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The COVID-19 Clinician Cohort (CoCCo) Study: Empirically Grounded Recommendations for Forward-Facing Psychological Care of Frontline Doctors

Author

Listed:
  • Jo Daniels

    (Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK
    North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK)

  • Jenny Ingram

    (Centre for Academic Child Health, University of Bristol Medical School, Bristol BS8 1QU, UK)

  • Anna Pease

    (Centre for Academic Child Health, University of Bristol Medical School, Bristol BS8 1QU, UK)

  • Elaine Wainwright

    (School of Science, Bath Spa University, Bath BA2 9BN, UK)

  • Kate Beckett

    (HAS-Nursing and Midwifery, University of West England Bristol, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK)

  • Lalitha Iyadurai

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 2JD, UK)

  • Sophie Harris

    (Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, UK)

  • Olivia Donnelly

    (North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK)

  • Tom Roberts

    (North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK
    Royal College of Emergency Medicine, London EC4A 1DT, UK)

  • Edward Carlton

    (North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK
    Royal College of Emergency Medicine, London EC4A 1DT, UK)

Abstract

This study aimed to develop empirically grounded recommendations and a coherent model of psychological care derived from the experiences and psychological care needs of COVID-19 frontline doctors, using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis. Participants were UK frontline doctors specialising in Emergency Medicine, Anaesthetics, or Intensive Care ( n = 31) purposively sampled for maximum variation on gender, specialty, ethnicity, and trauma-related distress; most worked in ICU during the pandemic (71%). Four themes were derived: (1) ‘coping strategies’, participants used many, including exercise, mindfulness, and “wait until it gets really bad”; (2) ‘sources of support’, participants valued embedded psychological support, digital services, and informal conversations with colleagues or family, though there was little opportunity; (3) ‘organisational influences on wellbeing’, participants reported a love–hate relationship for concepts like ‘wellbeing’, seen as important but insulting when basic workplace needs were unmet; (4) ‘improving engagement with support’, analysis suggests we must reduce physical and psychological barriers to access and encourage leaders to model psychologically supportive behaviours. Doctors’ frontline COVID-19 working experiences shine a ‘spotlight’ on pre-existing problems such as lack of physical resources and access to psychological care. Empirically grounded recommendations and a model of incremental psychological care are presented for use in clinical services.

Suggested Citation

  • Jo Daniels & Jenny Ingram & Anna Pease & Elaine Wainwright & Kate Beckett & Lalitha Iyadurai & Sophie Harris & Olivia Donnelly & Tom Roberts & Edward Carlton, 2021. "The COVID-19 Clinician Cohort (CoCCo) Study: Empirically Grounded Recommendations for Forward-Facing Psychological Care of Frontline Doctors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-18, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:18:p:9675-:d:635189
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rodolfo Buselli & Martina Corsi & Sigrid Baldanzi & Martina Chiumiento & Elena Del Lupo & Valerio Dell'Oste & Carlo Antonio Bertelloni & Gabriele Massimetti & Liliana Dell’Osso & Alfonso Cristaudo & C, 2020. "Professional Quality of Life and Mental Health Outcomes among Health Care Workers Exposed to Sars-Cov-2 (Covid-19)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-12, August.
    2. Gabriele d’Ettorre & Giancarlo Ceccarelli & Letizia Santinelli & Paolo Vassalini & Giuseppe Pietro Innocenti & Francesco Alessandri & Alexia E. Koukopoulos & Alessandro Russo & Gabriella d’Ettorre & L, 2021. "Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Healthcare Workers Dealing with the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-16, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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