NHS staff support services: an examination of a therapeutic intervention and an exploration of staff experiences of services.

Carroll, Hannah (2024) NHS staff support services: an examination of a therapeutic intervention and an exploration of staff experiences of services. Doctoral thesis, University of East Anglia.

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Abstract

Due to increased mental health risks among healthcare staff, worsened by the pandemic, NHS Trusts established in-house psychological support services and tailored treatments like the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). The aim of this research was to firstly examine EFT as a therapeutic intervention for healthcare staff and then to explore staff experiences of specialist in-house staff support services. A systematic review analysed eight peer-reviewed studies and found EFT, which combines cognitive and exposure therapy with acupressure, to be effective in improving psychological wellbeing in healthcare staff by reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. However, further research is needed to confirm its effectiveness across different healthcare specialties.

An empirical study was then conducted to examine NHS staff experiences of in-house psychological support. Ten participants from two NHS staff support services were interviewed. Using Braun & Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis, the study identified four key areas: working in the NHS, accessing support, therapy experiences, and wider service reflections. The findings underscore the emotional impact of healthcare work and the importance of specific, accessible and in-house support, while also noting systemic barriers that hinder access to these services. The findings from both studies were critically discussed and evaluated.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
Depositing User:	Nicola Veasy
Date Deposited:	12 Nov 2024 11:05
Last Modified:	19 Nov 2024 08:11
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/97634
DOI:

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