Experiences and views of frontline healthcare workers’ family members in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study

Abstract

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has had a well-documented negative impact on the mental health and wellbeing of frontline healthcare workers (HCWs). Whilst no research has to date been carried out to explore the challenges experienced by the families of HCWs, some previous research has been conducted with military families, demonstrating that family members of deployed military personnel may also be affected seriously and negatively. Objectives This study aimed to explore the experiences, views, and mental health impact on frontline HCWs’ families during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK and what support the families of frontline HCWs may need. Method Close family members and friends of HCWs were interviewed. Transcripts were analysed in line with the principles of reflexive thematic analysis. Results We completed fourteen interviews with three siblings, one mother, one friend, and nine spouses of HCWs. Family members were highly motivated to support healthcare workers and felt an intense sense of pride in their work. However, they also experienced increased domestic responsibilities and emotional burden due to anxiety about their loved ones’ work. The fact that sacrifices made by family members were not noticed by society, the anxiety they felt about their family’s physical health, the impact of hearing about traumatic experiences, and the failure of healthcare organisations to meet the needs of the HCWs all negatively affected the family members. Conclusions We have an ethical responsibility to attend to the experiences and needs of the families of healthcare professionals. This study emphasises the experiences and needs of family members of healthcare professionals, which have hitherto been missing from the literature. Further research is needed to hear from more parents, siblings and friends, partners in same sex relationships, as well as children of HCWs, to explore the variety of family members and supporters’ experiences more fully. HIGHLIGHTS • COVID19 has impacted families of HCWs as well as workers themselves. They have experienced more anxiety, increased practical burden, significant physical health risks and been exposed vicariously to workers’ traumatic experiences. We must ensure HCW families are better supported

Turning to ‘Trusted Others’: A Narrative Review of Providing Social Support to First Responders

“…Emotional support was the main pillar of support trusted others provided to their first responders (19/24 studies). These studies suggested that fostering a psychologically ‘safe space’ was central to providing emotional support for first responders [ 12 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 52 , 53 , 56 ]. This included being present by providing time and emotional capacity [ 37 ], being a ‘sounding board’ [ 40 , 52 ], listening actively [ 42 , 53 , 56 ], expressing acceptance and open-mindedness [ 39 ], observing and recognizing first responders’ emotional condition [ 41 ], and giving first responders space and time to decompress before trusted others’ support provision [ 42 ].…”

“…These studies suggested that fostering a psychologically ‘safe space’ was central to providing emotional support for first responders [ 12 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 52 , 53 , 56 ]. This included being present by providing time and emotional capacity [ 37 ], being a ‘sounding board’ [ 40 , 52 ], listening actively [ 42 , 53 , 56 ], expressing acceptance and open-mindedness [ 39 ], observing and recognizing first responders’ emotional condition [ 41 ], and giving first responders space and time to decompress before trusted others’ support provision [ 42 ]. Some trusted others responded to their first responders’ distress by allowing first responders to dictate the timing and amount of support they were willing to receive [ 42 , 53 ].…”

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare workers’ families

“…With schools and daycare centers closed and one parent in healthcare spending most time away from the home, many children were being raised by a single parent, and because 40% of healthcare workers are married to another healthcare worker, this exacerbated the issue[ 6 ]. Interviews conducted with the family members of healthcare workers revealed that family members had to do more domestic work during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and had extra family responsibilities, such as preparing food and looking after and organizing activities for their children[ 7 ].…”

“…The nurses’ families are also suffering from stress, a fear of becoming infected, and psychiatric complaints, especially depression. A study on 208 family members of Hajar hospital employees in Iran found that 71% of participants had moderate depression[ 8 ], and another study reported family members feeling fear and anxiety[ 7 ] because they were constantly worried about the family’s health and were afraid that the healthcare worker would catch COVID-19[ 7 ]. Studies have found that healthcare workers in regular direct contact with patients and their families have an increased risk of contracting COVID-19[ 9 , 10 ].…”

The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on health-care workers

“…The current study is commendable for including clinical and non-clinical staff from both acute hospital and mental health Trusts, but other groups were particularly affected by the pandemic. Family members of health-care workers also report a considerable detriment to their own wellbeing due to their loved ones working on the frontline during the pandemic 9 and mental health professionals who were specifically mobilised to support health-care workers have described feeling ill prepared for this work, overwhelmed, and vicariously traumatised. 10 …”