CovidSearch

Seeking Answers for Care Homes during the COVID-19 pandemic (COVID SEARCH)

Research Question: what were the uncertainties of care home managers and staff in a self-formed closed WhatsApp™ discussion group in the first stages of the pandemic in the UK.

 Context: A team of researchers categorised a wide-ranging set of What’s App text comments and questions to understand what information would address these uncertainties and provide support.

 Early findings:

• Almost one-third of these uncertainties could have been tackled immediately through timely, responsive and unambiguous fact-based guidance.
• The other uncertainties require appraisal, synthesis and summary of existing evidence, commissioning or provision of a sector- informed research agenda for the medium- to longer-term.
• The questions represent wider internationally relevant care home pandemic related uncertainties.

full details and findings can be downloaded here.

Contact: k.spilsbury@leeds.ac.uk