IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2023i5p4255-d1082431.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

“We’re Not Going to Be as Prepared”: A Qualitative Study of Healthcare Trainees’ Experiences after One Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Holly Blake

    (School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2HA, UK
    NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK)

  • Alex Brewer

    (School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UK, UK)

  • Niki Chouliara

    (School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UK, UK
    NIHR Applied Research Collaboration East Midlands, Nottingham NG7 2TU, UK)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic had significant impacts on the mental health and academic experiences of healthcare trainees. Building on findings from earlier in the pandemic, we explore the impacts on healthcare trainees after a sustained pandemic period of 12–14 months, involving multiple lockdowns, changes in government COVID-19 regulations and the delivery of health education. A qualitative study was conducted between March–May 2021. Participants were 12 healthcare trainees (10 women, 2 men) of medicine, nursing, and midwifery, registered at one of three higher education institutions in the United Kingdom. Interviews were fully transcribed, and data were thematically analysed using a combination of deductive and inductive approaches. We identified three key themes with eight subthemes: (i) academic experiences (adjustment to online learning, loss of clinical experience, confidence in the university), (ii) impacts on wellbeing (psychosocial impacts, physical impacts, pandemic duration and multiple lockdowns), and (iii) support frameworks (university preparedness for increased student support needs, importance of relationship with academic tutors). Findings shed light on the long-lasting and emerging impacts of the pandemic over time. We identify support needs for trainees both during their academic studies, and as they move forwards into professional roles within the healthcare workforce. Recommendations are made for higher education institutions and healthcare employers.

