Research on COVID-19 Impact on the Mental Health of NHS Professionals

This research report investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare professionals, focusing on the experiences of NHS workers in the UK. It examines the negative impacts of COVID-19, including increased workload, isolation, and the threat of infection, on the mental health of NHS doctors. The research employs surveys to gather data and analyzes the challenges faced by healthcare professionals, such as long working hours and work-related stress. It also assesses the support measures implemented by the NHS to aid healthcare workers during the pandemic, including mental health resources and training. The report aims to provide insights into the difficulties encountered by healthcare professionals and the effectiveness of support systems during the crisis, highlighting the importance of addressing the mental well-being of frontline workers.

Research

Abstract
This report is a research based on health care professionals. This report is a research based on
health care professionals. Healthcare professionals are those people who are offering health care
treatment as well as advice to people that is based on formal experience as well as training.
These field includes numbers of people like medical doctors, nurse, veterinarian, pharmacist,
pharmacy technician, dentist, psychologies and other people. These people are directly in contact
with patients and provide treatment to them. With increasing threat of covid-19, these health care
professionals came in front in order to reduce spread of disease which is important in order to
protect people of a country. There are less numbers of health care professionals in compare to
numbers of patients which increase workload over these health care professionals and also make
them isolated from their family and friends. It can result in negative impact over people but at
same time, various initiatives are made by NHS in UK to help these health care workers. This
research includes various survey in which response is collected from respondent. It increases
validation of data which is important in order to reach to an outcome. Different data is collected
in form of survey from people by taking their direct response in order to get valid data. In this
research, analysation of negative impact of health care worker is conducted which provide
overview about how health care professionals is facing difficulty during period of covid-19. It
also includes analysation of impact of covid-19 over mental health of NHS doctors as with
increasing numbers of patients of covid-19, doctors are facing difficulties. In pandemic period,
there is increasing in working hours of people and various work pressure occur which create
negative impact over health of NHS doctors. This research will include research methodology
procedure for evaluating the data collected through survey. The research will revolve around
impact of COVID 19 upon mental health of professionals. People have been negatively impacted
by COVID 19. At the time of this pandemic, it is evaluated that health professionals have to face
trouble in their working. There was no fix time for people to work. They have to work late and
they even can’t go back to their homes and relax. They have to struggle a lot and manage to save
people’s lives. This is also evaluated that healthcare professionals must encourage and motivate
themselves for working and attaining their targets. They have focused a lot upon managing their
skills and helping others.

Table of Contents
Abstract........................................................................................................................................2
Introduction and Background......................................................................................................4
Research Questions, Aims and Objectives..................................................................................4
Literature Review........................................................................................................................4
To understand negative impact of COVID 19 on healthcare professionals................................4
To analyse impact of COVID 19 on mental health of NHS doctors...........................................4
To evaluate steps taken by NHS to support healthcare professionals at the time of COVID 19
pandemic......................................................................................................................................5
Data collection (including sample, population, research philosophy)-600 words.......................5
Ethical considerations..................................................................................................................6
Analysis.......................................................................................................................................7
Potential challenges and limitations............................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

Introduction and Background
On 31 December 2019, people are informed by Corona virus, it is a large family of
viruses that cause illness on person from common cold to several large diseases. By this virus
everyone gets effected but the most impact was on health professionals they suffer so much in
this pandemic. Due to increased risk of virus, frontline doctors, healthcare workers fear about
come in contact with covid19 and bringing virus at home with them and passed on to their family
(Vazquez-Vazquez, and.et.al 2021) . Survey reported that impact of this situation on their
physical as well as mentally health, they start facing workload they work over 12 hrs. a day daily
and their work life balance is fully affected by this situation. Rate of dispersion, anxiety and
restlessness occur, it also reported some suicide cases in health professionals apart from this the
family of workers are also get boycott by their next doors and landlords because they come in
contact with COVID 19 patients. Sometimes when the doctors came to check-up the patients
with suspect of having symptoms of virus, they came under attack with the peoples and being
injured (Gonzalo, and.et.al, 2021). Sometimes the patients who are quarantine in the hospital
they start abusing the nurses and co-workers. The overall effect of this virus is discussed against
the economic factors and productive rate of the country but no one talk about the social and
economic issue of health professionals. Health care workers being reported fearful about
isolation or becoming ill. They start developing the risk of trauma, depression and stress related
disorders due to fear being an asymptomatic patient (Hung, and.et.al, 2021). This pandemic put
light on health care and how much important it is to take care of mental health. The world health
organization reported that out of ten one healthcare worker is contaminated by the virus, increase
in workload result in limited time for them to loosen up and fulfil their basic needs includes
nourishments and sterility. All this humility and isolation result in anger, irritations and mood
swings on daily routine of not seeing any other person only patents all around that factors
contribute overall stress in the healthcare workers. The following research is based upon analysis
of the impact of COVID 19 on health professionals of UK. The company considered in this
report is NHS which is a healthcare system which is funded by public. This healthcare
organisation provides various services like primary care, in patient care, long term healthcare,
dentistry and ophthalmology.

