples and what consequences those conflicts have.Results: A substantial minority of mothers (39%) report pandemic-related increases in their frustrations with their partners. These frustrations are particularly common among mothers whose partners are (reportedly) providing insufficient support with pandemic parenting or dismissing mothers’ concerns about COVID-19. Mothers blame themselves for these conflicts and feel responsible for reducing them, including by leaving the workforce, beginning use of antidepressants, or ignoring their own concerns about COVID-19.Conclusion: The pandemic has exacerbated longstanding sources of conflict (related to partners’ insufficient support with parenting) and created new sources of conflict (related to partners’ dismissals of mothers’ concerns about COVID-19), with serious implications for mothers, families, and public health.

scholarly journals Health-seeking behaviours in a malaria endemic district in Lao People’s Democratic Republic: a mixed methods study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. e055350
Author(s):  
Ken Ing Cherng Ong ◽  
Phonepadith Khattignavong ◽  
Sengdeuane Keomalaphet ◽  
Moritoshi Iwagami ◽  
Paul Brey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Lao Pdr ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Health Seeking ◽  
Endemic District ◽  
Depth Interviews

ObjectivesThis mixed methods study was conducted to explore the barriers and facilitators for health-seeking behaviours in a malaria endemic district in Lao PDR.DesignA convergent mixed methods design.SettingTwo malaria endemic villages in Thapangthong district, Savannakhet Province, Lao PDR.ParticipantsVillagers and healthcare workers in the two villages in Thapangthong district.MethodsIn the quantitative part, a pretested questionnaire was used to identify the health-seeking behaviours of the villagers. In the qualitative part, focus group discussions were employed to explore health-seeking behaviours of the villagers and in-depth interviews were used to explore the perceptions of the healthcare workers. Descriptive statistics were computed and multiple logistic regressions were used to identify the factors associated with perceived severity and perceived susceptibility. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data. Quantitative and qualitative results were integrated in joint displays.ResultsIn the quantitative part, data were collected from 313 villagers from both villages. For malaria, 96.0% and 98.2% of villagers from villages A and B, respectively, would first seek treatment at public health facilities. Villagers who have not experienced malaria before were more likely to perceive that the consequences of malaria were serious compared with those who have experienced malaria before (adjusted OR=1.69, 95% CI: 1.03 to 2.75). However, qualitative data showed that villagers faced problems such as lack of medicines and medical equipment. Healthcare workers also mentioned the lack of manpower and equipment in the in-depth interviews. Nevertheless, villagers still preferred to seek treatment at the health center as the National Health Insurance was introduced.ConclusionsPublic health facility usage was high but barriers existed. Effective policy and enabling environment such as the introduction of the National Health Insurance could help accelerate the progress towards the malaria elimination goal. Moreover, the benefits could go beyond the context of malaria.

scholarly journals Unmet needs in occupational health: prevention and management of viral hepatitis in healthcare workers in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: a mixed-methods study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. e052668
Author(s):  
Tran Nguyen ◽  
Trang Pham ◽  
Hong K Tang ◽  
Loc Phan ◽  
Gary Mize ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Viral Hepatitis ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Ho Chi Minh City ◽  
Clinical Activity ◽  
Depth Interviews

ObjectivesVietnam is an endemic area for hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection (HBV-HCV), yet its largest city, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), has no comprehensive policy to educate, screen, treat and protect healthcare workers (HCWs) from viral hepatitis. We conducted a mixed-methods study to document HBV-HCV infection rates, risk factors, local barriers and opportunities for providing education, screening and medical care for HCWs.DesignThis mixed-methods study involved an HBV and HCV serological evaluation, knowledge, attitude and practice survey about viral hepatitis and many in-depth interviews. Descriptive statistics and thematic content analysis using inductive and deductive approaches were used.SettingHCMC, Vietnam.ParticipantsHCWs at risk of viral hepatitis exposure at three hospitals in HCMC.ResultsOf the 210 invited HCWs, 203 were enrolled. Of the 203 HCWs enrolled, 20 were hepatitis B surface antigen-positive, 1 was anti-hepatitis C antibody (anti-HCV Ab)-positive, 57 were anti-hepatitis B core Ab-positive and 152 had adequate anti-hepatitis B surface Ab (anti-HBs Ab) titre (≥10IU/mL). Only 50% of the infected HCWs reported always using gloves during a clinical activity involving handling of blood or bodily fluid. Approximately 50% of HCWs were still not vaccinated against HBV following 1 year of employment. In-depth interviews revealed two major concerns for most interviewees: the need for financial support for HBV-HCV screening and treatment in HCWs and the need for specific HBV-HCV guidelines to be independently developed.ConclusionsThe high HBV infection rate in HCWs coupled with inadequate preventive occupational practices among the population in HCMC highlight the urgent needs to establish formal policy and rigorous education, screening, vaccination and treatment programmes to protect HCWs from HBV acquisition or to manage those living with chronic HBV in Vietnam.

Beyond the “Tourist Environmental Bubble”: Encounters with Locals and Destination Experiences of Business Travelers

2019 ◽  
Vol 59 (8) ◽  
pp. 1493-1505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Orit Unger ◽  
Galia Fuchs ◽  
Natan Uriely
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Subjective Experiences ◽  
Social Contacts ◽  
Business Travelers ◽  
Quantitative Survey ◽  
Host Interactions ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Insight Into

The current study explores the destination experiences of business travelers by focusing on their social contacts with local colleagues. By crossing out of the local “tourist environmental bubble” (TEB), as conceptualized by Erik Cohen, business travelers are expected to experience difficulties associated with the strangeness of the visited destination but to gain an authentic experience in return. Based on in-depth interviews (n = 28) and a quantitative survey (n = 231) of Israeli business travelers, this mixed-methods study confirms that the supposedly inconvenient extra-TEB experience (particularly confronting strangeness) turns out to be rewarding, and the assumed benefits of crossing out of the bubble (mainly experiencing authenticity) are limited. By focusing on business travelers, the current study provides insight into guest–host interactions and the subjective experiences of travelers who cross out the TEB, mainly with respect to the complex and multidimensional sense of authenticity.

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