The People's Panel - COVID-19: research findings

Key findings

The ‘People’s Panel for Wellbeing: 2022 and beyond’ was established with the aim to empower a diverse group of the public to come together and share their views over time. They provided their opinions, experiences, and ideas on the wellbeing of people in Scotland, alongside topics that were pertinent to specific policy areas. This approach to evidence gathering ensures that the in-depth realities of people’s experiences are captured alongside other data sources, such as survey data, to help improve decisions and policies. This provides enhanced understanding of the wellbeing challenges faced by people in Scotland during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Twenty four people, with diverse experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic, with representation across the protected characteristics, took part in the panel. Discussions about COVID-19, including sessions on ventilation measures and CO₂ monitors, were conducted across five panel events. The key findings are:

Diverse experiences and varied perspectives of the pandemic

• Panel members’ experiences of the pandemic were, for the most part, profoundly distressing and centred around loss.
• There were polarised views on support for the COVID-19 protective measures. Discussions centred around the design, implementation and politics associated with the measures.
• Common emotions among panel members included overwhelming sadness and intense anger.
• Despite the predominantly negative tone, not all participants reported adverse experiences during the pandemic. Some individuals shared more positive experiences and viewpoints, such as, the ability to work from home, exploring new hobbies, and developing new connections with neighbours or through online groups.

Perceptions of safety and risk of COVID-19 transmission

• Most members perceived a high level of risk from COVID-19 and long COVID.
• The intensity of these feelings was particularly high among disabled individuals, those with underlying health conditions, and members from minority ethnic backgrounds.
• Over the time of the panel events, this fear escalated, coinciding with the reduction and removal of COVID-19 rules and restrictions.
• A minority of People’s Panel members held a contrasting perspective, expressing a lack of concern about the long-term impact of COVID-19 on their future lives.

Members’ attitudes and concerns towards COVID-19 in autumn and winter 2022/23

• Many People’s Panel members were concerned because they did not consider the virus to be under control. These concerns were mainly fuelled by personal experiences of COVID-19 complications among panel members and/ or their families, or their identification as immunosuppressed or at increased risk from COVID-19.
• Some panel members advocated for heightened measures including the continued use of face coverings, free testing, physical distancing, and sanitisation protocols in public spaces. They believed it was crucial for the Scottish Government to play a role in promoting and reinforcing these measures.
• Reflecting on their main concerns, members perceived that COVID-19 and the cost of living crisis were intertwined, with each exacerbating the other.

The significance of ventilation as a protection against respiratory illnesses

• Members demonstrated a high level of awareness of the role of ventilation in helping to reduce the spread of respiratory infections.
• Negative perspectives on ventilation stemmed from the challenges posed by the cost of heating homes, cold weather conditions, and the need to open windows for adequate airflow.

Members’ perspectives on the new (September 2022) Scottish Government ventilation guidelines

• Members provided suggestions to enhance the clarity of the guidance. These included: using simplified language, concise and clear messaging, and incorporating visuals alongside text.
• Many panel members emphasised that the priority should be on ventilating public spaces rather than solely focusing on homes. They called on the Scottish Government to take further action regarding ventilation in businesses, schools, GP surgeries, public transport and other public areas.

The role of CO₂ monitors in public spaces

• Some members saw the potential in a CO₂ monitoring scheme in the future.^[1] However, they emphasised the importance of proper setup, ongoing monitoring, and comprehensive public awareness and education about the scheme.

Assessing the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic (2023)

• Some members felt that they, both individually and as a society, were in a worse situation in early 2023 compared to 2022.
• Members who continued to wear face coverings in public places shared experiences of feeling judged by others for taking precautionary measures.
• Many members voiced concerns regarding the long-term impact of COVID-19, such as the social consequences of lockdowns and disrupted education, as well as the negative effects on medical staff due to absences and disruptions in clinical services.
• A minority of members did not share these concerns. They viewed COVID-19 as an ‘overreaction’. Their views were underpinned by the idea that the protective measures, such as masks, protective screens, and vaccinations, were unhelpful as they continued to instil fear among the public.

Summary

• The insights gathered over the panel events have been extensive. They are relevant to a range of policy areas and priorities in the Scottish Government.
• For example, the members’ experiences and insights were considered in the ongoing development of the protective measures Signage scheme. Their feedback on ventilation guidance informed the development of refreshed guidance for individuals and workplaces.^[2]
• Their insights on the role of ventilation and the use of CO₂ monitors, as a means of improving infection resilience, informed discussions in the Covid-19 Adaptations Expert Advisory Group.
• The Scottish Government winter illnesses campaign – ‘Stay Well This Winter’ – was also informed by insights from the panel alongside Scottish opinion polling.^[3]
• This research supports the findings from other studies which show how pandemic related stressors such as health risks, economic adversity, employment disruption, and social isolation exacerbated inequalities and continue to have substantial long-term effects.^[4] This research has also provided new perspectives on how pandemic related impacts, both positive and negative, emerged along different time courses and in different places for individuals and communities.
• One of the key strengths of the panel, was in the way it provided a bridge between policymakers and the public. Gathering these diverse perspectives provided valuable insights into the real-world challenges faced by Scottish communities.
• The principles of trust, respect and inclusivity were weaved throughout the panel setup and delivery (more details in the Method section). These foundational elements have allowed the panel to flourish as a platform for effective policy-making.