Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare perceptions of learning from the COVID-19 pandemic and beliefs in subsequent changes for the future, among care home and home care staff, in four European countries. A 29-item on-line questionnaire was designed in English and later translated into Swedish, Italian, and German on the impact of the pandemic on stress and anxiety. Anonymous data from care staff respondents was collected in four countries between 7 October 2020 and 17 December 2010: Sweden (n = 212), Italy (n = 103), Germany (n = 120), and the United Kingdom (n = 167). While care staff in all countries reported learning in multiple areas of care practice, Italy reported the highest levels of learning and the most agreement that changes will occur in the future due to the pandemic. Conversely, care staff in Germany reported low levels of learning and reported the least agreement for change in the future. While the pandemic has strained care home and home care staff practices, our study indicates that much learning of new skills and knowledge has taken place within the workforce. Our study has demonstrated the potential of cross-border collaborations and experiences for enhancing knowledge acquisition in relation to societal challenges and needs. The results could be built upon to improve future health care and care service practices.
Highlights
The COVID-19 pandemic has excessively affected older people and staff in long-term care [1]
Even though treatment procedures for symptoms similar to COVID-19, to a large extent, were used initially [11], new knowledge had to be developed during the crisis, with little or no time for reflection [12]
Total means show that German staff reported the least new knowledge and skills across all knowledge categories, as did registered nurses across all countries
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic has excessively affected older people and staff in long-term care [1]. Many older people receiving long-term care, and social care workers, died from COVID-19 as it spread through care homes [1,4,5]. New practices were needed for care staff were rapidly required to control and manage the pandemic. These included the increased and changed use of personal protective equipment (PPE), which was initially under resourced in care homes [6], augmented infection control practices [7], digital technology (DT) [8,9], and communication strategies [8,10]. Even though treatment procedures for symptoms similar to COVID-19, to a large extent, were used initially [11], new knowledge had to be developed during the crisis, with little or no time for reflection [12]
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