Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39917517›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in public health2024

Stigma and fear during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study on the perceptions of healthcare workers in Canada and Singapore.

Christine Fahim, Chou Chuen Yu, Jeanette Cooper, Suvabna Theivendrampillai, Taehoon Tom Lee, Michelle Wai-Ki Lau, Christine Marquez, Bernard Tang, Mathews Mathew, Malika Sharma and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in public health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Christine FahimSt. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Chou Chuen YuGeriatric Education and Research Institute Ltd, Singapore, Singapore.
Jeanette CooperSt. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Suvabna TheivendrampillaiSt. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Taehoon Tom LeeSt. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Michelle Wai-Ki LauSt. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Christine MarquezSt. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Bernard TangGeriatric Education and Research Institute Ltd, Singapore, Singapore.
Mathews MathewInstitute of Policy Studies, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Malika SharmaSt. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Eric WongSt. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Tracey O'SullivanInterdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
James Alvin LowGeriatric Education and Research Institute Ltd, Singapore, Singapore.
Sharon E StrausSt. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: We sought to explore healthcare providers (HCPs)' perceptions of and experiences with stigma during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada and Singapore. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study (May 2020-February 2021) with HCPs in Canada and Singapore and developed a semi-structured interview guide rooted in the Health Stigma and Discrimination Framework (HSDF). We recruited participants online and through word of mouth via newsletters, blogs and social media. Participants were eligible to participate if they worked as a healthcare provider in Singapore or Canada during COVID-19. Following participant consent, data were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and coded using a framework approach. Coded data were charted into a framework matrix and used to compare themes in each country. Results: We conducted 51 interviews (23 in Canada; 28 in Singapore). HCPs perceived that patient fears coupled with mistrust of the health system impacted health behaviors. HCPs reported discrimination and stigmatization of population subsets. In Singapore, this included Chinese tourists and migrant workers and in Canada, this included people of Chinese ethnicity and people experiencing homelessness. This stigma was often attributed to pre-existing prejudices including perceptions that these populations were at increased risk of COVID-19 or not adhering to public health recommendations. HCPs feared spreading COVID-19 to family, peers and patients, often resulting in participants choosing to isolate from social circles. HCPs in both countries experienced occupation-based stigma, including stigma related to public health practices (masking, testing); in Canada, this intersected with race-based prejudice for participants of Chinese ethnicity. HCPs in both samples witnessed and experienced stigmatizing behavior; some participants also experienced discrimination. Conclusions: Secondary stigma related to occupation was experienced by HCPs during COVID-19. HCPs experienced intersecting stigma based on race/ethnicity and observed stigmatization of marginalized patient populations. Most themes were consistent across Canada and Singapore. Strategies to mitigate COVID-19 related stigma toward HCPs and at-risk patient populations are warranted.

Indexed as

Attitude of Health PersonnelCOVID-19FearHealth PersonnelSocial StigmaAdultCanadaFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedPandemicsQualitative ResearchSARS-CoV-2SingaporeCanadahealth personnelintersectional frameworkperceived discriminationracismSARS-CoV-2Singaporesocial stigma

Identifiers

PMID39917517
PMCPMC11801013

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.