Your browser doesn't support javascript.
Inpatient generalist palliative care during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic - experiences, challenges and potential solutions from the perspective of health care workers.
Schallenburger, Manuela; Reuters, Marie Christine; Schwartz, Jacqueline; Fischer, Marius; Roch, Carmen; Werner, Liane; Bausewein, Claudia; Simon, Steffen T; van Oorschot, Birgitt; Neukirchen, Martin.
  • Schallenburger M; Interdisciplinary Centre for Palliative Medicine, University Hospital, Heinrich Heine University, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Duesseldorf, Germany.
  • Reuters MC; Interdisciplinary Centre for Palliative Medicine, University Hospital, Heinrich Heine University, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Duesseldorf, Germany.
  • Schwartz J; Interdisciplinary Centre for Palliative Medicine, University Hospital, Heinrich Heine University, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Duesseldorf, Germany. Jacqueline.Schwartz@med.uni-duesseldorf.de.
  • Fischer M; Interdisciplinary Centre for Palliative Medicine, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
  • Roch C; Interdisciplinary Centre for Palliative Medicine, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
  • Werner L; Interdisciplinary Centre for Palliative Medicine, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
  • Bausewein C; Department of Palliative Medicine, LMU University Hospital, Munich, Germany.
  • Simon ST; Department of Palliative Medicine and Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Dusseldorf (CIO ABCD), University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, Cologne, Germany.
  • van Oorschot B; Interdisciplinary Centre for Palliative Medicine, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.
  • Neukirchen M; Interdisciplinary Centre for Palliative Medicine, University Hospital, Heinrich Heine University, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Duesseldorf, Germany.
BMC Palliat Care ; 21(1): 63, 2022 May 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1951172
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has presented major challenges to the health system. Despite high acute case numbers, patients without Covid-19 still need to be cared for. Due to the severity of the disease and a possible stressful overall situation, patients with palliative care needs also require comprehensive care during pandemic times. In addition to specialized palliative care facilities, this also takes place in non palliative care wards. In order to ensure this general palliative care also in pandemic times, the experience of the staff should be used. The aim of this paper is to examine challenges and possible solutions for general palliative care inpatients in relation to the care of seriously ill and dying patients and their relatives.

METHODS:

Qualitative semi-structured focus groups were conducted online for the study. Participants were staff from intensive care or isolation wards or from units where vulnerable patients (e.g. with cognitive impairment) are cared for. The focus groups were recorded and subsequently transcribed. The data material was analysed with the content structuring content analysis according to Kuckartz.

RESULTS:

Five focus groups with four to eight health care professionals with various backgrounds were conducted. Fifteen main categories with two to eight subcategories were identified. Based on frequency and the importance expressed by the focus groups, six categories were extracted as central aspects visiting regulations, communication with relatives, hygiene measures, cooperation, determination of the patients will and the possibility to say good bye.

CONCLUSION:

The pandemic situation produced several challenges needing specific solutions in order to manage the care of seriously ill and dying patients. Especially visiting needs regulation to prevent social isolation and dying alone. Finding alternative communication ways as well as interprofessional and interdisciplinary cooperation is a precondition for individualised care of seriously ill and dying patients and their relatives. Measures preventing infections should be transparently communicated in hospitals.
Subject(s)
Keywords

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Palliative Care / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: BMC Palliat Care Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S12904-022-00958-9

Similar

MEDLINE

...
LILACS

LIS


Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Palliative Care / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: BMC Palliat Care Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S12904-022-00958-9