The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the research activity and working experience of clinical academics, with a focus on gender and ethnicity: a qualitative study in the UK

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the research activity and working experience of clinical academics, with a focus on gender and ethnicity.DesignQualitative study based on interviews and audio/written diary data.SettingUK study within clinical academia.ParticipantsPurposive sample of 82 clinical academics working in medicine and dentistry across all career stages ranging from academic clinical fellows and doctoral candidates to professors.MethodsQualitative semistructured interviews (n=68) and audio diary data (n=30; including 16 participants who were also interviewed) collected over an 8-month period (January–September 2020), thematically analysed.Results20 of 30 (66.6%) audio diary contributors and 40 of 68 (58.8%) interview participants were female. Of the participants who disclosed ethnicity, 5 of 29 (17.2%) audio diary contributors and 19/66 (28.8%) interview participants identified as Black, Asian or another minority (BAME). Four major themes were identified in relation to the initial impact of COVID-19 on clinical academics: opportunities, barriers, personal characteristics and social identity, and fears and uncertainty. COVID-19 presented opportunities for new avenues of research. Barriers included access to resources to conduct research and the increasing teaching demands. One of the most prominent subthemes within ‘personal characteristics’ was that of the perceived negative impact of the pandemic on the work of female clinical academics. This was attributed to inequalities experienced in relation to childcare provision and research capacity. Participants described differential experiences based upon their gender and ethnicity, noting intersectional identities.ConclusionsWhile there have been some positives afforded to clinical academics, particularly for new avenues of research, COVID-19 has negatively impacted workload, future career intentions and mental health. BAME academics were particularly fearful due to the differential impact on health. Our study elucidates the direct and systemic discrimination that creates barriers to women’s career trajectories in clinical academia. A flexible, strategic response that supports clinical academics in resuming their training and research is required. Interventions are needed to mitigate the potential lasting impact on capacity from the pandemic, and the potential for the loss of women from this valuable workforce.

Strengthening the clinical academic pathway: a systematic review of interventions to support clinical academic careers for doctors and dentists

“…This systematic review formed part of a larger project focused on UK CA careers, for which linked primary qualitative research was performed. 65 66 A full and detailed report of the whole project is available online. 67 68…”

“…Further exploration and synthesis of this dataset may facilitate a deeper understanding of the barriers and facilitators that CAs face and may inform the development of specifically targeted interventions. This systematic review formed part of a larger project focused on UK CA careers, for which linked primary qualitative research was performed 65 66. A full and detailed report of the whole project is available online 67 68…”

Clinical academics’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study of challenges and opportunities when working at the clinical frontline

“…These issues are echoed elsewhere, along with concerns for the long-term implications of reduced research outputs for future funding bids 18 and career progression. 5 Although much of university-based research was paused, the pandemic also revealed new research priorities. Our findings echo previous research which described clinical academics taking opportunities while at the frontline to identify areas of research incorporating the voices of frontline staff, patients and their families.…”

“…Our findings echo previous research which described clinical academics taking opportunities while at the frontline to identify areas of research incorporating the voices of frontline staff, patients and their families. 5 Some of these areas of research (eg, the prevalence of COVID-19 in BAME patients and staff; the long-term psychosocial consequences of the pandemic) have already been identified as urgent research priorities. 5 19 20 In addition, our participants described developing their existing research in the context of the pandemic and undertaking multidisciplinary research.…”

“…In line with other healthcare staff, many clinical academics have responded to the call for doctors, nurses and AHPs to deliver frontline services during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide urgent patient care and cover staff shortages due to illness or needing to shield. Previous studies exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the research activity and working experience of clinical academics have either focused exclusively on doctors and dentists (MCAs)5 or single professions (eg, ophthalmology,6 nursing7). However, this empirical research explores the experiences of MCAs and also NMAHPs from a range of professions.…”