Research Questions, Aims and Objectives
To analyse the impact of COVID 19 on Health professionals of UK. A case study of NHS.
Research objectives
 To understand negative impact of COVID 19 on healthcare professionals
 To analyse impact of COVID 19 on mental health of NHS doctors
 To evaluate steps taken by NHS to support healthcare professionals at the time of COVID
19 pandemic
Research Questions
 What is the negative impact of COVID 19 on healthcare professionals?
 How COVID 19 has impacted on mental health of NHS doctors?
 What are the steps taken by NHS to support healthcare professionals at the time of
COVID 19 pandemic?
Literature Review
To understand negative impact of COVID 19 on healthcare professionals
As per the views of (Danet, 2021), Coronavirus is one of global crisis which create impact
on life of people. Health care professionals are people who are working for taking care of
patients of covid-19. These workers are one who response workers of first line and expose to
direct as well as indirect contact to patients. These workers are taking care of people but facing
various challenges in treating patients with covid-19 as there is responsibility over these patients
to reduce spread of infection among people. These people are facing high threat of their own
health and needs to work for hours without thinking about their own health. They also need to
taking care of patients, their families and also themselves. They are facing emotional exhaustion
while giving treatment to patients which can leads to medical errors. They are also facing other
problems like lack of empathy of treating patients, lower productivity as well as high turnover
rates.
To analyse impact of COVID 19 on mental health of NHS doctors
According to the views of (Marques, and.et.al, 2021), Covid-19 not only create threat for
physical health of people but also on their mental health of people as they are facing stress at that
time with increase in number of patients in hospitals. At that time, it is essential for healthcare
workers for cope up with stress. There is various reason due to which they are facing patients

like insurance as well as billing issues, health record duties, patient dissatisfaction and other
things. There are significant changes occur due to work pattern of working of NHS doctors. They
also need to face isolation from their friends and family which results in lack of emotional
support for these NHS doctors. Due this face, these staff are also facing anxiety, depression as
well as burn out.
To evaluate steps taken by NHS to support healthcare professionals at the time of COVID 19
pandemic
As per the views of (Khan, and.et.al, 2021), NHS is taking various steps in order to provide
support to health care professionals by offering dedicated health care support through text
message or phone. They are offering specialist bereavement support and also providing free
access of mental health. MHS is providing guidance to health care workers for having
conversation with children. They are providing training and development for health care
professionals as how to overcome of their stress and also for protecting themselves from threat of
disease.
Data collection (including sample, population, research philosophy)-600 words
The data collection is defined as the process and procedure of collecting, measuring as well as
analysing the accurate insights within standard validated tools and techniques of the research. It
is responsibility of researcher to evaluate hypothesis on the basis of collected data. It is also
evaluated that data collection is known as primary step within research. The data approach is
different aspect of study and is not with respect to study depending upon required data and
information (Brown, and Shenker, 2021). Data collection can be in the form of telephone
survey, emails, etc. The two data collection methods are mentioned below –
Primary – As per the name, this is known as first-hand information used in the research. In this,
investigator collects information from different respondents through survey method.
Questionnaire is used for knowing responses of people who are taken into consideration in
survey. Researchers uses primary data collection method because it is highly accurate and
reliable. This is also time consuming and expensive method.
Secondary – The secondary data is known as second hand information involved in research. It is
known as the method in which external measures are used for collection of data. This is a

