ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the provision of palliative care for patients with palliative care needs emerges as a necessity more than ever. Most are managed in primary care by their family physicians (FP). This study aimed to understand the perspectives of specialist and trainee FPs about their role in palliative care. METHODS: we conducted a double focus-group study consisting of two separate online focus-groups, one with FP specialists (n = 9) and one with FP trainees (n = 10). RESULTS: FPs already gather two fundamental skills for the provision of palliative care: the capacity to identify patients' needs beyond physical symptoms and the recognition that the patient belongs to a familiar, psychosocial, and even spiritual environment. They perceive their role in palliative care to be four-fold: early identification of patients with palliative care needs, initial treatment, symptom management, and patient advocacy. Participants recognized the need for palliative care training and provided suggestions for training programs. CONCLUSION: FPs share a holistic approach and identify multiple roles they can play in palliative care, from screening to care and advocacy. Organizational barriers must be addressed. Short training programs that combine theory, practice, and experiential learning may further the potential for FPs to contribute to palliative care.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Palliative Care , Focus Groups , Humans , Pandemics , Physicians, Family , Portugal , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
Enquadramento: Devido à pandemia COVID-19 encerraram-se estabelecimentos de ensino e confinaram-se os estudantes. Objetivos: Conhecer as mudanças sociofamiliares, académicas e comportamentais dos estudantes de enfermagem, provocadas pela pandemia COVID-19;caracterizar perceções de saúde, informação e adesão às medidas veiculadas. Metodologia: Estudo quantitativo descritivo-correlacional com 425 estudantes de enfermagem. Utilizou-se o COVID-19 International Student Well-Being Study (C19 ISWS). Cumpriram-se pressupostos éticos. Resultados: Suspensas aulas presenciais, os estudantes regressaram ao domicílio familiar, reduziram contactos com amigos e privilegiaram comunicações online. Manifestaram stress face às mudanças no ensino e à possibilidade de não concluírem o ano letivo. Reportaram aumento de materiais online, mas não identificaram acréscimo de trabalho académico. Referiram menos recursos financeiros. Consideraram informações da Direção-Geral da Saúde atempadas e compreensíveis e aderiram fortemente às medidas implementadas. Os consumidores, diminuíram significativamente consumos de tabaco, álcool e outros. Conclusão: A pandemia COVID-19 trouxe alterações à vida dos estudantes de enfermagem, marcadas por retorno à casa da família, preocupações com sucesso escolar e afastamento das sociabilidades académicas, aderindo massivamente às medidas sanitárias recomendadas.
ABSTRACT
Background: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, education institutions were closed, and students were confined to their homes. Objectives: To identify the social, family, academic, and behavioral changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic in nursing students;to characterize their perceptions of health, information, and compliance with the measures. Methodology: Quantitative descriptive-correlational study with 425 nursing students. The COVID-19 International Student Well-Being Study (C19 ISWS) was used. All ethical requirements were met. Results: With the suspension of presential classes, students returned to their family homes, reduced their contacts with friends, and gave priority to online forms of communication. They experienced stress due to the changes in the teaching methods and about the possibility of not successfully completing the academic year. Students reported an increase in online materials but did report an increase in academic workload. They reported fewer financial resources and considered that the information from the Directorate-General of Health was clear and provided in due time. They also reported having complied with the measures. Students significantly decreased their consumption of tobacco, alcohol, and others. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the nursing students’ lives, due to their return to their family homes, the concerns about their academic success, the distancing from social activities, with strict compliance with the recommended sanitary measures.