Publication date: Sep 21, 2024
Chronic illness requires a web of actors, both professional and familiar, who constitute the support network of the chronically ill. This article aims to analyse how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on the delicate balance of these supports. Qualitative research was conducted among people with four types of chronic diseases in France: cystic fibrosis, kidney disease, haemophilia and mental disorders. Data on social support was collected using an innovative methodology combining semi-directive interviews (n = 54) and drawings (n = 32). During the first French lockdown (March-May 2020), the chronically ill were mainly supported by the usual support actors of their primary network: spouse and/or family. However, the COVID-19 health crisis has led to several changes in their support network; health-care professionals diversified their support roles and new supporting actors emerged, especially non-human entities and patient organisations. The chronically ill have received an interweaving of emotional, instrumental and informational, formal and informal and human and non-human support. Our study highlights the multiple and dynamic ties between these types of support and argues in favour of a comprehensive approach to social support of the chronically ill, both in social science theory and in practice of care.
Concepts | Keywords |
---|---|
French | chronic disease |
Haemophilia | COVID‐19 |
Professional | lockdown |
Qualitative | social support |
support networks |
Semantics
Type | Source | Name |
---|---|---|
disease | MESH | chronically ill |
disease | MESH | COVID-19 pandemic |
drug | DRUGBANK | Isoxaflutole |
disease | MESH | cystic fibrosis |
disease | MESH | kidney disease |
disease | MESH | haemophilia |
disease | MESH | mental disorders |