A Qualitative Study Regarding COVID-19 Inpatient Family Caregivers' Need for Supportive Care.

COVID-19 Family caregiver Focus group Health professionals Psychological impact Supportive care

Journal

Clinical practice and epidemiology in mental health : CP & EMH
ISSN: 1745-0179
Titre abrégé: Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health
Pays: United Arab Emirates
ID NLM: 101245735

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
2021
Historique:
received: 09 04 2021
revised: 04 08 2021
accepted: 05 08 2021
entrez: 9 2 2022
pubmed: 10 2 2022
medline: 10 2 2022
Statut: epublish

Résumé

Family caregivers of COVID-19 inpatients are exposed to multiple sources of distress. These include not only losing friends, colleagues and members of the family, but also the fear of possible losses in sociality, finances and, impoverished communication with sick family members and health care providers. This study describes the psychological experience of COVID-19 inpatient family caregivers to highlight the main sources of distress, issues, concerns and unmet needs. Two focus groups were independently organized with COVID-19 inpatient family caregivers and health care personnel of COVID-19 wards in order to highlight family caregivers' practical and psychological burden and related needs. A thematic analysis was conducted to analyze the data. Family caregivers mentioned they needed more information about the patient's condition with more attention being paid to their own emotional state. Feelings of impotence, concerns about how to deal with patient's discharge, significant psychological distress, and anxiety were frequently reported by study participants. Study findings suggest the need to strengthen the assistance of COVID-19 patient family caregivers. In the pandemic scenario, family caregivers might represent a crucial resource, which can guarantee rapid discharges, support home health care and thus relieve pressure on hospital systems.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
Family caregivers of COVID-19 inpatients are exposed to multiple sources of distress. These include not only losing friends, colleagues and members of the family, but also the fear of possible losses in sociality, finances and, impoverished communication with sick family members and health care providers.
OBJECTIVE OBJECTIVE
This study describes the psychological experience of COVID-19 inpatient family caregivers to highlight the main sources of distress, issues, concerns and unmet needs.
METHODS METHODS
Two focus groups were independently organized with COVID-19 inpatient family caregivers and health care personnel of COVID-19 wards in order to highlight family caregivers' practical and psychological burden and related needs. A thematic analysis was conducted to analyze the data.
RESULTS RESULTS
Family caregivers mentioned they needed more information about the patient's condition with more attention being paid to their own emotional state. Feelings of impotence, concerns about how to deal with patient's discharge, significant psychological distress, and anxiety were frequently reported by study participants.
CONCLUSION CONCLUSIONS
Study findings suggest the need to strengthen the assistance of COVID-19 patient family caregivers. In the pandemic scenario, family caregivers might represent a crucial resource, which can guarantee rapid discharges, support home health care and thus relieve pressure on hospital systems.

Identifiants

pubmed: 35136412
doi: 10.2174/1745017902117010161
pii: CPEMH-17-161
pmc: PMC8719278
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Pagination

161-169

Informations de copyright

© 2021 Picardi et al.

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Auteurs

Angelo Picardi (A)

Centre of Behavioural Sciences and Mental Health, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.

Marco Miniotti (M)

Department of Neuroscience, "Rita Levi Montalcini", University of Turin, Clinical Psychology Unit, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy.

Paolo Leombruni (P)

Department of Neuroscience, "Rita Levi Montalcini", University of Turin, Clinical Psychology Unit, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy.

Antonella Gigantesco (A)

Centre of Behavioural Sciences and Mental Health, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.

Classifications MeSH