Agility and Sustainability: A Qualitative Evaluation of COVID-19 Non-pharmaceutical Interventions in the UK Logistics Sector

Frontiers in Public Health

article

Hua Wei¹  Sarah Daniels¹  Carl A. Whitfield²  Yang Han³  David W. Denning²  Ian Hall²  Martyn Regan¹  Arpana Verma¹  Martie van Tongeren¹ 

[1] Division of Population Health, Health Services Research & Primary Care, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester;Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester;Department of Mathematics, University of Manchester;Division of Evolution, Infection & Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester;Public Health, Advice, Guidance and Expertise, UK Health Security Agency;National COVID-19 Response Centre, UK Health Security Agency

关键词: COVID-19;    rapid response;    non-pharmaceutical interventions;    logistics sector;    delivery workers;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpubh.2022.864506

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Background The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 triggered a chain of public health responses that radically changed our way of living and working. Non-healthcare sectors, such as the logistics sector, play a key role in such responses. This research aims to qualitatively evaluate the non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) implemented in the UK logistics sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We conducted nine semi-structured interviews in July-August 2020 and May-June 2021. In total 11 interviewees represented six companies occupying a range of positions in the UK's logistics sector, including takeaway food delivery, large and small goods delivery and home appliance installation, and logistics technology providers. Thematic analysis was completed using NVivo12. Codes relevant to NPIs were grouped into themes and mapped deductively onto an adapted Hierarchy of Control (HoC) framework, focusing on delivery workers. Codes relevant to the implementation process of NPIs were grouped into themes/subthemes to identify key characteristics of rapid responses, and barriers and facilitators. Results HoC analysis suggests the sector has implemented a wide range of risk mitigation measures, with each company developing their own portfolio of measures. Contact-free delivery was the most commonly implemented measure and perceived effective. The other implemented measures included social distancing, internal contact tracing, communication and collaboration with other key stakeholders of the sector. Process evaluation identified facilitators of rapid responses including capacity to develop interventions internally, localized government support, strong external mandates, effective communication, leadership support and financial support for self-isolation, while barriers included unclear government guidance, shortage of testing capacity and supply, high costs and diversified language and cultural backgrounds. Main sustainability issues included compliance fatigue, and the possible mental health impacts of a prolonged rapid response. Conclusions This research identified drivers and obstacles of rapid implementation of NPIs in response to a respiratory infection pandemic. Existing implementation process models do not consider speed to respond and the absence or lack of guidance in emergency situations such as the COVID-19. We recommend the development of a rapid response model to inform the design of effective and sustainable infection prevention and control policies and to focus future research priorities.

【 授权许可】

CC BY