tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Pain Symptom Manage
. 2021 Feb 5;S0885-3924(21)00159-7.
doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.01.138. Online ahead of print.
The challenges of caring for people dying from COVID-19: a multinational, observational study (CovPall)
Adejoke O Oluyase[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Mevhibe Hocaoglu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Rachel L Cripps[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Matthew Maddocks[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Catherine Walshe[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Lorna K Fraser[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Nancy Preston[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Lesley Dunleavy[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Andy Bradshaw[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Fliss E M Murtagh[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Sabrina Bajwah[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Katherine E Sleeman[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Irene J Higginson[SUP] 6 [/SUP], CovPall study team
Affiliations
Abstract
Context: Systematic data on the care of people dying with COVID-19 are scarce.
Objectives: To understand the response of and challenges faced by palliative care services during the COVID-19 pandemic, and identify associated factors.
Methods: We surveyed palliative care and hospice services, contacted via relevant organisations. Multivariable logistic regression identified associations with challenges. Content analysis explored free text responses.
Results: 458 services responded; 277 UK, 85 rest of Europe, 95 rest of the world; 81% cared for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, 77% had staff with suspected or confirmed COVID-19; 48% reported shortages of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), 40% staff shortages, 24% medicines shortages, 14% shortages of other equipment. Services provided direct care and education in symptom management and communication; 91% changed how they worked. Care often shifted to increased community and hospital care, with fewer admissions to inpatient palliative care units. Factors associated with increased odds of PPE shortages were: charity rather than public management (OR 3.07, 95% CI 1.81-5.20), inpatient palliative care unit rather than other settings (OR 2.34, 95% CI 1.46-3.75). Being outside the UK was associated with lower odds of staff shortages (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.26-0.76). Staff described increased workload, concerns for their colleagues who were ill, whilst expending time struggling to get essential equipment and medicines, perceiving they were not a front-line service.
Conclusion: Palliative care services were often overwhelmed, yet felt ignored in the COVID-19 response. Palliative care needs better integration with health care systems when planning and responding to future epidemics/pandemics.
Keywords: COVID-19; end of life care; hospices; palliative care; pandemics; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.
. 2021 Feb 5;S0885-3924(21)00159-7.
doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.01.138. Online ahead of print.
The challenges of caring for people dying from COVID-19: a multinational, observational study (CovPall)
Adejoke O Oluyase[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Mevhibe Hocaoglu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Rachel L Cripps[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Matthew Maddocks[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Catherine Walshe[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Lorna K Fraser[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Nancy Preston[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Lesley Dunleavy[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Andy Bradshaw[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Fliss E M Murtagh[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Sabrina Bajwah[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Katherine E Sleeman[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Irene J Higginson[SUP] 6 [/SUP], CovPall study team
Affiliations
- PMID: 33556496
- PMCID: PMC7863772
- DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.01.138
Abstract
Context: Systematic data on the care of people dying with COVID-19 are scarce.
Objectives: To understand the response of and challenges faced by palliative care services during the COVID-19 pandemic, and identify associated factors.
Methods: We surveyed palliative care and hospice services, contacted via relevant organisations. Multivariable logistic regression identified associations with challenges. Content analysis explored free text responses.
Results: 458 services responded; 277 UK, 85 rest of Europe, 95 rest of the world; 81% cared for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, 77% had staff with suspected or confirmed COVID-19; 48% reported shortages of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), 40% staff shortages, 24% medicines shortages, 14% shortages of other equipment. Services provided direct care and education in symptom management and communication; 91% changed how they worked. Care often shifted to increased community and hospital care, with fewer admissions to inpatient palliative care units. Factors associated with increased odds of PPE shortages were: charity rather than public management (OR 3.07, 95% CI 1.81-5.20), inpatient palliative care unit rather than other settings (OR 2.34, 95% CI 1.46-3.75). Being outside the UK was associated with lower odds of staff shortages (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.26-0.76). Staff described increased workload, concerns for their colleagues who were ill, whilst expending time struggling to get essential equipment and medicines, perceiving they were not a front-line service.
Conclusion: Palliative care services were often overwhelmed, yet felt ignored in the COVID-19 response. Palliative care needs better integration with health care systems when planning and responding to future epidemics/pandemics.
Keywords: COVID-19; end of life care; hospices; palliative care; pandemics; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.