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

Abstract

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: 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: 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: 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: 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.

Caregiving in the COVID‐19 pandemic: Family adaptations following an intensive care unit hospitalisation

“…Family caregiving has long been recognised as a formal role with economic, social, physical and psychological consequences for care providers including financial loss, social isolation, loneliness, depression, anxiety and worsened overall health (AARP & National Alliance for Caregiving, 2020 ; Capistrant, 2016 ; Grice, 2020 ). Similar findings have been noted in the few studies examining family caregivers of patients with COVID‐19, particularly, financial challenges, stress, anxiety, insomnia, and social isolation (Picardi et al, 2021 ; Rahimi et al, 2021 ). It is common for caregivers, across patient diagnoses, to become unexpectedly engaged in family caregiving responsibilities, with little to no training, following a patient's acute illness, or medical event, and subsequent hospitalisation (AARP & National Alliance for Caregiving, 2020 ; Naylor et al, 2017 ; Slatyer et al, 2019 ).…”

The Psychological Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic in Caregivers of Coronapositive Patients Admitted in Guru Nanak Dev Hospital Under Government Medical College, Amritsar

“…In another study, psychological experience of family members of COVID-19 patients was explored. Significant psychological distress, feelings of powerlessness, anxiety, and concerns about patients discharge were significant in participants [18].…”

Why Was the Perception of Human Rights Respect and Care Satisfaction So High in Users of Italian Mental Health Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic?

“…The stress on health staff caused by the COVID-19 pandemic was certainly less impactful in small units scattered throughout the territory with staff composed of a few professionals well known by users, citizens and institutions. Precisely because of the closer knowledge of the users and their life context, the use of remote support such as telemedicine or social media was easier, and also for family members and caregivers, maintaining the possibility of "face-to-face" visits for emergencies [29][30][31]. The rooting of the teams in the social framework has allowed a better monitoring of critical situations, even with distance, with the help of formal (such as social units of the municipalities) and informal supports (such as family, friends and voluntary networks).…”