Article
Strategies to address the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic in nursing, palliative and hospice care – an online survey of health care facilities
Search Medline for
Authors
-
Diana Wahidie
- Witten/Herdecke University, Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Health Services Research, Witten, Germany
-
Yüce Yılmaz-Aslan
- Witten/Herdecke University, Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Health Services Research, Witten, Germany; Bielefeld University, School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology & International Public Health, Bielefeld, Germany; Bielefeld University, School of Public Health, Department of Nursing and Health Services Research, Bielefeld, Germany
-
Patrick Brzoska
- Witten/Herdecke University, Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Health Services Research, Witten, Germany
| Published: | September 30, 2022 |
|---|
Outline
Text
Background: Inpatient nursing, palliative, and hospice care facilities face numerous challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the high susceptibility of patients in such settings to a severe course of COVID-19, caregivers may be exposed to a high work-related burden and patients may be at increased risk of social isolation as a result of the implemented COVID-19 protective measures.
Question and objective: The aim of the present study was to identify the strategies that inpatient nursing, palliative, and hospice care facilities are using to address the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, potential problems in implementing such strategies, and further support needs.
Methods: By means of an online survey, facility managers of all inpatient nursing (n=10,086), palliative and hospice care facilities (n=632) in Germany were invited by email to participate in the survey. After 4 reminders sent in April and May 2021, responses were received from a total of 1561 facilities (response rate 14.6%). The data was analyzed descriptively.
Results: In addition to basic hygiene measures, inpatient nursing, palliative and hospice care facilities were using measures to deal with staff shortages and shortages of protective materials to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the internal reallocation of personnel (64.4%) and the introduction of overtime work (71.7%), these measures included rationing (44.0%) and in-house production (27.6%) of protective materials. To counteract social isolation and loneliness among patients, the majority of facilities used digital communication tools (72.1%). Reported obstacles to the implementation of the strategies were primarily a lack of spatial, financial and personnel capacities.
Discussion: Inpatient nursing, palliative, and hospice care facilities have developed numerous strategies to address the challenges of the COVID 19 pandemic. However, the findings also point to some barriers to implementing existing recommendations, such as lack of personnel and material resources and facility building constraints. For this reason, facilities request sufficient support from public authorities and the government.
Practical implications: For better management of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as future public health crises, the personnel and material resources of nursing, palliative, and hospice care facilities should be increased through government financial support, and uniform federal guidelines and recommendations should be established.
Appeal to practice (science and/or care) in one sentence: The involvement of experts from nursing practice as well as patients in the development of guidelines and recommendations can increase their feasibility.
Funding: Einzelförderung (BMG, DRV, BMBF, DFG, etc); 01KI20126
