In-depth mixed-method case study to assess how to support and communicate with the families of hospitalised patients during COVID-19: a social innovation embedded in clinical teams.

In-depth mixed-method case study to assess how to support and communicate with the families of hospitalised patients during COVID-19: a social innovation embedded in clinical teams.

Publication date: Oct 21, 2024

The purpose of this study is to describe and evaluate, in a real-life context, the support and communicate with families (SCF) team’s contribution to maintaining communication and supporting relatives when patients are at the end of their lives by mobilising the points of view of SCF team members, healthcare professionals, managers and the relatives themselves. An in-depth mixed-method case study (quantitative and qualitative). Individual interviews were conducted with members of the SCF team to assess the activities and areas for improvement and with co-managers of active COVID-19 units. Healthcare professionals and managers completed a questionnaire to assess the contribution made by the SCF team. Hospitalised patients’ relatives completed a questionnaire on their experience with the SCF team. The study was conducted in a university teaching hospital in the province of QucE9bec, Canada. Members of the SCF team, healthcare professionals, managers and relatives of hospitalised patients. Between April and July 2020, 131 telephone communications with families and healthcare professionals, 43 support sessions for relatives of end-of-life patients and 35 therapeutic humanitarian visits were carried out by members of the SCF team. Team members felt that they had played an active role in humanising care. Fully 83. 1% of the healthcare professionals and managers reported that the SCF team’s work had met the relatives’ needs, while 15. 1% believed that the SCF team should be maintained after the pandemic. Fully 95% of the relatives appreciated receiving the telephone calls and visits, while 82% felt that the visits had positive effects on hospitalised patients. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the introduction of a social innovation involving support for and communication with families. The intention of this innovation was to support the complexity of highly emotional situations experienced by families during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Concepts Keywords
April adult palliative care
Canada Communication
Healthcare COVID-19
July COVID-19
Relatives Family
family
Female
Health Personnel
Hospitalization
hospitalization
Humans
Male
Pandemics
Patient Care Team
Professional-Family Relations
public health
Qualitative Research
qualitative research
Quebec
SARS-CoV-2
Social Support
Terminal Care

Semantics

Type Source Name
disease MESH COVID-19
disease MESH end-of-life
disease IDO role
drug DRUGBANK Methionine
disease MESH emergency
drug DRUGBANK Coenzyme M
drug DRUGBANK Tenocyclidine
disease MESH infection
disease IDO process
pathway REACTOME Translation
disease MESH retirement
disease IDO intervention
drug DRUGBANK Trestolone
disease MESH psychological distress

Original Article

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