What is the lived experience of patients with left ventricular assist devices during the COVID-19 pandemic? A qualitative analysis.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 outbreak, patients with left ventricular assist device (LVAD) faced several changes in their daily life. However, the effects of these changes on the patients' lived experiences are not still investigated. AIMS: The current study explored the lived experience of people with left ventricular assist device (LVAD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the COVID-19 outbreak, people with LVADs faced several changes in their daily life. However, the effects of these changes on the patients' lived experiences are not still investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: Qualitative data analysis was conducted employing the interpretative phenomenological analysis approach. We followed the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines. Eight male participants with LVAD aged from 65 to 82 were interviewed. Overall, two main themes ('Worsening of psychological distress' and 'Moving forward') and eight sub-themes emerged from the qualitative analysis. CONCLUSIONS: People with LVADs experienced feelings of worry and solitude related to the risk of being infected or not receiving adequate treatment due to changes in the healthcare system during the pandemic; however, they managed to move forward with their lives using different strategies for dealing with the difficult situation.

Living with cancer in the COVID-19 pandemic: An Italian survey on self-isolation at home.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the perception of self-isolation at home in patients with cancer during the lockdown period resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted through an online survey of patients with cancer who were sheltering at home from 29th March to 3rd May 2020. Perception of self-isolation was assessed using the ISOLA scale, after evaluation of its psychometric properties. Content analysis was used to analyse two open-ended questions. RESULTS: The participants were 195 adult patients with cancer (female = 76%; mean age = 50.3 ± 11.2; haematological malignancy = 51.3%). They reported moderate isolation-related suffering (M = 2.64 ± 0.81), problems in their relationships with others (M = 3.31 ± 1.13) and difficulties in their relationships with themselves (M = 3.14 ± 1.06). Patients who experienced significantly more social problems were older, had less education and were living without minor children. Overall, four main categories emerged from the qualitative content analysis: (1) lack of freedom and social life, (2) uncertainty and worries, (3) feeling supported and (4) dealing with isolation. CONCLUSION: Living with cancer in the COVID-19 pandemic was often perceived as an isolating experience, primarily in terms of detachment from loved ones.