Experience of staff at RJAH responding to Covid-19

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Experience of staff at RJAH responding to Covid-19

  • IRAS ID

    286648

  • Contact name

    Caroline Stewart

  • Contact email

    caroline.stewart9@nhs.net

  • Sponsor organisation

    Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 0 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    This service evaluation study was motivated by the Covid-19 crisis, where the Trust was suddenly plunged into a period of unprecedented change, impacting on all routine services and staff roles. We knew that the crisis would affect staff’s experience of working life and we wanted to capture that experience in the organisation’s memory and as a repository for learning. We wanted to gain an understanding of what helps staff to thrive and what reduces stress. Hopefully that will inform future planning and staff training.

    We have asked a group of staff to record daily audio or written diaries over a 3 week period. Our plan was to recruit up to 20 volunteers from across the organisation, though we were open to more interest. We sought volunteers through Trust communications and the staff Facebook group.

    Each volunteer received an information sheet and completed a simple enrollment Form. They were then asked to record a 5 minute reflection at the end of each working day, submitting it via email. We aimed for each participant to join the project for 3 weeks, though were very open to flexibility in participation from busy staff. Prompt sheets were provided to guide the reflection, focusing on positive as well as more challenging aspects of the day.

    The audio recordings were transcribed for further analysis. The transcripts are being analysed using standard methodologies developed in the social sciences, specifically thematic analysis. The findings, which will be anonymised, will be collated into a report to be submitted to the Trust executive team, along with feedback to the subjects.

    From the data captured and analysed to date we have a rich dataset and we are seeking approval now to conduct formal research on the anonymised repository with a view to publication.

  • REC name

    N/A

  • REC reference

    N/A