An ethics crisis within the health crisis due to COVID-19

National survey on changes in visitation, communication and end-of-life care policies in intensive care units through the different COVID-19 pandemic's waves (COVIFAUCI study)

INTRODUCTION

The pandemic derived from the SARS-CoV-2 infection led to changes in care for both relatives and intensive care patients during the different waves of incidence of the virus. The line of humanization followed by the majority of the hospitals was seriously affected by the restrictions applied. As an objective, we propose to know the modifications suffered during the different waves of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Spain regarding the policy of visits to patients in the ICU, monitoring at the end of life, and the use of new technologies. of communication between family members, patients and professionals.

METHODS

Multicenter cross-sectional descriptive study through a survey of Spanish ICUs from February to April 2022. Statistical analysis methods were performed on the results as appropriate. The study was endorsed by the Spanish Society of Intensive Nursing and Coronary Units.

RESULTS

29% of the units contacted responded. The daily visiting minutes of relatives dropped drastically from 135 (87.5-255) to 45 (25-60) in the 21.2% of units that allowed their access, improving slightly with the passing of the waves. In the case of bereavement, the permissiveness was greater, increasing the use of new technologies for patient-family communication in the case of 96.5% of the units.

CONCLUSIONS

The family of patients admitted to the ICU during the different waves of the COVID-19 pandemic have suffered restrictions on visits and a change from face-to-face to virtual communication techniques. Access times were reduced to minimum levels during the first wave, recovering with the advance of the pandemic but never reaching initial levels. Despite the implemented solutions and virtual communication, efforts should be directed towards improving the protocols for the humanization of healthcare that allow caring for families and patients whatever the healthcare context.

Significado del duelo frente al COVID en estudiantes y profesores de enfermería

Objetivo: La pandemia ocasionada por el COVID- 19 y sus consecuencias por el alto índice de mortalidad, afectó a la población mundial a nivel de salud mental, psicológica y emocional. La comunidad académica de la enfermería no fue la excepción; por tanto, el objetivo de este estudio fue describir el significado del duelo frente al COVID - 19 en estudiantes y profesores de enfermería de una institución universitaria. Materiales y métodos: Estudio cualitativo descriptivo con enfoque fenomenológico, a partir de la experiencia de 12 personas que enfrentaron duelo ante la pérdida de un ser querido por COVID -19. La información se obtuvo de septiembre de 2021 a febrero de 2022 mediante entrevistas en profundidad grabadas y transcritas literalmente; posteriormente se identificaron las palabras clave para categorizarla. Resultados: Emergieron cuatro categorías: El último adiós por lo que el COVID nos quitó; seguir viviendo en medio de un duelo por COVID; búsqueda de apoyo para sobrellevar el duelo COVID; lo que cambió después de perder a un ser querido por COVID. Los datos anteriores  indican que se debe pensar en el cuidado sobre este tipo de actitudes frente al duelo sobre la desaparición de seres queridos y cercanos por el COVID-19 desde la academia de manera particular. Conclusiones: El estudio concluye que estudiantes y profesores de un programa de enfermería enfrentaron un proceso complejo y diverso, con matices sociales, culturales y que las categorías develadas dan luz a posibles acciones de cuidado orientadas a la población de estudio.