Experiences of hospice staff beyond the frontlines during COVID-19: A qualitative secondary analysis study
Sundaramoorthy TH., MacArtney JI., Eccles A.
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic presented different challenges and work pressures for hospice staff. Staff who continued to work during the emergency public health period had to redefine not only their norms at work, but also the norms of their home and personal lives. Research on hospice staff, and broadly healthcare staff, mainly explores their professional roles and responsibilities, often overlooking the personal experiences and challenges that they encountered outside of this, especially during the first 2 years of the pandemic where their work and commitment persevered amidst unprecedented circumstances. Objective: To explore the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the home life of hospice staff and identify opportunities to support staff in the future. Design: Qualitative interpretive secondary analysis study. Method: Reflexive thematic analysis of qualitative in-depth interviews of hospice staff (n = 25), conducted across seven hospices, to explore the impact and implications of the pandemic on hospice care. Results: Three main themes were identified: (1) Blurred margins: Participants discussed facing difficulty separating work and home life and taking stresses and thoughts about work home. (2) Isolation, loneliness and social interactions: Staff described being anxious and lonely during this period, and not feeling like socialising after demanding workdays. (3) Disruption to family and personal commitments: Some staff felt unable to see or support their parents, partners and children during the pandemic subsequently impacting their psychological and emotional well-being. Conclusion: Hospice staff compromised aspects of their personal life and family responsibilities during the pandemic to carry out their role at work. Workplaces and organisations should aim to support hospice staff more broadly to help with managing work-related pressures and balancing personal commitments in future emergency periods.