ABSTRACT
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the worst public health crises in a century, with an expected death toll of several million worldwide and an even greater number of bereaved. Methods: We conducted qualitative research in the form of semi- structured interviews, using a consensus qualitative research method. We approached 16 participants who had a relative die from COVID-19 in hospice care or in a social services facility in Slovakia, or whose relative died during the peak of the pandemic of another lethal disease. Results: By analysing the interviews with the participants, we developed six main domains that formed the core themes of the testimonies, namely: the course of the disease, experiencing placement during the anti-pandemic measures, the attitude of the staff, experiences of other family members, the last moments of life, and experiencing the grieving period.The main difference in comparing the testimonies of relatives who had a family member in hospice and those who had a family member in a social services facility was the perception of communication by health professionals.Relatives of the deceased in social services facilities subjectively described communication and the transmission of health information as having been inadequate, while relatives of the deceased in hospices reported a positive experience and no negative comments were observed. Another difference was that relatives with family members in hospices were more prepared and reconciled with the death of their family member compared to relatives with a family member in a social services facility. Conclusion: Exploring the experience of bereaved relatives provides valuable insight into how families coped and adapted when their family member was dying during the COVID-19 pandemic. This can help to better know and understand the needs of patients and their relatives in health and social care facilities, as well as the needs of the bereaved.
ABSTRACT
Backround/(Aim): Palliative care is an important component of health care in pandemics. Global pandemics, which includes COVID-19, are leading to a sharp increase demand for health services, including palliative care. To examine preparedness for, and the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on hospices in Slovakia and to inform other countries of the Slovakian response. Methods/(Design, Setting): Telephone survey of hospices in Slovakia based on a semi-structured questionnaire. The research sample consisted of 11 inpatient hospices in the Slovak Republic, of which 10 of them participated in the research. Results: All hospices immediately implemented changes to existing procedures, developed their own written guidelines and policies for working in times of emergency declared on the basis of a rapidly spreading virus. The biggest problems were the lack of staff guidelines on crisis management and how hospices should work in times of emergency and the lack of personal protective equipment. The results indicate the necessity for the cooperation of the entire interdisciplinary team of hospice staff, with social workers and psychologists proving to be an important part of the interdisciplinary team. Conclusion: Hospices offer comprehensive care to patients in the terminal stages of various diseases and they are capable of responding flexibly and rapidly to COVID-19 pandemic. It is important that the government and the entire health sector of the Slovak Republic recognize the need of palliative care during the COVID-19 pandemic and seek to ensure the protection and full integration of hospices in the care of end-stage patients during a global pandemic.