Amplifying patient voices amid pandemic: Perspectives on tracheostomy care, communication, and connection.
Am J Otolaryngol
; 43(5): 103525, 2022.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1944084
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate perspectives of patients, family members, caregivers (PFC), and healthcare professionals (HCP) on tracheostomy care during the COVID-19 pandemic.METHODS:
The cross-sectional survey investigating barriers and facilitators to tracheostomy care was collaboratively developed by patients, family members, nurses, speech-language pathologists, respiratory care practitioners, physicians, and surgeons. The survey was distributed to the Global Tracheostomy Collaborative's learning community, and responses were analyzed.RESULTS:
Survey respondents (n = 191) from 17 countries included individuals with a tracheostomy (85 [45 %]), families/caregivers (43 [22 %]), and diverse HCP (63 [33.0 %]). Overall, 94 % of respondents reported concern that patients with tracheostomy were at increased risk of critical illness from SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19; 93 % reported fear or anxiety. With respect to prioritization of care, 38 % of PFC versus 16 % of HCP reported concern that patients with tracheostomies might not be valued or prioritized (p = 0.002). Respondents also differed in fear of contracting COVID-19 (69 % PFC vs. 49 % HCP group, p = 0.009); concern for hospitalization (55.5 % PFC vs. 27 % HCP, p < 0.001); access to medical personnel (34 % PFC vs. 14 % HCP, p = 0.005); and concern about canceled appointments (62 % PFC vs. 41 % HCP, p = 0.01). Respondents from both groups reported severe stress and fatigue, sleep deprivation, lack of breaks, and lack of support (70 % PFC vs. 65 % HCP, p = 0.54). Virtual telecare seldom met perceived needs.CONCLUSION:
PFC with a tracheostomy perceived most risks more acutely than HCP in this global sample. Broad stakeholder engagement is necessary to achieve creative, patient-driven solutions to maintain connection, communication, and access for patients with a tracheostomy.Keywords
Advocacy; Anxiety; COVID-19; Caregivers; Communication; Comorbidities; Coronavirus; Crisis Standards of Care; Depression; Head and neck cancer; Health care professionals; Healthcare access; Nursing; Patient experience; Patient-centered care; Patients; Quality improvement; Rationing; Resource scarcity; Respiratory care practitioner; Respiratory therapy; SARS-CoV-2; Safety; Speech-language pathology; Tracheostomy; Tracheotomy
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Patients
/
Postoperative Care
/
Tracheostomy
/
Family
/
Caregivers
/
Communication
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Qualitative research
/
Randomized controlled trials
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Am J Otolaryngol
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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