Health care professionals and end-of-life care during the COVID-19 pandemic

Ferreira, Esther Angélica Luiz; Valete, Cristina Ortiz Sobrinho; Santos, André Filipe Junqueira dos; Passarini, Juliana Nalin de Souza; Silva, Alexandre Ernesto; Miwa, Michelle Uchida

doi:10.1590/1806-9282.20210417

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 17 publications

(17 reference statements)

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“…The COVID-19 pandemic had been shown to have a moderate to severe psychological impact on frontline healthcare workers and the effects were different for various groups [ 11 , 12 ]. Those with a higher likelihood of direct COVID-19 exposure were found to be more likely to suffer from mental health issues [ 13 , 14 ]. Despite increased prevalence of psychological issues among healthcare workers during the pandemic, few studies have explored the reasons for these observations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychological health and wellbeing of primary healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia: a longitudinal qualitative study

et al. 2022

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Background Primary healthcare workers (PHCWs) are at the frontline of dealing with viral pandemics. They may experience significant psychological stresses, which have hitherto not been examined in depth. We aimed to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological health and wellbeing of frontline PHCWs in Malaysia. Method We purposively recruited PHCWs with diverse backgrounds in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Using longitudinal qualitative methods, we conducted two sequential semi-structured telephone interviews, 3 to 4 weeks apart, to capture different stages of the pandemic. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically. Result Twenty-one PHCWs participated yielding a total of forty-two interviews. Themes clustered around stressors associated with work, home, and leisure activities, emotional changes, and modifying factors. In the first interviews, COVID-19 had just started in Malaysia. Participants expressed fear about the actual and perceived personal risk of COVID-19 infection. Most were worried about transmitting COVID-19 to their family members. Some felt stigmatized because of this perceived risk of infection. By the second interviews, participants felt safer, but instead focused on the need to keep other people safe. Participants’ emotions were influenced by their perceived risk of contracting COVID-19 infection. Internal factors such as religion enabled them to manage their concerns and develop personal coping strategies. Support from family members, colleagues, and employers promoted wellbeing during the pandemic. Training sessions, daily roll calls, and psychological support services were important in maintaining their psychological health and wellbeing. Many participants were hopeful and believed normalcy would return by the end of 2020. Conclusion PHCW’s psychological health and wellbeing evolved throughout the early stages of the pandemic and were influenced by their perceived risk of contracting the disease and personal belief structures. Clear updates on the disease and strategies for keeping safe at work and socially are essential to maintaining PHCWs’ psychological health and wellbeing.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychological health and wellbeing of primary healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia: a longitudinal qualitative study

et al. 2022

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The burden of grief: A scoping review of nurses’ and physicians’ experiences throughout the COVID-19 pandemic

Burm,

MacDonald,

Melro

et al. 2024

Death Studies

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Challenges of using body bags for COVID-19 deaths from the healthcare provider perspective – a qualitative study

Toyama,

Mori,

Kuriyama

et al. 2024

BMJ Open Qual

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BackgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous issues regarding end-of-life care for COVID-19 patients have been discussed. Among these issues, challenges related to the use of body bags following the death of COVID-19 patients have been suggested. This study aimed to identify the challenges faced by healthcare professionals (HCPs) when using body bags after the death of patients infected with COVID-19 in medical settings.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative descriptive study with semistructured in-depth interviews using inductive thematic analysis. From August to December 2021, we interviewed nurses and doctors who provided end-of-life care to COVID-19 patients focusing on their experiences with the use of body bags for the deceased.ResultsOf the 25 interviewees who mentioned body bag use, 14 were nurses (56%) and 13 were women (52%). The mean interview length was 52.0 min (SD 9.6 min). Challenges associated with body bag use were classified into four themes with eight categories: preserving the dignity of the deceased, consideration for the bereaved saying a final goodbye to a loved one in a body bag, the physical and emotional impact on HCPs, and diverse opinions on body bag use.ConclusionOur findings include ethical concerns about the dignity of the deceased, empathy for the grief of bereaved families, and the emotional and physical distress experienced by HCPs struggling with the recommendation to use body bags based on limited evidence. The diverse perspectives of HCPs in this study highlight potential issues that developers should consider when formulating more appropriate and acceptable guidelines/guidance and policies.

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Health care professionals and end-of-life care during the COVID-19 pandemic

Cited by 4 publications

References 17 publications

Psychological health and wellbeing of primary healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia: a longitudinal qualitative study

Psychological health and wellbeing of primary healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia: a longitudinal qualitative study

The burden of grief: A scoping review of nurses’ and physicians’ experiences throughout the COVID-19 pandemic

Challenges of using body bags for COVID-19 deaths from the healthcare provider perspective – a qualitative study

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