The covid-19 clinician cohort (Cocco) study: Empirically grounded recommendations for forward-facing psychological care of frontline doctors

Jo Daniels; Jenny Ingram; Anna Pease; Elaine Wainwright; Kate Beckett; Lalitha Iyadurai; Sophie Harris; Olivia Donnelly; Tom Roberts; Edward Carlton

doi:10.3390/ijerph18189675

The covid-19 clinician cohort (Cocco) study: Empirically grounded recommendations for forward-facing psychological care of frontline doctors

Jo Daniels, Jenny Ingram, Anna Pease, Elaine Wainwright, Kate Beckett, Lalitha Iyadurai, Sophie Harris, Olivia Donnelly, Tom Roberts, Edward Carlton

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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 dis-tress; 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’ front-line 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.

Original language	English
Article number	9675
Journal	International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume	18
Issue number	18
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18189675
Publication status	Published - 14 Sept 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Funding: This research has been carried out through funding by the Southmead Hospital Charity Research Fund (Ref: 4922) and sponsored by North Bristol NHS trust. The funders had no role in considering the study design or in the collection, analysis, or interpretation of data, the writing of the report, or the decision to submit the article for publication.

Funding

Funding: This research has been carried out through funding by the Southmead Hospital Charity Research Fund (Ref: 4922) and sponsored by North Bristol NHS trust. The funders had no role in considering the study design or in the collection, analysis, or interpretation of data, the writing of the report, or the decision to submit the article for publication.

Keywords

COVID-19
Frontline workers
Guidelines
Healthcare workers
Occupational health
Psychological support
Qualitative research
Trauma

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Pollution
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.3390/ijerph18189675Licence: CC BY

The COVID-19 Clinician Cohort (CoCCo) Study: Empirically Grounded Recommendations for Forward-Facing Psychological Care of Frontline Doctors Final published version, 453 KBLicence: CC BY
Accessible two page summary of CoCCo studyOther version, 253 KB

Cite this

Daniels, J., Ingram, J., Pease, A., Wainwright, E., Beckett, K., Iyadurai, L., Harris, S., Donnelly, O., Roberts, T., & Carlton, E. (2021). The covid-19 clinician cohort (Cocco) study: Empirically grounded recommendations for forward-facing psychological care of frontline doctors. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(18), Article 9675. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18189675

Daniels, J, Ingram, J, Pease, A, Wainwright, E, Beckett, K, Iyadurai, L, Harris, S, Donnelly, O, Roberts, T & Carlton, E 2021, 'The covid-19 clinician cohort (Cocco) study: Empirically grounded recommendations for forward-facing psychological care of frontline doctors', International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 18, no. 18, 9675. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18189675

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The covid-19 clinician cohort (Cocco) study: Empirically grounded recommendations for forward-facing psychological care of frontline doctors

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Defining the treatment needs and preferences for traumatic stress in doctors: COVID-19 clinicians cohort (CoCCo) study.

Cite this

The covid-19 clinician cohort (Cocco) study: Empirically grounded recommendations for forward-facing psychological care of frontline doctors

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

Defining the treatment needs and preferences for traumatic stress in doctors: COVID-19 clinicians cohort (CoCCo) study.

Cite this