cheaper and easier way for obtaining data. This takes less effort than primary data. The
secondary information raises concern according to authenticity and reliability.
Sampling – This is known as the technique which is used for managing the number of
individuals involved in survey method. This is also essential for researcher to use the best
sampling method.
Random sampling method is known as probability sampling technique which is helpful in saving
time and resources. This is a reliable method used for getting information when each and every
population is chosen on random basis.
Systematic sampling – This is known as sampling method used for choosing sample members of
population on regular intervals. This needs selection of starting a point for sample and sample
size. This is a type of sample size which is least time consuming.
In the following research, random sampling method is used for conducting the research.
Sample population – The sample population in this research is 50 respondents who are
employees of NHS.
Research philosophy - Research philosophy refers to a belief about a method in which
phenomenal data can be collected, identify and used in effective manner. It usually deals with the
nature and sources of research and develop knowledge in order to understand it in effective
manner. It is a process which is based on four important assumptions about the nature of
knowledge and sources of research that is Pragmatism, realism, positivism and inter pretivism.
Positivism- This assumption is real and independent in nature and use scientific method.
It provides observable and measurable facts in order to conduct research in effective manner. In
this assumption, researcher is neutral, independent and detached of what is to be researched. In
this type of research, it is based on true reality and the research are typically deductive and
highly structured.
Realism- This assumption is stratified or real in nature as well as it constitutes
epistemological relativism. Researcher acknowledges prejudice by upbringing, world views and
cultural experiences. They also try to minimise errors and bias and make their research
retroductive.
Interpretivism- This assumption is complex and rich in nature as well as socially
constructed through language and cultural. It represents theories and concepts too simplistic as

well as make focus on narratives, perception, stories and interpretation. It is a value bound
research and researcher is a part of what is to be researched.
Pragmatism- This assumption of research is complex, external and rich in nature. It
provides the practical meaning of knowledge or information in specific contexts. In this type of
research, it focusses of practices, problems and relevance. Researcher is reflexive and research is
sustained and initiated by their doubts and beliefs.
Ethical considerations
Ethical consideration can be described as set of principle which provide guidance in
research design as well as practices. It is essential for scientists as well as researchers to include
code of conduct at time of collecting data from different types of people. Aim of research is to
consist understanding of real life phenomena which allow them to study different treatment,
improve lives and also to investigate behaviours (Souter, Tonge, and Culvin, 2021). While
conducting research, a practitioner needs to consider that there should be no harm from this
research to any people. Some of ethical consideration related to research is mentioned below:
Informed consent: It is essential to get informed consent as people involved in research
needs to be informed about their participation in research, they need to be also aware about
purpose of research, source, finding of research. Main aims of informed consent are to provide
information to participation about making informed decision related to research.
Validity: It is important for researcher and other participant to use valid information.
This information should be authentic and right that does not mislead people in real life. There
should be right data and factors to be included in any research which improve validation of
research. There should be numbers of participants involved in research in order to gather more
reliable and valid data that allow audience to reach to right result.
Confidentiality: It is another ethical consider that is included in any research. In this, it is
important for a researcher to maintain confidentiality of respondents in order to maintain ethical
consideration and also to gain confidence of participants. It also increases possibility of right
information for purpose of conducting research.
Analysis
From above mentioned research, it can be analysed that covid-19 is one of component
which create impact health care professional of UK. With increasing threat of covid-19 health
care worker came in front in over to provide treatment to patients and also to reduce spread of

