ArticleBMJ open2020
COVID-19 confessions: a qualitative exploration of healthcare workers experiences of working with COVID-19.
Article in BMJ open, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 99 papers.
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Who cites it
99 citing papers in PubMed.
- Teamwork and relational infrastructure: a qualitative study of modern UK general practice.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2026Article
- Experiences of Nurses Caring for Patients With COVID-19: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study.Nursing open · 2026Article
- Digital Stress Scale (DSC): Development and Psychometric Validation of a Measure of Stress in the Digital Age.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Article
- "It was simply disturbing" - evaluation of the stress factors of nursing staff on special COVID-19 wards during the pandemic: a qualitative study.BMC nursing · 2025Article
- Article
- Death and dying during the COVID-19-pandemic - A qualitative evaluation of stress factors for nursing staff.Palliative care and social practice · 2025Article
- Community health volunteers' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kiambu county, Kenya: A qualitative study.PloS one · 2025Article
- Depicting occupational trauma concepts impacting nurse well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being · 2024Review
- Article
- A thematic content analysis of the structure and effects of good doctor abilities in China.BMC health services research · 2024Article
- Developing a typology of interventions to support doctors' mental health and wellbeing.BMC health services research · 2024Article
- Article
- Positive impact of a telemedicine education program on practicing health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada: A mixed methods study of an Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) program.Journal of telemedicine and telecare · 2024Article
- Impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic on Medical Practices in Awaji Island.JMA journal · 2024Article
- "To tell you the truth I'm tired": a qualitative exploration of the experiences of ethnically diverse NHS staff.BMJ open · 2024Article
- Lessons for Strengthening a Resilient Health System from the View of Health Facilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study.Risk management and healthcare policy · 2024Article
- Identifying key mental health and improvement factors in hospital administrators working from home using a DEMATEL-based network analysis model.Frontiers in public health · 2024Article
- Paradoxical experiences of healthcare workers during COVID-19: a qualitative analysis of anonymous, web-based, audio narratives.International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being · 2023Article
- Article
- Multidimensional stressors and protective factors shaping physicians' work environments and work-related well-being in two large US cities during COVID-19.American journal of industrial medicine · 2023Article
39 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesTo gain insight into the experiences and concerns of front-line National Health Service (NHS) workers while caring for patients with COVID-19.
designQualitative analysis of data collected through an anonymous website (www.covidconfidential) provided a repository of uncensored COVID-19 experiences of front-line NHS workers, accessed via a link advertised on the Twitter feed of two high profile medical tweeters and their retweets.
settingCommunity of NHS workers who accessed this social media.
participants54 healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses and physiotherapists, accessed the website and left a 'story'.
resultsStories ranged from 1 word to 10 min in length. Thematic analysis identified common themes, with a central aspect being the experience and psychological consequence of trauma. Specific themes were: (1) the shock of the virus, (2) staff sacrifice and dedication, (3) collateral damage ranging from personal health concerns to the long-term impact on, and care of, discharged patients and (4) a hierarchy of power and inequality within the healthcare system.
conclusionsCOVID-19 confidential gave an outlet for unprompted and uncensored stories of healthcare workers in the context of COVID-19. In addition to personal experiences of trauma, there were perceptions that many operational difficulties stemmed from inequalities of power between management and front-line workers. Learning from these experiences will reduce staff distress and improve patient care in the face of further waves of the pandemic.
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