Universität zu Köln

Schallenburger, Manuela, Reuters, Marie Christine, Schwartz, Jacqueline, Fischer, Marius, Roch, Carmen, Werner, Liane, Bausewein, Claudia, Simon, Steffen T., van Oorschot, Birgitt and Neukirchen, Martin (2022). Inpatient generalist palliative care during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic - experiences, challenges and potential solutions from the perspective of health care workers. BMC Palliat. Care, 21 (1). LONDON: BMC. ISSN 1472-684X

Full text not available from this repository.

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.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Schallenburger, Manuela UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Reuters, Marie Christine UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Schwartz, Jacqueline UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Fischer, Marius UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Roch, Carmen UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Werner, Liane UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Bausewein, Claudia UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Simon, Steffen T. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED van Oorschot, Birgitt UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Neukirchen, Martin UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-677336
DOI:	10.1186/s12904-022-00958-9
Journal or Publication Title:	BMC Palliat. Care
Volume:	21
Number:	1
Date:	2022
Publisher:	BMC
Place of Publication:	LONDON
ISSN:	1472-684X
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language HOSPITALIZED-PATIENTS; COVID-19; UNCERTAINTY Multiple languages Health Care Sciences & Services; Health Policy & Services Multiple languages
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/67733