Journal article
Insights from the front line: uplifting stories of the COVID-19 pandemic through the eyes of the public health workforce in Iowa
Frontiers in public health, Vol.13, 1597941
07/23/2025
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1597941
PMCID: PMC12325277
PMID: 40771255
Abstract
Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 was declared a pandemic in March 2020. Studies have characterized some of the negative impact of the pandemic on public health workers (PHW), but few have explored the strength and coping strategies used. Our study documents the experiences of PHW in Iowa during the pandemic.
Methods: We used an innovative mixed methods data collection tool, SenseMaker® to gather stories from PHW in Iowa between March and July 2022. Participants provided additional data about their story via structured follow-up questions. We conducted descriptive analyses of the quantitative questions. A qualitative thematic and sentiment analysis was applied to all stories.
Results: The final sample size was 163 stories. PHW who submitted stories identified as mostly white (93.9%), and women (83.4%). Respondents were most likely to feel that in the story they told: the ability to act was out of their control; the strongest influence was from political considerations; decisions were made out of necessity; they wished for more focus on evidence-based public health. PHW were most likely to describe their emotional state at the height of the pandemic as frustration (61%), uncertainty (55%), and helplessness (50%). Those who felt in control were more likely to express positive emotions. Qualitative thematic analysis of these stories revealed 8 themes, highlighting facilitators (e.g., strong partnerships and collaborations) and barriers (e.g., politicization and controversial government response) to effective pandemic response.
Discussion: The stories PHW shared powerfully illustrate the context of the pandemic in Iowa, a state that spent the least time under high stringency policies.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Insights from the front line: uplifting stories of the COVID-19 pandemic through the eyes of the public health workforce in Iowa
- Creators
- Heidi Haines - University of IowaAmanda Sursely - University of IowaHanh Pham - University of IowaRylee Beltran - University of IowaDaniel K. Sewell - University of IowaLina Tucker ReindersNatoshia Askelson - University of IowaSarah DixonKaitlin EmrichChristine EstleMichelle LewisEdith Parker - University of IowaJimmy ReyesLaurie Walkner - University of IowaKelly Wells SittigRima A. Afifi - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Frontiers in public health, Vol.13, 1597941
- DOI
- 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1597941
- PMID
- 40771255
- PMCID
- PMC12325277
- NLM abbreviation
- Front Public Health
- ISSN
- 2296-2565
- eISSN
- 2296-2565
- Publisher
- FRONTIERS MEDIA SA
- Grant note
- Centers for Disease Control and Preventionhttps://doi.org/10.13039/100000030
The authors would like to thank all the public health workers who submitted stories about their lived experience during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iowa, and provided analytic insights that allowed the uplifting of both the challenges and strengths of the response to COVID-19 in the State. The authors would also like to thank the team at the Cynefin Co who provided critical guidance on developing the story prompt and related analytic questions. Particularly we would like to acknowledge the support of Eleanor Snowden and Anna Panagiotou.
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 07/23/2025
- Academic Unit
- Public Health Administration; Biostatistics; Institute for Public Health Practice, Research and Policy; Injury Prevention Research Center; Community and Behavioral Health; Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Record Identifier
- 9984927214202771
Metrics
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