A narrative inquiry into healthcare staff resilience and the sustainability of Quality Improvement implementation efforts during Covid-19
Abstract Background Recent research, which explored the use of Quality Improvement (QI) methods in the Covid-19 pandemic response, found that Quality Improvement principles were utilised during the crisis management period, albeit without direct intention. Following on from this work, the aim of thi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09190-4 |
| _version_ | 1827984700607561728 |
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| author | Shannon Hughes Spence Zuneera Khurshid Maureen Flynn John Fitzsimons Aoife De Brún |
| author_facet | Shannon Hughes Spence Zuneera Khurshid Maureen Flynn John Fitzsimons Aoife De Brún |
| author_sort | Shannon Hughes Spence |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Recent research, which explored the use of Quality Improvement (QI) methods in the Covid-19 pandemic response, found that Quality Improvement principles were utilised during the crisis management period, albeit without direct intention. Following on from this work, the aim of this paper extends that study by investigating the sustainability and resilience of not only the changes implemented by healthcare staff during Covid-19 in Ireland, but the resilience of the wellbeing of healthcare staff themselves through the various waves of Covid-19. Methods To explore healthcare staffs experience of Quality Improvement and the sustainability and resilience of both Quality Improvement initiatives and healthcare staff, a qualitative design was implemented. Semi-structured interviews took place online over Zoom with 11 healthcare staff members from the Irish healthcare service in the Spring of 2022. An analysis of the narratives was conducted using thematic analysis supported by NVivo12. Results Four key themes were evident from the data: (i) From fear to exhaustion; (ii) maintaining person-centred approaches to care; (iii) Covid-19 as a medium for change, and; (iv) staff resilience and appetite for Quality Improvement. Discussion The results of this work identified three key learnings; (i) integrating learning into policies and practice: (ii) the role of collective leadership and devolving/sharing power; and (iii) key drivers/factors that promote sustainability of QI interventions. Despite the challenges in recruitment of research participants experienced during the pandemic, a narrative approach supported the collation of rich and nuanced insights into the experiences of healthcare staff during this time. Conclusion A growing body of literature currently exists on how healthcare staff felt during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, as the waves of Covid-19 have declined, it is vital to examine how the feelings of burnout and disillusionment will affect engagement with Quality Improvement in the future. It is also worth noting and examining the feeling of purpose and pride participants expressed from working through the Covid-19 pandemic. This study has helped to address this gap. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:03:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-149b7d71a435442c9be6a3f6e1936c90 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:03:43Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-149b7d71a435442c9be6a3f6e1936c902023-03-22T10:48:04ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632023-02-0123111410.1186/s12913-023-09190-4A narrative inquiry into healthcare staff resilience and the sustainability of Quality Improvement implementation efforts during Covid-19Shannon Hughes Spence0Zuneera Khurshid1Maureen Flynn2John Fitzsimons3Aoife De Brún4Education and Innovation in Health Systems (UCD IRIS Centre), University College Dublin (UCD) Centre for Interdisciplinary Research UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems University College DublinImprovement Academy, Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustOffice of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director, National Quality and Patient Safety Directorate, Health Service Executive (HSE)Temple Street and Clinical Director for Quality Improvement, Health Service Executive (HSE), Children’s Health Ireland, National Quality and Patient Safety DirectorateEducation and Innovation in Health Systems (UCD IRIS Centre), University College Dublin (UCD) Centre for Interdisciplinary Research UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems University College DublinAbstract Background Recent research, which explored the use of Quality Improvement (QI) methods in the Covid-19 pandemic response, found that Quality Improvement principles were utilised during the crisis management period, albeit without direct intention. Following on from this work, the aim of this paper extends that study by investigating the sustainability and resilience of not only the changes implemented by healthcare staff during Covid-19 in Ireland, but the resilience of the wellbeing of healthcare staff themselves through the various waves of Covid-19. Methods To explore healthcare staffs experience of Quality Improvement and the sustainability and resilience of both Quality Improvement initiatives and healthcare staff, a qualitative design was implemented. Semi-structured interviews took place online over Zoom with 11 healthcare staff members from the Irish healthcare service in the Spring of 2022. An analysis of the narratives was conducted using thematic analysis supported by NVivo12. Results Four key themes were evident from the data: (i) From fear to exhaustion; (ii) maintaining person-centred approaches to care; (iii) Covid-19 as a medium for change, and; (iv) staff resilience and appetite for Quality Improvement. Discussion The results of this work identified three key learnings; (i) integrating learning into policies and practice: (ii) the role of collective leadership and devolving/sharing power; and (iii) key drivers/factors that promote sustainability of QI interventions. Despite the challenges in recruitment of research participants experienced during the pandemic, a narrative approach supported the collation of rich and nuanced insights into the experiences of healthcare staff during this time. Conclusion A growing body of literature currently exists on how healthcare staff felt during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, as the waves of Covid-19 have declined, it is vital to examine how the feelings of burnout and disillusionment will affect engagement with Quality Improvement in the future. It is also worth noting and examining the feeling of purpose and pride participants expressed from working through the Covid-19 pandemic. This study has helped to address this gap.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09190-4Quality ImprovementSustainabilityResilienceCovid-19Healthcare staff experience |
| spellingShingle | Shannon Hughes Spence Zuneera Khurshid Maureen Flynn John Fitzsimons Aoife De Brún A narrative inquiry into healthcare staff resilience and the sustainability of Quality Improvement implementation efforts during Covid-19 BMC Health Services Research Quality Improvement Sustainability Resilience Covid-19 Healthcare staff experience |
| title | A narrative inquiry into healthcare staff resilience and the sustainability of Quality Improvement implementation efforts during Covid-19 |
| title_full | A narrative inquiry into healthcare staff resilience and the sustainability of Quality Improvement implementation efforts during Covid-19 |
| title_fullStr | A narrative inquiry into healthcare staff resilience and the sustainability of Quality Improvement implementation efforts during Covid-19 |
| title_full_unstemmed | A narrative inquiry into healthcare staff resilience and the sustainability of Quality Improvement implementation efforts during Covid-19 |
| title_short | A narrative inquiry into healthcare staff resilience and the sustainability of Quality Improvement implementation efforts during Covid-19 |
| title_sort | narrative inquiry into healthcare staff resilience and the sustainability of quality improvement implementation efforts during covid 19 |
| topic | Quality Improvement Sustainability Resilience Covid-19 Healthcare staff experience |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09190-4 |
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