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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

Author

Listed:
  • Jennifer Creese

    (Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Dublin D02 X266, Ireland)

  • John-Paul Byrne

    (Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Dublin D02 X266, Ireland)

  • Edel Conway

    (DCU Business School, Dublin City University, Dublin D09 V209, Ireland)

  • Elizabeth Barrett

    (School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin D04 V1W8, Ireland
    Children’s University Hospital Temple Street, Dublin D01 F772, Ireland)

  • Lucia Prihodova

    (Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Dublin D02 X266, Ireland)

  • Niamh Humphries

    (Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Dublin D02 X266, Ireland)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Jennifer Creese & John-Paul Byrne & Edel Conway & Elizabeth Barrett & Lucia Prihodova & Niamh Humphries, 2021. "“We All Really Need to just Take a Breath”: Composite Narratives of Hospital Doctors’ Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-18, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:4:p:2051-:d:502298
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Shir Daphna-Tekoah & Talia Megadasi Brikman & Eric Scheier & Uri Balla, 2020. "Listening to Hospital Personnel’s Narratives during the COVID-19 Outbreak," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-15, September.
    2. Mohd Fadhli Mohd Fauzi & Hanizah Mohd Yusoff & Rosnawati Muhamad Robat & Nur Adibah Mat Saruan & Khairil Idham Ismail & Ahmad Firdaus Mohd Haris, 2020. "Doctors’ Mental Health in the Midst of COVID-19 Pandemic: The Roles of Work Demands and Recovery Experiences," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-16, October.
    3. M. Sirgy & David Efraty & Phillip Siegel & Dong-Jin Lee, 2001. "A New Measure of Quality of Work Life (QWL) Based on Need Satisfaction and Spillover Theories," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 55(3), pages 241-302, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Thomas Volken & Annina Zysset & Simone Amendola & Agnes von Wyl & Julia Dratva & on behalf of the HES-C Research Group, 2021. "Generalized Anxiety among Swiss Health Professions and Non-Health Professions Students: An Open Cohort Study over 14 Months in the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-14, October.
    2. Antonios Revythis & Sidrah Shah & Synthia Enyioma & Aruni Ghose & Meenash Patel & Afroditi Karathanasi & Elisabet Sanchez & Stergios Boussios, 2021. "The Experience of a Single NHS England Trust on the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Junior and Middle-Grade Doctors: What Is Next?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-14, October.
    3. Byrne, John-Paul & Humphries, Niamh & McMurray, Robert & Scotter, Cris, 2023. "COVID-19 and healthcare worker mental well-being: Comparative case studies on interventions in six countries," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    4. Krzysztof Zdziarski & Marek Landowski & Paulina Zabielska & Beata Karakiewicz, 2021. "Subjective Feelings of Polish Doctors after Receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-12, June.
    5. Odgerel Chimed-Ochir & Jargalmaa Amarsanaa & Nader Ghotbi & Yui Yumiya & Ryoma Kayano & Frank Van Trimpont & Virginia Murray & Tatsuhiko Kubo, 2023. "Impact of COVID-19 on Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management System: A Scoping Review of Healthcare Workforce Management in COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-25, July.

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