Bewertung und Folgen der SARS-CoV-2-Infektionsschutzmaßnahmen an Schulen. Ergebnisse von Fokusgruppen-Befragungen unter Lehrkräften in Deutschland

Abstract

Evaluation and consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection control measures in schools. Findings of focus group interviews among teachers in Germany Introduction: In order to stem the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, there were wide-ranging changes in the school setting from March 2020 onwards, characterised by changing teaching formats (alternating between distance, face-to-face and hybrid teaching) and the implementation of infection control measures. Aim and Method: The aim of the present study was to investigate the evaluation of these measures and the consequences for teachers in Germany and to formulate best practice examples for school education in the further course of the pandemic. For this purpose, focus group interviews were conducted with 17 teachers at four schools and evaluated by content analysis. Results: It was found that the teachers felt burdened by teaching under pandemic conditions and that their health behaviour had deteriorated. In addition, new pandemic-related fears arose and the implementation of infection control measures (implementation of AHA-L rules (distance, hygiene, mask, ventilation), performance of SARS-CoV-2 tests) was accompanied by workrelated and health-related problems. The quality of training of prospective teachers was also questioned. The introduction of SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations and the relatively high ranking of teachers in prioritisation was experienced as a relief and very much welcomed. In places, difficulties in communicating and implementing infection control measures were reported, resulting in the formulation of best practices, such as the implementation of SARS-CoV-2 testing by trained staff or the formulation of school form-specific measures. Conclusions: The stress caused by teaching during the pandemic and the negative development of health behaviour represent a relevant public health risk. For this reason, the idea of prevention and health promotion should or must be intensified even more during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, further developed in view of the pandemic specifics and applied in the living environments. Keywords: Corona – COVID-19 – school – teachers