Emotional supportive care for first-degree relatives of deceased people with COVID-19: an important but neglected issue

Abstract

Are public health measures and individualised care compatible in the face of a pandemic? A national observational study of bereaved relatives' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Palliat Med 2021:2692163211019885 Implications for practice and research► The psychological burden of COVID-19 not only threatens healthy people at risk or those with the disease, but also affects the first-degree relatives of the deceased. ► The role of the healthcare system in reducing the psychological and emotional burden among the first-degree relatives of the deceased is an issue that needs further research. ContextNearly 18 months after the onset of the horrific COVID-19 pandemic, the disease kills thousands of people daily around the world. The deceased from COVID-19 are distributed in different age groups, so they have different roles in family relationships such as partner, child and parent. Undoubtedly, sudden and unexpected death imposes a heavy psychological and emotional burden on the first-degree relatives of the deceased. 1 According to some, providing the opportunity to establish the latest communication between patients and their families can reduce this psychological burden to some extent. 2

Causes of Missed Nursing Care During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study in Iran

“…Another part of unfulfilled care was neglected care. Neglected care was also considered as unfulfilled care by Palese et al and Kalisch ( 11 , 30 ) but the main neglected care during the COVID-19 pandemic was psychological and spiritual care ( 32 , 33 ). Dutra et al argued that working in environments with structured work processes and a sufficient number of specialists can reduce neglected care and help with care planning, patient education, and emotional support, which are not always valued in the care process ( 34 ).…”