A qualitative analysis of public health officials' experience in California during COVID-19: priorities and recommendations.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The aim of this study was to collect qualitative data regarding the violence faced by public health officials during the COVID-19 pandemic and create a guideline of recommendations to protect this population moving forward.

Methods

Two focus groups were conducted virtually from April 2022 to May 2022. All nine participants were public health officials from across California. A grounded theory approach was used to analyze the data from these focus groups.

Results

The main recurrent experiences among public health officials were harassment, psychological impact, systemic backlash, and burnout. Several recommendations for supporting public health officials were highlighted, including security and protection, mental health support, public awareness, and politic

SUBMITTER: Burke RV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10525347 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature