Older patients’ perspectives and experience of hospitalisation during the COVID‐19 pandemic: a qualitative explorative study

Abstract

Background and Objectives The aim of this study was to gain in‐depth knowledge and an increased understanding on how isolation from close relatives and carers, during the COVID‐19 pandemic, impacted older patients during hospitalisation in a Geriatric department. Method We conducted a qualitative study using semi‐structured interviews and a phenomenological‐hermeneutic approach, to get an understanding of the older participants' perspectives and lived experiences. Complete interviews were available for 11 patients—six men and five women, between 69 and 91 years of age. Results The participants' narratives identified several themes. Feeling isolated from and having no contact with close relatives or carers was prominent. The COVID‐19 pandemic created fear and anxiety among hospitalized patients. Relationships with family members and some staff became strained. The transformation from being “a person” to being “a patient” and loss of dignity, autonomy and a “sense of self” were themes identified in the analysis . Although virtual contact can't replace the real world, the use of technology to maintain contact with family and carers, and the need for help from hospital staff in facilitating this contact was deemed important. The environment of care was a prominent theme. The attitude of staff made a difference to how patients felt and some patients expressed a loss of decision‐making capability. The interviews were challenging in some cases because the interviews had to be interrupted or shortened due to ethical considerations around the individual person's needs and condition. Conclusions and implication for practice Our study provided in‐depth knowledge on how older patients experienced hospitalisation during the COVID‐19 pandemic in a Danish hospital. The results emphasise that compassionate care includes a willingness to listen to older patients' narratives and to imagine life as depicted by them. This can lead to better understanding of an individual person's needs and increase the quality of care provided.

Exploring loss and grief during the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review of qualitative studies

“…Patients Eight (11.6%) of the included studies addressed loss and grief among the general patient population, highlighting patients' loss of physical health and the attendant emotional responses. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Initial symptoms such as fever, cough, anosmia and dysgeusia gave rise to anxiety and fear while social isolation resulted in boredom and loneliness. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Anxiety revolved around the family's well-being and the risk of transmitting the infection to them.…”

‘Living in a shrinking world’—The experience of loneliness among community-dwelling older people with reduced mobility: a qualitative grounded theory approach

“…This finding is of concern as older people living alone is a growing group in many countries, particular in Europe where more than 30% of all persons 65 + live alone [ 27 ]. The Covid-19 pandemic has also painfully exposed the vulnerability of this group of older persons.’ [ 28 , 29 ].…”

Older patients’ perspectives on illness and healthcare during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic

“…15, 16 Moreover, a qualitative study from Denmark found that older patients experienced anxiety and a loss of dignity and autonomy during hospitalisation. 17…”

“…15,16 Moreover, a qualitative study from Denmark found that older patients experienced anxiety and a loss of dignity and autonomy during hospitalisation. 17 Research also shows that access to and delivery of healthcare were challenged during the pandemic, especially related to the access to ventilators 18 Both high income and low-income countries experienced barriers to COVID-19 testing. 19,20 In Norway, health trusts were forced to change routines daily in response to the unpredictable situation and to mitigate the expected rapid increase in numbers of infections and COVID-19 patients.…”