The impact of COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions on the lived experiences of people living in Thailand, Malaysia, Italy and the United Kingdom: A cross-country qualitative study.

This qualitative study explores the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), including social distancing, travel restrictions and quarantine, on lived experiences during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand (TH), Malaysia (MY), Italy (IT) and the United Kingdom (UK). A total...

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Main Authors: Mira L Schneiders, Bhensri Naemiratch, Phaik Kin Cheah, Giulia Cuman, Tassawan Poomchaichote, Supanat Ruangkajorn, Silvia Stoppa, Anne Osterrieder, Phee-Kheng Cheah, Darlene Ongkili, Wirichada Pan-Ngum, Constance R S Mackworth-Young, Phaik Yeong Cheah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2022-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0262421&type=printable
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author Mira L Schneiders
Bhensri Naemiratch
Phaik Kin Cheah
Giulia Cuman
Tassawan Poomchaichote
Supanat Ruangkajorn
Silvia Stoppa
Anne Osterrieder
Phee-Kheng Cheah
Darlene Ongkili
Wirichada Pan-Ngum
Constance R S Mackworth-Young
Phaik Yeong Cheah
author_facet Mira L Schneiders
Bhensri Naemiratch
Phaik Kin Cheah
Giulia Cuman
Tassawan Poomchaichote
Supanat Ruangkajorn
Silvia Stoppa
Anne Osterrieder
Phee-Kheng Cheah
Darlene Ongkili
Wirichada Pan-Ngum
Constance R S Mackworth-Young
Phaik Yeong Cheah
author_sort Mira L Schneiders
collection DOAJ
description This qualitative study explores the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), including social distancing, travel restrictions and quarantine, on lived experiences during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand (TH), Malaysia (MY), Italy (IT) and the United Kingdom (UK). A total of 86 interviews (TH: n = 28; MY: n = 18; IT: n = 20; UK: n = 20) were conducted with members of the public, including healthcare workers (n = 13). Participants across countries held strong views on government imposed NPIs, with many feeling measures lacked clarity. Most participants reported primarily negative impacts of NPIs on their lives, including through separation, isolation and grief over missed milestones; work-related challenges and income loss; and poor mental health and wellbeing. Nonetheless, many also experienced inadvertent positive consequences, including more time at home to focus on what they most valued in life; a greater sense of connectedness; and benefits to working life. Commonly employed coping strategies focused on financial coping (e.g. reducing spending); psycho-emotional coping (e.g. engaging in spiritual practices); social coping and connectedness (e.g., maintaining relationships remotely); reducing and mitigating risks (e.g., changing food shopping routines); and limiting exposure to the news (e.g., checking news only occasionally). Importantly, the extent to which participants' lived experiences were positive or negative, and their ability to cope was underpinned by individual, social and economic factors, with the analysis indicating some salient differences across countries and participants. In order to mitigate negative and unequal impacts of NPIs, COVID-19 policies will benefit from paying closer attention to the social, cultural and psychological-not just biological-vulnerabilities to, and consequences of public health measures.
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spelling doaj-art-ca950137c54644a8a2ff3828b4f8cdf02025-08-20T03:25:20ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032022-01-01171e026242110.1371/journal.pone.0262421The impact of COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions on the lived experiences of people living in Thailand, Malaysia, Italy and the United Kingdom: A cross-country qualitative study.Mira L SchneidersBhensri NaemiratchPhaik Kin CheahGiulia CumanTassawan PoomchaichoteSupanat RuangkajornSilvia StoppaAnne OsterriederPhee-Kheng CheahDarlene OngkiliWirichada Pan-NgumConstance R S Mackworth-YoungPhaik Yeong CheahThis qualitative study explores the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), including social distancing, travel restrictions and quarantine, on lived experiences during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand (TH), Malaysia (MY), Italy (IT) and the United Kingdom (UK). A total of 86 interviews (TH: n = 28; MY: n = 18; IT: n = 20; UK: n = 20) were conducted with members of the public, including healthcare workers (n = 13). Participants across countries held strong views on government imposed NPIs, with many feeling measures lacked clarity. Most participants reported primarily negative impacts of NPIs on their lives, including through separation, isolation and grief over missed milestones; work-related challenges and income loss; and poor mental health and wellbeing. Nonetheless, many also experienced inadvertent positive consequences, including more time at home to focus on what they most valued in life; a greater sense of connectedness; and benefits to working life. Commonly employed coping strategies focused on financial coping (e.g. reducing spending); psycho-emotional coping (e.g. engaging in spiritual practices); social coping and connectedness (e.g., maintaining relationships remotely); reducing and mitigating risks (e.g., changing food shopping routines); and limiting exposure to the news (e.g., checking news only occasionally). Importantly, the extent to which participants' lived experiences were positive or negative, and their ability to cope was underpinned by individual, social and economic factors, with the analysis indicating some salient differences across countries and participants. In order to mitigate negative and unequal impacts of NPIs, COVID-19 policies will benefit from paying closer attention to the social, cultural and psychological-not just biological-vulnerabilities to, and consequences of public health measures.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0262421&type=printable
spellingShingle Mira L Schneiders
Bhensri Naemiratch
Phaik Kin Cheah
Giulia Cuman
Tassawan Poomchaichote
Supanat Ruangkajorn
Silvia Stoppa
Anne Osterrieder
Phee-Kheng Cheah
Darlene Ongkili
Wirichada Pan-Ngum
Constance R S Mackworth-Young
Phaik Yeong Cheah
The impact of COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions on the lived experiences of people living in Thailand, Malaysia, Italy and the United Kingdom: A cross-country qualitative study.
PLoS ONE
title The impact of COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions on the lived experiences of people living in Thailand, Malaysia, Italy and the United Kingdom: A cross-country qualitative study.
title_full The impact of COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions on the lived experiences of people living in Thailand, Malaysia, Italy and the United Kingdom: A cross-country qualitative study.
title_fullStr The impact of COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions on the lived experiences of people living in Thailand, Malaysia, Italy and the United Kingdom: A cross-country qualitative study.
title_full_unstemmed The impact of COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions on the lived experiences of people living in Thailand, Malaysia, Italy and the United Kingdom: A cross-country qualitative study.
title_short The impact of COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions on the lived experiences of people living in Thailand, Malaysia, Italy and the United Kingdom: A cross-country qualitative study.
title_sort impact of covid 19 non pharmaceutical interventions on the lived experiences of people living in thailand malaysia italy and the united kingdom a cross country qualitative study
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0262421&type=printable
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