Sustainable initiatives to limit the spread of corona-virus among Danish school teachers

Abstract

Background: Schoolteachers play an important role in limiting the spread of corona-virus among pupils while carrying out their core tasks. This double role affects teachers’ mental health negatively. Still, open schools are important for pupils’ learning and wellbeing. Hence, it is crucial to identify viable strategies for virus control that can be implemented in schools without draining teachers’ resources. Thus, our aim was to analyze the sustainability of interventions aimed at hindering spread of virus in public schools. Methods: The qualitative data consisted of 700 free text responses from a survey among 1332 Danish schoolteachers from Nov 25 to Dec 9, 2020, i.e. when facing the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using Thematic Network Analysis, we analyzed the participants’ answers to the question ‘‘What initiatives to prevent the spread of infection would you be able to carry out for a longer period of time?’’ Results: Most initiatives consumed resources (financial, staffing, time, mental, and relational) to an extend that was unacceptable for the participants. Improved hygiene and ventilation were sustainable initiatives given that the allocation of responsibility was clear. The sustainability of using visor/facemask was compromised by its negative effects on social interactions and by stigma. Isolation of teachers, when having been in contact with infected pupils, had major consequences for the teachers’ private life. Finally, the sustainability of initiatives to keep a physical distance was challenged by implications related to the possibility of comforting younger schoolchildren and teaching activities demanding proximity to pupils. Conclusions: It should be ensured that schools have the resources needed to hinder spread of virus while delivering high quality teaching. In addition, our findings suggest that school leaders clarify the prioritization between preventive initiatives and core tasks, and inform about responsibilities and academic expectations. ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]; Copyright of European Journal of Public Health is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)