The Covid-19 pandemic severely affected Switzerland and triggered a comprehensive government response, which included strict restriction measures that HealthCare sector Workers (HCWs) had to interpret and apply, especially concerning the care of older adults. The aim of our qualitative study is to explore HCWs’ perceptions, experiences and challenges regarding the implementation of various restrictive measures during the Covid-19 pandemic in Switzerland, focusing on older adults’ protection. Fifty-seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with HCWs in five cantons of Switzerland. The data was coded using thematic analysis, identifying key topics related to restriction measures. HCWs reported five types of restriction measures that they applied in Swiss care institutions: blocking, restructuring, reductionist, protective and security measures. We grouped their views on the interpretation and application of restriction measures into four themes. The first theme dealt on the appropriateness of these measures, which included general views, its proportionality and questions of responsibility on measures taken. The second theme comprised working under such measures including their views on their psychological burden or conflict of moral values related to restrictions placed. The third theme concerned the HCWs’ interactions with older adults and how they were reshaped under the different restriction measures. The last theme reported on our participants’ considerations about public health ethics, comprising, for example, the balancing of individual and collective rights. Our study found polarisation among HCWs on this topic, given that many interviewees believed that strict restriction measures helped save many older adults’ lives, while others thought that the quality and length of life of this population decreased as a result. Study findings provide crucial insights into how HCWs implemented and interpreted the restriction measures, the challenges and the ethical conflicts resulting therefrom in times of the Covid-19 pandemic. Our analysis can help stakeholders to plan effective, crisis-ready policies and guidelines safeguarding vulnerable groups.
Vinogradova et al. (Thu,) studied this question.