Exploring the Impact of COVID-19 in Diverse Population Groups: Qualitative Research

This qualitative research project aims to understand the impact of the pandemic on individuals' lifestyles, their physical and mental health. For example, it is thought that the pandemic has resulted in an increase in the number of people suffering from anxiety and/or depression. There have also been many physical health impacts with an estimated 1 in 5 people who had been infected with COVID-19 experiencing persistent ill health following the acute phase of infection. In order to inform future services, this qualitative research is needed to understand the impact of the pandemic, COVID-19 and long-covid on those living across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (IoS). This includes both the physical and mental health impacts of the pandemic, as well as wider issues such as those associated with social isolation and other socio-economic impacts, including those who have been adversely affected and individuals who have long-covid (e.g. loss of education, training and employment.

Understanding the short and long-term understanding on the pandemic across communities, will be achieved by undertaking qualitative research across twelve different population groups. These include: including key workers; long-covid patients; those with a physical and/or sensory impairment; children and young people (including families); older people (65+ years) including impact of social isolation / digital exclusion; those with a mild/moderate to a serious mental health diagnosis; paid and unpaid carers; different minority ethnic groups (e.g. gypsy roma, Eastern European and BAME); Veterans; those experiencing issues with substance misuse, Homeless and those who have experienced domestic violence. To inform local service provision, the results of this qualitative research will be compared against other local intelligence such as a representative quantitative resident and long-covid survey, which is being undertaken by the Public Health team at Cornwall Council.