Coronavirus pandemic: compassionate communities and information technology

Abel, Julian; Taubert, Mark

doi:10.1136/bmjspcare-2020-002330

Cited by 21 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Furthermore, it has been argued that alternative ways of commemorating the deceased person may compensate for the minimalization of services or lack of attendance at the funeral (see Burrell & Selman, 2020). Abel and Taubert (2020) pointed out the gains to be had for those affected, due to the emergence of compassionate communities, and the availability of technological opportunities, for example, to compensate for social distancing.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bereavement in Times of COVID-19: A Review and Theoretical Framework

2020

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A review of the literature on adaptation to bereavement during the COVID-19 pandemic was conducted to assess the current state of knowledge. Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases were searched for studies published during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 outbreak. 44 articles were included in the review. Narrative synthesis showed that knowledge was largely based on expert assessments of prior bereavement research and professional experience; there is so far absence of empirical evidence linking features of COVID-19 bereavement situations to health outcomes. Severe negative consequences have been consistently predicted by authors. There is still relatively little consideration of positive or compensatory processes or the possibility that these could alleviate the effect of the shocking, traumatic circumstances. With two notable exceptions, there has been lack of attention to the role of theoretical models for guiding research and practice. A theoretical perspective (the Dual Process Model, DPM) was applied to the information derived from the available articles. Two features of the DPM framework illustrated its relevance: 1. It enables systematic assessment of the range of loss- and restoration-related challenges for the bereaved; 2. It speaks for extension of psychotherapeutic intervention to manage secondary, restoration- as well as primary, loss-oriented stressors; studies have demonstrated that this may increase the effectiveness of intervention. Directions for future research and DPM application are suggested.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bereavement in Times of COVID-19: A Review and Theoretical Framework

2020

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“…This theme of isolation has been acknowledged in a number of surveys of cancer patients internationally [26] , [27] . Calls for greater compassionate access and increased provision of creative alternatives to face-to-face support (for example, through psycho-oncology online services, compassionate communities and social media) have been made [28] , [29] , [30] .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of COVID-19 on cancer patients, their carers and oncology health professionals: A qualitative study

Butow¹,

Havard²,

Butt³

et al. 2022

Patient Education and Counseling

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Objective Cancer patients, carers and oncology health professionals have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in many ways, but their experiences and psychosocial responses to the pandemic are still being explored. This study aimed to document the experience of Australians living with cancer, family carers, and Oncology health professionals (HPs) when COVID-19 first emerged. Methods In this qualitative study, participants (cancer patients currently receiving treatment, family carers and HPs) completed a semi-structured interview exploring their experiences of COVID-19 and the impact it had on cancer care. Participants also completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (patients) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (carers and HPs) to assess emotional morbidity. Thematic analysis was undertaken on qualitative data. Results 32 patients, 16 carers and 29 HPs participated. Qualitative analysis yielded three shared themes: fear and death anxiety, isolation, and uncertainty. For HPs, uncertainty incorporated the potential for moral distress and work-stress. Patients and carers scoring high on anxiety/depression measures were more likely to have advanced disease, expressed greater death anxiety, talked about taking more extreme precautionary measures, and felt more impacted by isolation. Conclusion Cancer and COVID-19 can have compounding psychological impacts on all those receiving or giving care. Practice Implications Screening for distress in patients, and burnout in HPs, is recommended. Increased compassionate access and provision of creative alternatives to face-to-face support are warrented.

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“…In our examples, perhaps death has been brought out of the shadows of private space and into the public arena of the retirement village. On a more general level, we have certainly seen how communities can mobilize, both physically and virtually, to provide for those in need of extra support, echoing Abel & Taubert; anticipation of the emergence of technologically enabled compassionate communities.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diarised Reflections on COVID-19 and Bereavement: Disruptions and Affordances

West

Rumble

Shaw

et al. 2021

Illness, Crisis & Loss

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COVID-19 lockdown and social distancing measures have restricted funerals and memorial events and have limited the face-to-face social networks that grieving people might normally be able to draw upon for emotional support. However, while there is considerable expert informed speculation about the impacts of grief and “COVID bereavement”, detailed accounts of experiences of bereavement and bereavement support during the pandemic have the potential to enrich and provide nuance and subtlety to the evidence base. This paper draws on diary accounts of bereavement support volunteers in the UK, who have been providing support for the bereaved through these challenging times. These reveal layers of complexity to the experiences of loss, grief and bereavement during these extraordinary times. However, they also point to a number of additional themes that lend a more positive valence to the suspension of normal social expectations and memorial practices associated with the pandemic, which, we argue should be reflected upon for their potential to address the discontents of contemporary governance of end of life and bereavement.

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Coronavirus pandemic: compassionate communities and information technology

Cited by 21 publications

References 8 publications

Bereavement in Times of COVID-19: A Review and Theoretical Framework

Bereavement in Times of COVID-19: A Review and Theoretical Framework

The impact of COVID-19 on cancer patients, their carers and oncology health professionals: A qualitative study

Diarised Reflections on COVID-19 and Bereavement: Disruptions and Affordances

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