Experiences and Needs of Patients, Caregivers and Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Study Protocol for a Mixed-Methods Multicentre Study

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is a major public health problem with millions of confirmed cases and deaths described. Nurses are among the health care professionals most involved at the front line, caring for those affected by COVID-19. Patients and families have been subjected to a high emotional burden of fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the approach to patients, the organisation of care, and communication with patients and their families, all requiring considerable adaptation on the part of nurses and health care professionals. The overall aim of this research was to find out the needs of patients with COVID-19, the nursing interventions provided and their outcomes, and to explore the experiences of the nurses, patients, and caregivers. A mixed method study will be performed with a convergent design. The study was divided into three phases. Quantitative methods involved nurses and patients affected by COVID-19 with a questionnaire. Qualitative methods involved nurses, patients, and caregivers with interviews and finally a quantitative analysis of the nursing documentation of the interviewed patients. We hope that this study will help us to understand and identify the main nursing and support needs expressed by patients and their families at different stages of their illness.

Moral Distress of Intensive Care Nurses: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study Two Years after the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Although some studies have already investigated MD during the pandemic, as we can see, the results vary from one context to another [ 22 , 23 , 24 ]. Therefore, this phenomenon should be studied more thoroughly.…”

Nurses Response to the Physical and Psycho-Social Care Needs of Patients with COVID-19: A Mixed-Methods Study

“…Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed separately and then triangulated to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon, by means of joint display. The study protocol has been published elsewhere [ 29 ]. Unlike the original protocol, in this paper we report the results considering only patients’ and nurses’ data.…”

“…In addition, demographic and professional data were collected. A full description of the questionnaire is available in the original protocol [ 29 ].…”

“…A full description of the questionnaire items is reported in the original protocol of the study [ 29 ].…”

“…published elsewhere [29]. Unlike the original protocol, in this paper we report the results considering only patients' and nurses' data.…”