Empower to connect and connect to empower: experience in using a humanistic approach to improve patients’ access to, and experience of, care in isolation wards during the COVID-19 outbreak in Singapore

Abstract

Patients admitted to the isolation ward during the COVID-19 outbreak face multiple psychosocial stressors including the disruptive experience of being in quarantine, anxiety over contracting a newly emerging infectious disease and limited access to their healthcare team. This quality improvement project aims to leverage on technology to improve patients’ access to, and experience of, care while in isolation.Patients admitted to two isolation wards in Singapore General Hospital (SGH) between 28 February and 19 March 2020 were each provided an iPad loaded with the MyCare application (app), curated materials and mobile games. During this period, 83 of them accessed the device and the app. MyCare app is an app developed by the nursing team in SGH as part of an existing interprofessional collaboration to help patients navigate their care during their inpatient stay. In response to COVID-19, MyCare app was supplemented with materials to address affected patients’ informational and psychosocial needs. These materials included an information sheet on COVID-19, interviews with previous severe acute respiratory syndrome survivors, psychosocial support materials, and uplifting literature, illustrated storybooks and artwork.This paper describes the process of planning for, and executing, the intervention and reports the initial results of its effect. Initial feedback indicated a positive response to the intervention. 9 out of 10 respondents (90%) rated their hospital experience with a maximum of five stars and all 10 respondents (100%) rated the psychosocial support materials with five stars. Doctors managing the patients also observed a reduction in the number of commonly asked questions following the deployment of the iPad.This quality improvement project is ongoing with plans for further research to determine how to better support the psychosocial needs of patients in isolation during a novel disease outbreak. This report is written based on the Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence guidelines.

One Year on: An Overview of Singapore’s Response to COVID-19—What We Did, How We Fared, How We Can Move Forward

“…This is consistent with the articles published overseas, which also found significant burnout amongst healthcare workers [504][505][506][507] and adverse psychological effects on the rest of the community [508][509][510][511]. The articles published locally have detailed various responses to this situation, such as a digital MyCare application [417], a psychological preparedness kit for HCWs [409], and peer support services [430], which demonstrate that our community has been able to anticipate and react quickly to the psychological impact of this pandemic. Given that this pandemic is set to last for some time, dealing with the psychological sequela is equally as important as managing the physical effects of an infection.…”

“…The most common topic was the psychological impact of COVID-19 on HCWs [396][397][398][399][400][401][402][403][404][405][406][407][408][409][410][411][412][413] (18), which explored burnout at work [396,401,405] and methods to address this psychological impact [404,409]. The impact on patients [414][415][416][417][418][419][420] was also explored (7), looking at pregnant women [415,416] and cancer patients [420]. The remaining articles looked at the impact on the general public [421][422][423][424][425][426][427][428][429][430], such as their psychological wellness during this pandemic [421][422][423]…”

Impact of Restricted Visitation Policies during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Communication between Critically Ill Patients, Families, and Clinicians: A Qualitative Interview Study

“…The World Health Organization defines telehealth as the “delivery of healthcare services where distance is a critical factor by all healthcare professionals using information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information” ( 8 , 15 ). It is possible that the use of videoconferencing in hospital-based communication could extend beyond the pandemic, which is supported by several recent studies that report on the benefits of virtual visits during the COVID-19 pandemic ( 9 , 16 , 17 ). Virtual visits are convenient and can improve access when families live far from hospitals or have responsibilities that make it difficult to visit (e.g., dependents or work) or other barriers (e.g., mobility issues or no transportation to the hospital).…”

COVID-19 pandemic unmasking cardiovascular risk factors and non-communicable diseases among migrant workers: a cross-sectional study in Singapore

“…In addition, group video conference sessions were organised with a psychologist and translator to cushion the psychosocial impact of the pandemic. 31 …”

“…Our hospital harnessed technology to provide information and support materials and to facilitate communication between migrant workers and the healthcare team using iPads. In addition, group video conference sessions were organised with a psychologist and translator to cushion the psychosocial impact of the pandemic 31…”