UK healthcare support workers and the COVID-19 pandemic: an explorative analysis of lived experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Issue 1 (2nd January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kasdovasilis, Pavlos; Cook, Neil; Montasem, Alexander
• Is Part Of: Home health care services quarterly. Volume 42:Issue 1(2023)
• Page Start: 14
• Page End: 39
• Publication Date: 2023-01-02
• Subjects: Support workers -- COVID-19 pandemic -- lived experiences -- supported living; Home care services -- Periodicals; Home care services -- United States -- Periodicals; Home Care Services -- Periodicals; 362.14
• DOI: 10.1080/01621424.2022.2123757
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0162-1424

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Support workers are an underrepresented profession that receives less attention with a high degree of responsibilities. The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of healthcare support workers within the care sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a qualitative semi-structured interview study using an interpretative phenomenology (IP) framework. Fifteen (15) support workers were interviewed while all COVID-19 restrictions from the government were still in place. We identified five main themes: (1) challenging experiences; (2) coping mechanisms; (3) emotions and behaviors arising from the COVID-19 pandemic; (4) external interest on support worker's health; (5) take-home message from the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization selected for the research is a good representative of how care organizations operate within the UK both in terms of policies and staff selection.