disease among people. It can cause negative impact over these people as there is high risk of
disease to these people as they are directly providing treatment to patients. They are also
boosting confidence of patient and also providing them emotional support (Alonso, and.et.al,
2021). With increasing numbers of patient, health care professional is facing work pressure.
They also need to stay away from their families in order to protect them. They also need to work
in double shift which create physical burden over their health. It can cause negative impact over
their mental and physical health. With increasing working hours and work burden, these health
care professionals can be exhausted. It creates stress over them and make them frustrated. Covid-
19 also create situation for health care workers where they are getting less emotional support, a
person requires emotional from their family and friends but due to health care norms and other
things, these professionals cannot be able to meet their family and friends. They also need to be
quarantine on timely basis where they are facing loneliness and are unable to get emotional
support from other people. In order to overcome of impact of it, NHS is taking various steps
which helps health care professionals to provide support. NHS is providing training and
development to healthcare professionals that allow them to understand how to cope up of stress
and communicate with their families and patients (Barbosa, 2021). They are providing timely
check-ups to these professionals in order to reduce their threat of disease.
Potential challenges and limitations
Lack of time: There is less time is available for completion of this research which is one of
limitation of this research. It creates stress and burden of work which can create impact over
quality of work. Less time does not allow for analysation of authentication of data.
Number of response: This research includes response of over 50 people which does not provide
clear results for this research (Londoño-Ramírez and.et.al 2021). In order to complete this
research in good manner and make it more reliable more numbers of people and their response is
required.
Challenges
Validation of data: Different challenges occur which are related to validation of data. This
challenge is related to validation of data as there are numbers of source is available for
information. It is difficult for individual to analyse authentication of data. There are numbers of
journals, online websites and books available on internet in order to validation of data, proper
time is required.

Resources and money: Resources and money is another challenge which is faced by individual
while conducting a research (Johnson, and.et.al, 2021). In order to carry out a research, a person
needs to collect information from different resources and also they require money.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Alonso, J., and.et.al, 2021. Mental health impact of the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic on
Spanish healthcare workers: A large cross-sectional survey. Revista de psiquiatria y
salud mental, 14(2), pp.90-105.
Brown, A. and Shenker, N., 2021. Experiences of breastfeeding during COVID‐19: Lessons for
future practical and emotional support. Maternal & child nutrition, 17(1), p.e13088.
da Silva, F.C.T. and Barbosa, C.P., 2021. THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN
AN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (ICU): PSYCHIATRIC SYMPTOMS IN
HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS–A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW. Journal of
Psychiatric Research.
Danet, A.D., 2021. Psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic in Western frontline
healthcare professionals. A systematic review. Medicina Clínica (English Edition).
Goh, Y.S., and.et.al., 2021. The Impact of COVID‐19 on nurses working in a University Health
System in Singapore: A qualitative descriptive study. International journal of mental
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Gonzalo, and.et.al, 2021. Short-term emotional impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Spaniard
health workers. Journal of affective disorders, 278, pp.390-394.
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experience and practice expectations among dental students at the University of
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Hong, S., and.et.al., 2021. Immediate psychological impact on nurses working at 42 government-
designated hospitals during COVID-19 outbreak in China: A cross-sectional
study. Nursing outlook, 69(1), pp.6-12.
Hung, M.,and.et.al, 2021. In an era of uncertainty: Impact of COVID‐19 on dental
education. Journal of dental education, 85(2), pp.148-156.
Johnson, A.P. and.et.al, 2021. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vascular surgery
trainees in the United States. Annals of vascular surgery, 72, pp.182-190.
Khan, M.S., and.et.al, 2021. Mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on tuberculosis and HIV
services: a cross-sectional survey of 669 health professionals in 64 low and middle-
income countries. PloS one, 16(2), p.e0244936.

Londoño-Ramírez, and.et.al 2021. Impact of COVID-19 on the Anxiety Perceived by Healthcare
Professionals: Differences between Primary Care and Hospital Care. International
Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(6), p.3277.
Marques, G., and.et.al, 2021. Impact of COVID-19 on the psychological health of university
students in Spain and their attitudes toward Mobile mental health
solutions. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 147, p.104369.
Souter, G., Tonge, A. and Culvin, A., 2021. The impact of Covid-19 on the mental health of
professional footballers. Managing Sport and Leisure, pp.1-4.
Vazquez-Vazquez, and.et.al 2021. The impact of the Covid-19 lockdown on the experiences and
feeding practices of new mothers in the UK: Preliminary data from the COVID-19 New
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