Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Healthcare Activity in the Regional Hospitals of Andalusia (Spain)

López-Villegas, Antonio; Bautista-Mesa, Rafael; Baena-Lopez, Miguel Angel; Garzon-Miralles, Antonio; Castellano-Ortega, Miguel Angel; Costa, César Leal; Peiró, Salvador

doi:10.3390/jcm11020363

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Since the first case in Spain was detected, the increase in the number of people diagnosed and deceased has not stopped rising [ 2 ]. The health crisis caused by COVID-19 has had important consequences in Spain [ 3 , 4 , 5 ], with this country being among the countries most affected by COVID-19 worldwide, especially during the first and sixth waves [ 6 ]. It is evident that the data are discouraging but even more so if we observe the diagnosed cases of healthcare personnel [ 7 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Did the Pandemic Affect Communication in Clinical Settings? A Qualitative Study with Critical and Emergency Care Nurses

et al. 2022

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The objective of the present study was to determine the subjective impact of the pandemic due to COVID-19 on communication, as perceived by nurses working at emergency services and Intensive Care Units at various hospitals in the Region of Murcia (Spain). A qualitative study was conducted based on the content analysis of 12 semi-structured individual interviews. The participant recruitment process was performed through a snowball sampling technique. Four main dimensions, eleven categories, and two sub-categories were obtained: (1) communication (communicative expressions, both verbal and non-verbal-, and limitations); (2) emotional aspects (positive, negative); (3) overload (first wave, second wave, and third wave); and (4) relationships (health professionals–patients, healthcare professionals, patients–family, and family–health professionals). The main findings of the study show that communication was slightly affected during the pandemic, especially the non-verbal kind, with verbal communication maintained and, in some occasions, strengthened. The lack of training in communication skills and its influence on the management of difficult periods was another important finding. Communication in general deteriorated during the pandemic, especially during the initial waves. Non-verbal communication was more affected due to the use of Personal Protective Equipment and the initial fear of infection, with this finding strongly observed in departments such as emergencies or critical care. The nurses who were interviewed underlined negative emotional aspects associated with a deficit in communication. The positive aspects described were associated with the creation of mutual support spaces and the group cohesion of the work teams during the pandemic. As an implication for current and future clinical practice, we recommend a coordinated institutional response to mitigate the potential emotional effects on workers by designing appropriate communication and emotional expression protocols.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Did the Pandemic Affect Communication in Clinical Settings? A Qualitative Study with Critical and Emergency Care Nurses

et al. 2022

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“…The reasons for the decrease in Spain are probably multifactorial, stemming from a combination of community reluctance to seek healthcare for fear of infection [ 1 ] and adherence to stay-at-home orders. In addition, the reduction in visits and follow-up activity for chronic diseases in primary care [ 8 , 15 ] and outpatient activity may also have contributed to the decrease in the number of referrals [ 17 , 18 ]. Finally, some authors have hypothesised the existence of an increased threshold for referral and for hospitalization [ 19 ] as a potential contributor to the fall in ED hospital admissions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This data reinforces findings reported in other countries [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]. After the peak of the pandemic, hospitalisations for metabolic and blood diseases increased, as did severity in general, which may be related to less strict control and less follow-up activity in primary care during the first months of the pandemic [ 18 ]. Hospital efforts to maintain quality and safety standards despite hospital disruptions translated into a moderate impact on healthcare quality indicators, with a significant increase in the complication rate but not in in-hospital mortality.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of COVID-19 on Hospital Admissions and Healthcare Quality Indicators in Non-COVID Patients: A Retrospective Study of the First COVID-19 Year in a University Hospital in Spain

Domingo

Comas

Jansana

et al. 2022

JCM

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Few studies have assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on non-COVID diseases and healthcare quality. We aimed to evaluate changes in rates of hospitalisations, complications, in-hospital mortality, and readmissions among patients with non-COVID diseases during a one-year period after the pandemic onset. From March 2018 to February 2021 a retrospective observational study of hospital admissions in a university hospital in Spain was conducted. Non-COVID hospitalisations admitted through the emergency department were compared between the pre-COVID period (n = 28,622) and the COVID period (n = 11,904). We assessed rate ratios (RaR), comparing the weekly number of admissions and risk ratios (RR) to examine rates of complications, in-hospital mortality, readmissions, and severity. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The weekly admission rate dropped by 20.8% during the complete lockdown. We observed significant reductions in admissions related to diseases of the respiratory system and circulatory system. Admissions for endocrine and metabolic diseases increased. The complication rates increased (RR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.05;1.4), while in-hospital mortality rates held steady during the COVID period (RR = 1.09, 95% CI: 0.98;1.2). Hospital efforts to maintain quality and safety standards despite disruptions translated into a moderate increase in complications but not in in-hospital mortality. Reduced hospitalisations for conditions requiring timely treatment may have significant public health consequences.

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“…Reducing the burden of severely sick people on hospitals and intensive care units is the primary goal of any policy in Europe, as hospital overload has a dramatic impact on global healthcare activity, aside from COVID-19 [ 51 , 52 ]. Figure 1 shows a map of Europe (top) and the impact of Intensity Care Units (ICUs’) occupancy from COVID-19-affected patients on hospitals in the European countries, according to the publicly available ECDC data updated to the end of December 2021.…”

Section: Facing the Pandemic Emergency In The European Union (Eu)mentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 Medical and Pharmacological Management in the European Countries Compared to Italy: An Overview

Pandolfi

Valdenassi

Bjørklund

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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(1) Background: Italy accounts for more than 150,000 deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading the top rank in SARS-CoV-2-caused deceases in Europe. A survey on the different ways by which the COVID-19 pandemic emergency was managed in the foreign European countries compared to Italy is the purpose of this paper. (2) Methods: A literature search and various mathematical algorithms to approach a rank scoring scale were used to describe in detail the different approaches used by European countries to manage the COVID-19 pandemic emergency. (3) Results: The study showed that Italy stands at the bottom ranking for COVID-19 management due to its high mortality rate. Possible causes of the observed huge numbers of hospitalization and deaths were (a) the demographic composition of the European country; (b) its decentralized healthcare system organization; (c) the role of correct pharmacology in the early stages before hospitalization. Post-mortem examinations were of paramount importance to elucidate the etiopathogenesis of COVID-19 and to tailor a suitable and proper therapy in the early symptomatic stages of COVID-19, preventing hospitalization. (4) Conclusions: Factors such as the significant impact on elderly people, the public health organization prevalently state-owned and represented mainly by hospitals, and criticism of the home therapy approach toward SARS-CoV-2-infected people, may have concurred in increasing the number of COVID-19 deaths in Italy.

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Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Healthcare Activity in the Regional Hospitals of Andalusia (Spain)

Cited by 9 publications

References 16 publications

How Did the Pandemic Affect Communication in Clinical Settings? A Qualitative Study with Critical and Emergency Care Nurses

How Did the Pandemic Affect Communication in Clinical Settings? A Qualitative Study with Critical and Emergency Care Nurses

Impact of COVID-19 on Hospital Admissions and Healthcare Quality Indicators in Non-COVID Patients: A Retrospective Study of the First COVID-19 Year in a University Hospital in Spain

COVID-19 Medical and Pharmacological Management in the European Countries Compared to Italy: An Overview

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