Exploring community mental health clinicians lived experiences of reflective practice during a pandemic using an interpretative phenomenological analysis

Background and aimsReflective practice is a core competency for clinicians in their clinical practice, it allows a space for clinicians to develop their in-depth thinking about work activity with the aim of developing as a practitioner. The key aim of the research was to understand the lived experience of community clinicians attending reflective practice through a pandemic. The literature previously had focused on understanding reflective practice more generally rather than specifically what it meant to clinicians to have this space to build awareness and explore how clinical work was effecting them. MethodsTo address this gap in the literature, a mixed methods design was implemented to gain insight into clinicians experience of reflective practice groups. Firstly, quantitatively to determine if there is a causal link between attending reflective practice groups and clinicians general health, wellbeing and burnout. Then qualitatively to explore the lived experience of clinicians through using Interpretative Phenomenological analysis (IPA). Results A total of 22 participants took part in the quantitative phase of data collection, with only 3 participants completing at all three time points, baseline, 3 months post and 6 months post. As a result only descriptives statistics were reported, the observation made of the data over time was that there was a stabilisation of scores on both the General Health Questionnaire, observed on all 4 constructs, somatic symptoms, anxiety, social dysfunction and depression, and Maslach Burnout Inventory, observed on all three constructs, personal accomplishment, depersonalisation, emotional exhaustion.To explore the results further, in depth semi structured interviews were carried out with 6 participants, all female clinicians. Using IPA, five themes were generated, 1) Grounding and perspective through the creation of a different space for clinicians, 2) Clinicians confidence and competence develops, 3) Clinicians feel contained through the structure of a model, 4) Clinicians recognising the impact of the pandemic on personal and professional life and 5) Feeling the priority of the clinical tasks above your own need for reflection – where does the pressure come from? ConclusionsThe consideration of these findings suggest that reflective practice plays a key part in clinicians wellbeing at work and impact on their clinical work by allowing them to enter a forum that they feel safe and contained in. Reflective practice was shown to be particularly effective when there was good facilitation and there was a good frame around the session impacting on clinicians feeling more motivated and ready for the next challenge but also in creating safety for the clinician. Overall, the research enabled the voice of the clinician to be heard about what they need to support them as a clinician. Further research on reflective practice should focus on the intricacies of being reflective and how this can influence clinicians ongoing professional development and wellbeing at wor