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An investigation of psychological responses to COVID-19 in health care workers during the delay and mitigation phase of disease management: longitudinal and nested qualitative study.

Background:
There is a paucity of information on the psychosocial responses of healthcare staff in the context of COVID-19, including their use and experience of structured and informal supports.
Aims:
This project aims to examine: 1). Psychological impact among healthcare staff of working in the context of COVID-19. 2). Informal and formal coping/support resources utilised by healthcare staff and their utility as a buffer to the impact of working in the context of the pandemic. We aim to remotely assess participants at induction, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year.
Method:
Longitudinal questionnaire study and nested qualitative study with follow-ups at 3, 6 and 12 months.
Our Objectives are:
1). To recruit 1000 participants (healthcare workers) from 12 hospitals across a defined geographical area in the South of Ireland (Cork Teaching Hospitals (S/SW) group and UHL hospitals group).
2). To enable participants to remotely complete a questionnaire assessment hosted through our Qualtrics system, assessing mood, coping, beliefs about infection and COVID-19, stigma, sleep, the use of social support resources, and use of structured HSE supports. 3). To undertake a telephone interview (up to a maximum of 30 minutes) with 5% (n=50) of the participant pool who consent to participate in the interview.
4). To follow up participants at 3 months, 6 months and 1 year re: completion of the measures and interviews. Participants data points will be matched through use of a 4 point self-generated Identification code (SGIC).
Quantitative results will be analysed principally through ANCOVA models, and qualitative data will be analysed through thematic analysis.
Data capture will permit a fast turnaround of data at key time points that will prove helpful in understanding staff use and experience of structured supports (health-service provided), and informal supports and any buffering effects of these and the other assessed variables on outcome.