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. 2023 Apr 7:1–25. Online ahead of print. doi: 10.1007/s10943-023-01803-w

Table 2.

Summary of themes in BCW categories

BCW level and category Protectors Threats Both
Behaviour (243) Capability—physical Diet, exercise, leisure, peer support, presence (11) Abuse/assault, lip-reading with mask, working with death, exposure to virus; loss of touch (15)
Capability—psychological Agent of noble cause, define moral injury, self-care, normalise response Feelings: anxiety; frustration; helpless; invisible; sad, suicide ideation (28) Sharing vulnerability, enter other’s suffering
Motivation—automatic Caring, obligations, feeling: hope; optimism; safe, meaning in loss (13) Abuse, loss: faith; hope; meaning; trust, feeling: anxiety; betrayal; unvalued; powerless (59) Change, sacrifice, vulnerability (15)
Motivation—reflective Self-aware, hope, coping, meaning-making, presence, significance of touch (30) Feeling devalued, lack of reflection, self at risk, no chance to mourn, witness death/suffering (19) Destruction and growth, opportunity in pain
Opportunity—physical Meet physical needs, being/listening in pain/darkness, presence Elevated stress/anxiety/PTSD/exhaustion/depression, isolation, mask anonymity Silence
Opportunity—social Build trust, rituals, bridge patient/family, peer/social support (13) Distanced, disconnected, lonely, infection, loss: presence; shared moments; support; touch (11)
Intervention (46) Coercion Security staff Feeling at risk
Education Routine well-being Psychological distress in patients Difficult conversations
Enablement Basic needs, facilitate self-care
Environment Culture of caring, space to share stress Quiet spaces removed
Incentivisation Peer support, training in work hours
Modelling Leader recognition, decrease stress
Persuasion Financial, employer ethic of care
Restrictions Peer support Social distancing, security staff Physical safety
Training Stress/resilience, skills for new roles Redeployment: anxiety; safety; New workplace Care of dying
Policy (58) Communication Bidirectional leadership, recognition Mask anonymity
Social planning Reduce stress, leisure, PPE, support High stress/low support, burnout, stress
Fiscal Develop financial/technical demands Lack of infrastructure
Guidelines Staff care strategy, support staff health
Legislation Care for absent loved ones Lockdown, social isolation
Regulation Self-care
Service provision Care: capacity to deliver; best available, decrease stress, staff support needs (13) Brutal rules “for greater good”, loss of high care standards, staff shortages, system overload (10) Redeployment, care of dying, well-being