Suggested Citation

  • Holly Blake & Alex Brewer & Niki Chouliara, 2023. "“We’re Not Going to Be as Prepared”: A Qualitative Study of Healthcare Trainees’ Experiences after One Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-15, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:5:p:4255-:d:1082431
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/5/4255/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/5/4255/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Isabel Lasheras & Patricia Gracia-García & Darren M. Lipnicki & Juan Bueno-Notivol & Raúl López-Antón & Concepción de la Cámara & Antonio Lobo & Javier Santabárbara, 2020. "Prevalence of Anxiety in Medical Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Rapid Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-12, September.
    2. Holly Blake & Kathryn Watkins & Matthew Middleton & Natalia Stanulewicz, 2021. "Obesity and Diet Predict Attitudes towards Health Promotion in Pre-Registered Nurses and Midwives," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-20, December.
    3. Stina Oftedal & Corneel Vandelanotte & Mitch J. Duncan, 2019. "Patterns of Diet, Physical Activity, Sitting and Sleep Are Associated with Socio-Demographic, Behavioural, and Health-Risk Indicators in Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-14, July.
    4. Holly Blake & Holly Knight & Ru Jia & Jessica Corner & Joanne R. Morling & Chris Denning & Jonathan K. Ball & Kirsty Bolton & Grazziela Figueredo & David E. Morris & Patrick Tighe & Armando Mendez Vil, 2021. "Students’ Views towards Sars-Cov-2 Mass Asymptomatic Testing, Social Distancing and Self-Isolation in a University Setting during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-19, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Arndt Büssing & Michaela Zupanic & Jan P. Ehlers & Angelika Taetz-Harrer, 2022. "Mental Stress in Medical Students during the Pandemic and Their Relation to Digital and Hybrid Semester—Cross-Sectional Data from Three Recruitment Waves in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-18, September.
    2. Nikolaos P. Rachaniotis, 2022. "Evaluating the COVID-19 Containment Protocol in Greek Universities for the Academic Year 2021–2022," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-9, November.
    3. repec:thr:techub:10028:y:2022:i:1:p:451-460 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Bentham Liang Sen Teh & Jin Kiat Ang & Eugene Boon Yau Koh & Nicholas Tze Ping Pang, 2023. "Psychological Resilience and Coping Strategies with Anxiety among Malaysian Medical Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-16, January.
    5. Emilijus Žilinskas & Giedrė Žulpaitė & Kristijonas Puteikis & Rima Viliūnienė, 2021. "Mental Health among Higher Education Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey from Lithuania," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-14, December.
    6. Szymon Szemik & Maksymilian Gajda & Aleksandra Gładyś & Małgorzata Kowalska, 2022. "The Association between COVID-19 Pandemic and the Quality of Life of Medical Students in Silesian Voivodeship, Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-14, September.
    7. Laura A. Geer & Rachel Radigan & Guilherme de Lima Bruneli & Lucas Sampaio Leite & Rosalie Barreto Belian, 2021. "COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study of Healthcare Students’ Perceptions of Life during the Pandemic in the United States and Brazil," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-12, September.
    8. Telmo Raul Aveiro-Róbalo & Luciana Daniela Garlisi-Torales & Marisella Chumán-Sánchez & César J. Pereira-Victorio & Mariana Huaman-Garcia & Virgilio E. Failoc-Rojas & Mario J. Valladares-Garrido, 2022. "Prevalence and Associated Factors of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in University Students in Paraguay during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-14, October.
    9. Kaiting Zhang & Yixiang Peng & Xiaowei Zhang & Liping Li, 2021. "Psychological Burden and Experiences Following Exposure to COVID-19: A Qualitative and Quantitative Study of Chinese Medical Student Volunteers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-13, April.
    10. María Giner-Murillo & Beatriz Atienza-Carbonell & Jose Cervera-Martínez & Teresa Bobes-Bascarán & Benedicto Crespo-Facorro & Raquel B. De Boni & Cristina Esteban & María Paz García-Portilla & Susana G, 2021. "Lifestyle in Undergraduate Students and Demographically Matched Controls during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-17, July.
    11. Amani Al-Oraibi & Lauren Fothergill & Mehmet Yildirim & Holly Knight & Sophie Carlisle & Mórna O’Connor & Lydia Briggs & Joanne R. Morling & Jessica Corner & Jonathan K. Ball & Chris Denning & Kavita , 2022. "Exploring the Psychological Impacts of COVID-19 Social Restrictions on International University Students: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-19, June.
    12. Yasue Fukuda & Koji Fukuda, 2022. "Educators’ Psychosocial Burdens Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Predictive Factors: A Cross-Sectional Survey of the Relationship with Sense of Coherence and Social Capital," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-16, February.
    13. Holly Knight & Sophie Carlisle & Mórna O’Connor & Lydia Briggs & Lauren Fothergill & Amani Al-Oraibi & Mehmet Yildirim & Joanne R. Morling & Jessica Corner & Jonathan Ball & Chris Denning & Kavita Ved, 2021. "Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Self-Isolation on Students and Staff in Higher Education: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-16, October.
    14. Edyta Skwirczyńska & Mateusz Kozłowski & Katarzyna Nowak & Oskar Wróblewski & Agnieszka Sompolska-Rzechuła & Sebastian Kwiatkowski & Aneta Cymbaluk-Płoska, 2022. "Anxiety Assessment in Polish Students during the Russian–Ukrainian War," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-13, October.
    15. Shefali Liyanage & Kiran Saqib & Amber Fozia Khan & Tijhiana Rose Thobani & Wang-Choi Tang & Cameron B. Chiarot & Bara’ Abdallah AlShurman & Zahid Ahmad Butt, 2021. "Prevalence of Anxiety in University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-13, December.
    16. Ana Telma Pereira & Maria João Brito & Carolina Cabaços & Mário Carneiro & Frederica Carvalho & Andreia Manão & Ana Araújo & Daniela Pereira & António Macedo, 2022. "The Protective Role of Self-Compassion in the Relationship between Perfectionism and Burnout in Portuguese Medicine and Dentistry Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-14, February.
    17. Alberto Bermejo-Franco & Juan Luis Sánchez-Sánchez & María Isabel Gaviña-Barroso & Beatriz Atienza-Carbonell & Vicent Balanzá-Martínez & Vicente Javier Clemente-Suárez, 2022. "Gender Differences in Psychological Stress Factors of Physical Therapy Degree Students in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-10, January.
    18. Elżbieta Joanna Zarzecka-Francica & Andrzej Gala & Krzysztof Gębczyński & Małgorzata Pihut & Grażyna Wyszyńska-Pawelec, 2022. "The Influence of Preventive Activities on Stress Perception among Dentistry Students in the Period of the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-17, October.
    19. Wandeep Kaur & Vimala Balakrishnan & Yoke Yong Chen & Jeyarani Periasamy, 2022. "Mental Health Risk Factors and Coping Strategies among Students in Asia Pacific during COVID-19 Pandemic—A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-15, July.
    20. Holly Blake & Sarah Somerset & Ikra Mahmood & Neelam Mahmood & Jessica Corner & Jonathan K. Ball & Chris Denning, 2022. "A Qualitative Evaluation of the Barriers and Enablers for Implementation of an Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Testing Service at the University of Nottingham: A Multi-Site Higher Education Setting in England," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-17, October.
    21. Katarzyna Szczurek & Natalia Furgał & Dawid Szczepanek & Rashid Zaman & Krzysztof Krysta & Marek Krzystanek, 2021. "“Medical Student Syndrome”—A Myth or a Real Disease Entity? Cross-Sectional Study of Medical Students of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-16, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:5:p:4255-:d:1082431. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.