How do immunocompromised people experience the changes in their working lives during the COVID-19 pandemic? Results from a mixed-methods study in Germany.
COVID-19 pandemic
Germany
Immunosuppression
Mixed methods study
Qualitative interviews
Social participation
Work
Journal
Heliyon
ISSN: 2405-8440
Titre abrégé: Heliyon
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101672560
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Oct 2023
Oct 2023
Historique:
received:
09
05
2023
revised:
14
09
2023
accepted:
19
09
2023
medline:
29
9
2023
pubmed:
29
9
2023
entrez:
29
9
2023
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
The COVID-19 pandemic has a major impact on many areas of life, including many people's job situations. Not everyone is affected in the same way - people with chronic conditions may experience increased mental stress and social problems. In this study, we focus on immunocompromised people (ICP), who are at high risk for a severe course of COVID-19. Our aim was to investigate the level of social participation during the pandemic, focusing on how ICPs perceive changes in their working lives. We applied a mixed-methods concurrent triangulation design with qualitative interviews (N = 13) and a quantitative cross-sectional survey with N = 179 participants. This approach allowed us to gain deep insights into the experience of occupational-social participation. Qualitative results show that working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic was seen as a relief by many, as medical necessities could be integrated more easily into everyday life. Understanding and consideration of their professional social network were essential for all respondents. Our interview data hint at an influence of the family situation (e.g., having children) and the relationship of the ICP to coworkers on the perception of changes to their work environment. The quantitative results indicate an interaction between mental health and employment status on social participation, with employment reducing the negative impact of poorer mental health on social participation after adjusting for sociodemographic variables. Our results indicate changes necessary to integrate people with chronic conditions into working life, even under pandemic conditions. This includes the possibility of flexible working hours and compliance with hygiene measures at the workplace.
Sections du résumé
Background and aims
UNASSIGNED
The COVID-19 pandemic has a major impact on many areas of life, including many people's job situations. Not everyone is affected in the same way - people with chronic conditions may experience increased mental stress and social problems. In this study, we focus on immunocompromised people (ICP), who are at high risk for a severe course of COVID-19. Our aim was to investigate the level of social participation during the pandemic, focusing on how ICPs perceive changes in their working lives.
Methods
UNASSIGNED
We applied a mixed-methods concurrent triangulation design with qualitative interviews (N = 13) and a quantitative cross-sectional survey with N = 179 participants. This approach allowed us to gain deep insights into the experience of occupational-social participation.
Results
UNASSIGNED
Qualitative results show that working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic was seen as a relief by many, as medical necessities could be integrated more easily into everyday life. Understanding and consideration of their professional social network were essential for all respondents. Our interview data hint at an influence of the family situation (e.g., having children) and the relationship of the ICP to coworkers on the perception of changes to their work environment. The quantitative results indicate an interaction between mental health and employment status on social participation, with employment reducing the negative impact of poorer mental health on social participation after adjusting for sociodemographic variables.
Conclusions
UNASSIGNED
Our results indicate changes necessary to integrate people with chronic conditions into working life, even under pandemic conditions. This includes the possibility of flexible working hours and compliance with hygiene measures at the workplace.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37771534
doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20344
pii: S2405-8440(23)07552-7
pmc: PMC10522935
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
e20344Informations de copyright
© 2023 The Authors.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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