The impact of COVID-19 on palliative care workers across the world and measures to support their coping capacity.
About: This article is published in Palliative & Supportive Care.The article was published on 2021-06-04 and is currently open access. It has received 5 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Palliative care.
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TL;DR: The results indicate that COVID-19 has substantial ramification of PC service delivery and priority should be given to the training of healthcare workers on emergency preparedness for future pandemics.
Abstract: Introduction In “normal” times, palliative care (PC) service delivery is confronted with many challenges thereby making access to care difficult. Now, we are in the era of COVID-19 where the healthcare ecology is radically changed. During this process of radical transformation, there are some ramification of COVID-19 on PC service delivery. Yet, there is a paucity of empirical evidence to support this claim. Objective We explored PC providers’ perspectives on delivering PC services in the era of COVID-19. Methods Using an exploratory descriptive qualitative approach, we conducted face-to-face and telephone interviews with seven PC service providers at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Ghana. Haase's adaptation of Colaizzi's method was employed as the analysis strategy. Results Two main themes emerged: ramifications and adaptations. The ramifications of COVID-19 on PC service delivery included changes in care relationship, perceived increased responsibilities, psychological distress, shortage of medicines, and treatment delays. In an attempt to mitigate the challenges posed by COVID-19 on PC service delivery, the following mechanisms adaptations were made: halting of service provision, resorting to tele-consultation, adopting shift system and reducing number of appointments, and adoption of infection prevention and control strategies. Conclusions Our results indicate that COVID-19 has substantial ramification of PC service delivery. In conclusion, priority should be given to the training of healthcare workers on emergency preparedness for future pandemics. Also, continuous professional development would be needed in order build PC service providers’ skills and capacity to effectively utilize tele-consultation in PC service delivery.
4 citations
TL;DR: In this paper , the acceptability and feasibility of an online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based intervention to improve mental health and wellbeing in staff caring for people with an advanced progressive illness was examined.
Abstract: Background: Palliative care staff commonly experience workplace stress and distress. General stressors include unmanageable workloads and staff shortages. Stressors specific to palliative care include regular exposure to death, loss and grief. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated exhaustion and burnout across the healthcare system, including for those providing palliative care. Evidence based psychological support interventions, tailored to the needs and context of palliative care staff, are needed. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an established form of cognitive behavioural therapy which uses behavioural psychology, values, acceptance, and mindfulness techniques to improve mental health and wellbeing. ACT is effective in improving workplace wellbeing in many occupational settings. Our study examines the acceptability and feasibility of an online ACT-based intervention to improve mental health and wellbeing in staff caring for people with an advanced progressive illness. Methods: A single-arm feasibility trial. We will seek to recruit 30 participants to take part in an 8- week online ACT-based intervention, consisting of three synchronous facilitated group sessions and five asynchronous self-directed learning modules. We will use convergent mixed methods to evaluate the feasibility of the intervention. Quantitative feasibility outcomes will include participant recruitment and retention rates, alongside completion rates of measures assessing stress, quality of life, wellbeing, and psychological flexibility. Focus groups and interviews will explore participant perspectives on the intervention. We will run a stakeholder workshop to further refine the intervention and identify outcomes for use in a future evaluation. Results: We will describe participant perspectives on intervention acceptability, format, content, and perceived impact, alongside rates of intervention recruitment, retention, and outcome measure completion. Conclusion: We will show whether a brief, online ACT intervention is acceptable to, and feasible for palliative care staff. Findings will be used to further refine the intervention and provide essential information on outcome assessment prior to a full-scale evaluation.
1 citations
DOI•
18 Nov 2021TL;DR: In this article, the acceptability and feasibility of an online acceptance and commitment therapy-based intervention to improve mental health and wellbeing in staff caring for people with an advanced progressive illness was examined.
Abstract: Background
Palliative care workers commonly experience workplace stress and distress. General stressors include unmanageable workloads and staff shortages. Stressors specific to palliative care include regular exposure to death, loss and grief. The COVID pandemic exacerbated exhaustion and burnout across the healthcare system, including for those providing palliative care. Evidence based psychological support interventions, tailored to the needs and context of palliative care workers, are needed. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an established form of cognitive behavioural therapy which uses behavioural psychology, values, acceptance, and mindfulness techniques to improve mental health and wellbeing. ACT is effective in improving workplace wellbeing in many occupational settings. Our study examines the acceptability and feasibility of an online ACT-based intervention to improve mental health and wellbeing in staff caring for people with an advanced progressive illness. Methods
A single-arm feasibility trial. We will seek to recruit 30 participants to take part in an 8- week online ACT-based intervention, consisting of three synchronous facilitated group sessions and five asynchronous self-directed learning modules. We will use convergent mixed methods to evaluate the feasibility of the intervention. Quantitative feasibility outcomes will include participant recruitment and retention rates, alongside completion rates of measures assessing stress, quality of life, wellbeing, and psychological flexibility. Focus groups and interviews will explore participant perspectives on the intervention. We will run a stakeholder workshop to further refine the intervention and identify outcomes for use in a future evaluation. Results
We will describe participant perspectives on intervention acceptability, format, content, and perceived impact alongside rates of intervention recruitment, retention, and outcome measure completion. Conclusion
We will show whether a brief, online ACT intervention is acceptable to, and feasible for palliative care workers. Findings will be used to further refine the intervention and provide essential information on outcome assessment prior to a full-scale evaluation.
