Abstract
Objectives
The aim of this article is to explore the significance of the COVID-19 pandemic for family caregivers of patients in need of specialised palliative care during the lockdown period in Denmark.
Methods
This qualitative study was conducted as open-ended semi-structured telephone interviews with family caregivers of patients treated by the specialised palliative outpatient clinic in Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Denmark. The interviews took place during the first wave lockdown and the very early stage of the reopening from 21 to 30 April 2020. The interviews were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.
Results
The COVID-19 pandemic had a radical impact on some family caregivers. COVID-19 forced family caregivers and patients to put their life on hold in a situation where the patients’ lives were already time-limited. One of the greatest fears of the family caregivers was to infect the patient with SARS-CoV-2, causing an untimely death. This fear led them to engage in different strategies to avoid infecting the patient depending on whether they lived together or apart. For caregivers living with the patient, this resulted in loneliness and emotional despair. For caregivers living apart from the patient, it resulted in a sense of deserting the patient and emotional despair. Another great fear of the family caregivers was the impossibility of being present if the patient had to be hospitalised, especially in case the patient was dying. However, for some family caregivers the COVID-19 pandemic was less significant, as they were already living confined lives in their homes because of the patient’s palliative care needs.
Significance of Results
The study has generated valuable knowledge of the lived experiences of family caregivers which can be of use during future waves of the COVID-19 pandemic and when new pandemics occur.
Keywords: family caregivers, palliative care, end of life, COVID-19, Denmark
The aim of this article is to explore the significance of the COVID-19 pandemic for family caregivers of patients in need of specialised palliative care during the lockdown period in Denmark.
Methods
This qualitative study was conducted as open-ended semi-structured telephone interviews with family caregivers of patients treated by the specialised palliative outpatient clinic in Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, Denmark. The interviews took place during the first wave lockdown and the very early stage of the reopening from 21 to 30 April 2020. The interviews were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.
Results
The COVID-19 pandemic had a radical impact on some family caregivers. COVID-19 forced family caregivers and patients to put their life on hold in a situation where the patients’ lives were already time-limited. One of the greatest fears of the family caregivers was to infect the patient with SARS-CoV-2, causing an untimely death. This fear led them to engage in different strategies to avoid infecting the patient depending on whether they lived together or apart. For caregivers living with the patient, this resulted in loneliness and emotional despair. For caregivers living apart from the patient, it resulted in a sense of deserting the patient and emotional despair. Another great fear of the family caregivers was the impossibility of being present if the patient had to be hospitalised, especially in case the patient was dying. However, for some family caregivers the COVID-19 pandemic was less significant, as they were already living confined lives in their homes because of the patient’s palliative care needs.
Significance of Results
The study has generated valuable knowledge of the lived experiences of family caregivers which can be of use during future waves of the COVID-19 pandemic and when new pandemics occur.
Keywords: family caregivers, palliative care, end of life, COVID-19, Denmark
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Artikelnummer | 2113021 |
| Tidsskrift | International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being |
| Vol/bind | 17 |
| Udgave nummer | 1 |
| ISSN | 1748-2623 |
| DOI | |
| Status | Udgivet - 2022 |
Emneord
- pårørende
- Covid-19
- uhelbredeligt syge
- palliation