Public views of and reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic in England: a qualitative study with diverse ethnicities
Objectives To explore public reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic across diverse ethnic groups.Design Remote qualitative interviews and focus groups in English or Punjabi. Data were transcribed and analysed through inductive thematic analysis.Setting England and Wales, June to October 2020.Participant...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2022-08-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/8/e061027.full |
| _version_ | 1798037677702905856 |
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| author | Leah Ffion Jones Manish Pareek Laura Nellums Donna M Lecky Ines Campos-Matos Amy Thomas Colin S Brown Cliodna McNulty Atiya Kamal Rashmi Shukla Mahendra Patel Eirwen Sides Rowshonara B Syeda Awatif Kaissi Loretta Sollars Jane Greenway |
| author_facet | Leah Ffion Jones Manish Pareek Laura Nellums Donna M Lecky Ines Campos-Matos Amy Thomas Colin S Brown Cliodna McNulty Atiya Kamal Rashmi Shukla Mahendra Patel Eirwen Sides Rowshonara B Syeda Awatif Kaissi Loretta Sollars Jane Greenway |
| author_sort | Leah Ffion Jones |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives To explore public reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic across diverse ethnic groups.Design Remote qualitative interviews and focus groups in English or Punjabi. Data were transcribed and analysed through inductive thematic analysis.Setting England and Wales, June to October 2020.Participants 100 participants from 19 diverse ‘self-identified’ ethnic groups.Results Dismay, frustration and altruism were reported across all ethnic groups during the first 6–9 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dismay was caused by participants’ reported individual, family and community risks, and loss of support networks. Frustration was caused by reported lack of recognition of the efforts of ethnic minority groups (EMGs), inaction by government to address COVID-19 and inequalities, rule breaking by government advisors, changing government rules around: border controls, personal protective equipment, social distancing, eating out, and perceived poor communication around COVID-19 and the Public Health England COVID-19 disparities report (leading to reported increased racism and social isolation). Altruism was felt by all, in the resilience of National Health Service (NHS) staff and their communities and families pulling together. Data, participants’ suggested actions and the behaviour change wheel informed suggested interventions and policies to help control COVID-19.Conclusion To improve trust and compliance future reports or guidance should clearly explain any stated differences in health outcomes by ethnicity or other risk group, including specific messages for these groups and concrete actions to minimise any risks. Messaging should reflect the uncertainty in data or advice and how guidance may change going forward as new evidence becomes available. A contingency plan is needed to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 across all communities including EMGs, the vulnerable and socially disadvantaged individuals, in preparation for any rise in cases and for future pandemics. Equality across ethnicities for healthcare is essential, and the NHS and local communities will need to be supported to attain this. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T21:29:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bde80a06d4b64ff8b4f017f0eb9cbfbc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T21:29:48Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-bde80a06d4b64ff8b4f017f0eb9cbfbc2022-12-22T04:02:15ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552022-08-0112810.1136/bmjopen-2022-061027Public views of and reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic in England: a qualitative study with diverse ethnicitiesLeah Ffion Jones0Manish Pareek1Laura Nellums2Donna M Lecky3Ines Campos-Matos4Amy Thomas5Colin S Brown6Cliodna McNulty7Atiya Kamal8Rashmi Shukla9Mahendra Patel10Eirwen Sides11Rowshonara B Syeda12Awatif Kaissi13Loretta Sollars14Jane Greenway15Behavioural Science and Insights Unit, UK Health Security Agency, Salisbury, UKprofessor of infectious diseasesDivision of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK1 Primary Care and Intervention Unit, Public Health England, Gloucester, UK3 Migration Health, Health Improvement Directorate, Public Health England, London, UKBarts Research Centre for Women`s Health, Institute of Population Health Sciences, Queen Mary University of London Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UKNational Infection Service, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK1 Public Health England, Primary Care Unit, Gloucester, UK1 Warwick Clinical Trials Unit, Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UKLeicestershire Healthsenior lecturerPrimary Care and Interventions Unit, Public Health England, Gloucester, UKPrimary Care and Interventions Unit, Public Health England, Gloucester, UKPrimary Care and Interventions Unit, Public Health England, Gloucester, UKDepartment of Health and Social Care, London, UKPublic Health England South West, Bristol, UKObjectives To explore public reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic across diverse ethnic groups.Design Remote qualitative interviews and focus groups in English or Punjabi. Data were transcribed and analysed through inductive thematic analysis.Setting England and Wales, June to October 2020.Participants 100 participants from 19 diverse ‘self-identified’ ethnic groups.Results Dismay, frustration and altruism were reported across all ethnic groups during the first 6–9 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dismay was caused by participants’ reported individual, family and community risks, and loss of support networks. Frustration was caused by reported lack of recognition of the efforts of ethnic minority groups (EMGs), inaction by government to address COVID-19 and inequalities, rule breaking by government advisors, changing government rules around: border controls, personal protective equipment, social distancing, eating out, and perceived poor communication around COVID-19 and the Public Health England COVID-19 disparities report (leading to reported increased racism and social isolation). Altruism was felt by all, in the resilience of National Health Service (NHS) staff and their communities and families pulling together. Data, participants’ suggested actions and the behaviour change wheel informed suggested interventions and policies to help control COVID-19.Conclusion To improve trust and compliance future reports or guidance should clearly explain any stated differences in health outcomes by ethnicity or other risk group, including specific messages for these groups and concrete actions to minimise any risks. Messaging should reflect the uncertainty in data or advice and how guidance may change going forward as new evidence becomes available. A contingency plan is needed to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 across all communities including EMGs, the vulnerable and socially disadvantaged individuals, in preparation for any rise in cases and for future pandemics. Equality across ethnicities for healthcare is essential, and the NHS and local communities will need to be supported to attain this.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/8/e061027.full |
| spellingShingle | Leah Ffion Jones Manish Pareek Laura Nellums Donna M Lecky Ines Campos-Matos Amy Thomas Colin S Brown Cliodna McNulty Atiya Kamal Rashmi Shukla Mahendra Patel Eirwen Sides Rowshonara B Syeda Awatif Kaissi Loretta Sollars Jane Greenway Public views of and reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic in England: a qualitative study with diverse ethnicities BMJ Open |
| title | Public views of and reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic in England: a qualitative study with diverse ethnicities |
| title_full | Public views of and reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic in England: a qualitative study with diverse ethnicities |
| title_fullStr | Public views of and reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic in England: a qualitative study with diverse ethnicities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Public views of and reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic in England: a qualitative study with diverse ethnicities |
| title_short | Public views of and reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic in England: a qualitative study with diverse ethnicities |
| title_sort | public views of and reactions to the covid 19 pandemic in england a qualitative study with diverse ethnicities |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/8/e061027.full |
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