TL;DR: In this article , the authors used social media data to investigate real-time public opinions toward Palliative and end-of-life care (PEoLC) during the COVID-19 crisis, and explore the impact of the vaccine programme on public opinions about PEoLC.
Abstract: BACKGROUND
Palliative and end-of-life care (PEoLC) played a critical role in relieving suffering and providing grief support in response to the heavy toll caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, little is known about public opinion concerning the PEoLC during the pandemic. Given that social media has the potential to collect real-time public opinions, analysis of this evidence is vital to guide future policymaking.
OBJECTIVE
To use social media data to investigate real-time public opinions toward PEoLC during the COVID-19 crisis, and explore the impact of the vaccine programme on public opinions about PEoLC.
METHODS
A Twitter-based study exploring tweets across three English-speaking countries - the United States, United Kingdom and Canada. From October 2020 to March 2021, 7,951 PEoLC-related tweets with geographical tags were retrieved and identified from a large-scale COVID-19 Twitter data set through Twitter API (Application Programming Interface). Topic modelling realized through a PMI-based co-occurrence network and Louvain Modularity was utilized to examine latent topics across countries and across two time periods (pre- and post-vaccination periods).
RESULTS
Commonalities and regional differences between PEoLC topics in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada were identified specifically: (i) Cancer care and care facilities were of common interest to the public across three countries during the pandemic; (ii) The public expressed positive attitudes towards the vaccine and highlighted its protection to PEoLC professionals; (iii) Whilst Twitter users shared their personal experiences about PEoLC in the online community during the pandemic this was more prominent in the United States and Canada. The implementation of the vaccine program raised the profile of the vaccine discussion, however, this did not influence public opinions about PEoLC.
CONCLUSIONS
Public opinions on Twitter reflected a need for enhanced Palliative and End-of-Life Care (PEoLC) services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The insignificant impact of the vaccine programme on public discussion on social media indicated that public concerns toward PEoLC continued to persist even after vaccination efforts. Insights gleaned from PEoLC public opinions could provide some clues for policymakers on how to ensure high-quality PEoLC during public emergencies. In this post-COVID-19 era, PEoLC professionals may wish to continue to examine social media and learn from online public discussion to ease the long-lasting trauma caused by this crisis and prepare for public health emergencies in the future. Besides, our results showed social media's potential in acting as an effective tool to reflect public opinions in the context of PEoLC.
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References
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TL;DR: It is indicated that healthcare staff involved in the care of COVID-19 positive patients, and individuals considering themselves at risk of disease, were more likely to self-report acquiescence to CO VID-19 vaccination if and when available, and parents, nurses, and medical workers not caring for SARS-CoV-2 positive patients expressed higher levels of vaccine hesitancy.
Abstract: Vaccine hesitancy remains a barrier to full population inoculation against highly infectious diseases. Coincident with the rapid developments of COVID-19 vaccines globally, concerns about the safety of such a vaccine could contribute to vaccine hesitancy. We analyzed 1941 anonymous questionnaires completed by healthcare workers and members of the general Israeli population, regarding acceptance of a potential COVID-19 vaccine. Our results indicate that healthcare staff involved in the care of COVID-19 positive patients, and individuals considering themselves at risk of disease, were more likely to self-report acquiescence to COVID-19 vaccination if and when available. In contrast, parents, nurses, and medical workers not caring for SARS-CoV-2 positive patients expressed higher levels of vaccine hesitancy. Interventional educational campaigns targeted towards populations at risk of vaccine hesitancy are therefore urgently needed to combat misinformation and avoid low inoculation rates.
1,188 citations
TL;DR: Many adults are willing to get a COVID-19 vaccine, though acceptability should be monitored as vaccine development continues.
791 citations
TL;DR: Overall, HCPs need more support to manage the quickly evolving vaccine environment as well as changing public, especially those who are reluctant or refuse vaccination, as they are faced with time constraints, increased workload and limited resources, and often have inadequate information or training support to address parents' questions.
504 citations
TL;DR: There is a strong link between mental health and physical health, but little is known about the pathways from one to the other and health policies aiming at changing physical and mental health need to consider not only the direct cross- effects but also the indirect cross-effects.
446 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a qualitative study examined how healthcare workers define emotional connectedness during the COVID-19 pandemic and their adaptive emotional connection strategies and specific recommendations for social work practitioners are also discussed.
Abstract: Healthcare workers have been on the front lines throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, treating affected patients and navigating overwhelmed healthcare systems. Emotional connection has been associated with resilient outcomes following collective trauma. This qualitative study examined how healthcare workers define emotional connectedness during the COVID-19 pandemic and their adaptive emotional connection strategies. Data were gathered through the first wave of the online COVID-19 Pandemic and Emotional Well-Being study, a prospective panel study of the psychological impact of COVID-19 on frontline workers and the general public. This study focused on three extended-response questions about definitions of and strategies for emotional connectedness. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Participants conceptualize emotional connectedness as having empathy and value, help and support, presence, and vulnerability. They also describe emotionally connected relationships as being characterized by mutuality and frequent contact. Participants identify current behavioral strategies for cultivating emotional connectedness, such as using technology, providing instrumental help or sending gifts via mail, and building quality time within their households. They also report challenges in maintaining these connections. Future research must contribute knowledge about effective interventions for essential healthcare workers in the aftermath of COVID-19. Specific recommendations for social work practitioners are also discussed.
28 citations