Improving adult coping with social isolation during COVID‐19 in the community through nurse‐led patient‐centered telehealth teaching and listening interventions

Abstract

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic led to social isolation which both threatens mental health and has been shown to increase the risk for early death by 50%, and to contribute to increased rates of heart disease, hypertension, stroke, and inflammation. Local problem No identified special programs to address loneliness related to social isolation were in place. This project aimed to improve adult coping with COVID‐19 in the community to 80% over 8 weeks. Methods Three interventions were implemented concurrently and studied through Plan–Do–Study–Act cycles. Each cycle started with a test of change, followed by data collection and analysis using run charts, aggregate data tables, and field notes. This analysis guided the design of new tests of change for each intervention in the following cycle. Iterative changes were introduced through four cycles over 8th weeks. Interventions These included a data‐gathering survey, a telehealth teach‐back tool and a telehealth listening tool. All interventions were implemented remotely through telehealth contacts. Results The project engaged 44 participants and successfully addressed loneliness by creating a social connection with 100% of participants and 82% of participants learned something new. Conclusion Telehealth interventions hardwired to be patient‐centered can provide isolated populations with meaningful social contact.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on biopsychosocial health and quality of life among Danish children and adults with neuromuscular diseases (NMD)—Patient reported outcomes from a national survey

“…Spending time with family, friends and others was in general more difficult and the results indicated an experience of loneliness amongst some adults and children. These findings agree with other COVID-19 studies underlining the risk of social isolation and loneliness during a pandemic [ 35 , 36 ]. The isolation, however, was not found to be one-sided from the patients with NMD in our study.…”

“…Another explanation for the increased awareness of their own or their child’s disability may be that patients actively had to consider their risk of severe illness based on their NMD-diagnosis and related symptoms. Telehealth interventions have been suggested as a means to provide isolated populations with meaningful social contact [ 35 ].…”

Nurse-Led Telehealth Interventions During COVID-19

“…Some studies have used asynchronous delivery modes, including regular follow-up calls, text messages, and emails (Supplemental Digital Content 3, http://links.lww.com/CIN/A205). Five studies adopted and applied a theoretical framework for their studies 19,20,22,35,36 …”

“…In this review, five of the included studies adopted a theoretical framework 19,20,22,35,36 . No studies have developed or expanded the theoretical model of telehealth services.…”

“…Five studies adopted and applied a theoretical framework for their studies. 19,20,22,35,36 In these studies, nurse-led telehealth services were provided for special cases. For example, for patients who have an ostomy and need wound care, wound care management was provided by NPs to assist patients in performing self-care through virtual consultation.…”