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Sun JJ, Hsiao CT, Liu TY. Caregiving experiences of primary family caregivers caring for family members affected by COVID-19 during home isolation: A phenomenology study. Nurs Health Sci 2024; 26:e13091. [PMID: 38356113 DOI: 10.1111/nhs.13091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
During home isolation due to the coronavirus disease, family caregivers assumed the responsibility of caring for infected family members; however, the full extent of the difficulties and challenges they encountered remains unclear. This study applied a descriptive phenomenology approach, using semi-structured, one-on-one, in-depth interviews to explore the experiences of 16 primary family caregivers during home isolation amid the coronavirus disease. The key themes identified were as follows: (1) protecting family, comprising anxiety over preventing infection and bearing the responsibility of caregiving and a concern about the diagnosis; (2) seeking stability, encompassing the impact of epidemic control policies on daily routines, strategies to overcome obstacles caused by quarantine measures, and gathering resources and receiving support; and (3) reflections on life, including favoring love over discrimination, rediscovering oneself, cherishing family, and acknowledging personal growth and dedication. This study highlights that family members who took on caregiving roles due to obstacles or health risks faced significant pressure to protect their family members during isolation and actively sought professional consultation and acquired caregiving skills to enhance their confidence and adaptability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Jing Sun
- School of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Nursing, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | - Tsui-Yao Liu
- Department of Nursing, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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Nomura S, Kisugi N, Endo K, Omori T. Parental loneliness, perceptions of parenting, and psychosocial factors among parents having new children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Glob Health Med 2023; 5:158-168. [PMID: 37397952 PMCID: PMC10311677 DOI: 10.35772/ghm.2023.01033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Individuals who had new children during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic became parents in challenging situations, starting from pregnancy and continuing to after birth. This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of parental loneliness, perceptions of parenting, and psychosocial factors among parents having new children during the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants comprised a first-child group (523 parents; those who had their first child) and a second-child group (621 parents; those who had their second or subsequent child). We used web-based questionnaires to explore parental loneliness, perceptions of parenting, and psychosocial factors (distress, parental burnout, well-being, marital satisfaction, and social isolation). Participants answered the questionnaires in November 2022, during the eighth COVID-19 wave in Japan. We compared the groups and subgroups according to parental sex and determined the relationship between variables. The parents in the first-child group felt lonelier than the parents in the second-child group (p < 0.05), and their loneliness was correlated with psychosocial factors. Significantly, more mothers in the second-child group answered "agree" to negative perceptions of parenting than mothers in the first-child group. Additionally, parenting difficulties were correlated with a negative perception of parenting and parental burnout in both groups. Furthermore, providing parental support may improve parenting and promote parents' health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satomi Nomura
- Department of Child Nursing, National College of Nursing, Japan, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Namiko Kisugi
- Department of Child Nursing, National College of Nursing, Japan, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazue Endo
- Department of Child Nursing, National College of Nursing, Japan, Tokyo, Japan
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Tao X, Yu CC, Low JA. Exploring loss and grief during the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review of qualitative studies. ANNALS OF THE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE, SINGAPORE 2022. [DOI: 10.47102/annals-acadmedsg.2021460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about multiple losses to various groups, namely patients, families and healthcare professionals. Grief, which is the reaction to these losses, could cause strain on these individuals’ physical and mental health if not identified and managed early. This scoping review analysed loss, grief and how they were managed among these groups during the pandemic.
Method: This scoping review utilised the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Statement extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) and the Joanna Briggs Institute framework for scoping reviews. Only qualitative studies relating to loss and grief and their management were included. Of 166 studies screened, 69 were included in the study. Qualitative analysis and data coding of each record were conducted through qualitative data analysis software.
Results: Losses included the death of family members, patients, colleagues and others. They also included the loss of usual routines, lifestyles and physical health. The grief experienced was multidimensional, affecting mainly the emotional, physical, social and existential realms. Anger, guilt and fear resulted from unsatisfactory farewells, issues with funerals, social isolation, financial strain and stigmatisation. Management strategies could be categorised into 5 themes: communication, finance, counselling, education and spiritual care.
Conclusion: Loss and grief identification and management among patients, family members and healthcare professionals are critically important during this COVID-19 pandemic. Current operating guidelines have proven insufficient in managing loss and grief. Innovative strategies are essential to tackle the many dimensions of loss and grief. Nevertheless, further research is necessary to better understand the effectiveness of implemented policies.
Keywords: Bereavement, death, mourning, outbreak, palliative care
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Tao
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Chou Chuen Yu
- Geriatric Education and Research Institute, Yishun Community Hospital, Singapore
| | - James Alvin Low
- Geriatric Education and Research Institute, Yishun Community Hospital, Singapore
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de Sousa AR, Moreira WC, da Silva Santana T, Brito Teixeira JR, Meira Araújo IF, Almeida ÉS, de Santana Carvalho ES, Camargo ELS, Tiago da Silva Souza A, da Silva HLL, Ferreira de Holanda A, Batista PCT, de Sousa ÁFL, Mendes IAC, de Oliveira MAF, da Cruz Sequeira CA, Pereira Á. SARS-CoV-2 in Brazil and Psychosocial Repercussions on Men's Health: Health Literacy Is Important. Am J Mens Health 2022; 16:15579883221119091. [PMID: 36164776 PMCID: PMC9513509 DOI: 10.1177/15579883221119091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed at analyzing the psychosocial repercussions of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic on the health of men living in Brazil. For this, we carried out a socio-historical and qualitative study, with the participation of 200 men who answered an online questionnaire. The data collected were processed in the NVIVO12® software, structured by the Collective Subject Discourse method, and analyzed from the epidemic disease theoretical framework proposed by Charles Rosenberg. Our results showed that the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic brought about repercussions of different dimensions that compromised the health of men living in Brazil. The repercussions evidenced were behavioral changes and emergence of new habits due to the pandemic; uncomfortable family situations; impaired affective and sexual relationships; harms in marital relationships; and insecurity and psychological distress. It is important to implement strategies that maximize men's health literacy, promoting better communication in terms of health, and search for help and suitable information about health/mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wanderson Carneiro Moreira
- Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil,Wanderson Carneiro Moreira, Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, Brazil.
| | - Thiago da Silva Santana
- Departamento de Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana (UEFS), Feira de Santana, Brazil
| | | | | | - Éric Santos Almeida
- Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Álvaro Francisco Lopes de Sousa
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | | | | | | | - Álvaro Pereira
- Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, Brazil
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Moltrecht B, de Cassan S, Rapa E, Hanna JR, Law C, Dalton LJ. Challenges and opportunities for perinatal health services in the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study with perinatal healthcare professionals. BMC Health Serv Res 2022; 22:1026. [PMID: 35962401 PMCID: PMC9372985 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-022-08427-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Perinatal healthcare professionals (PHCPs) provide essential support to all parents in the perinatal period, including young parents aged 16–24, who are at an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Little is known about the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the provision of perinatal services, and on perinatal healthcare professionals, caring for young parents in the UK. Methods A UK based qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with perinatal healthcare professionals (n = 17). Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results Two themes were identified describing perinatal healthcare professionals’ perceptions of providing care to young parents during the pandemic. Perinatal healthcare professionals perceived that young parents’ needs were amplified by the pandemic and that pandemic-related changes to the service, such as the use of telemedicine to replace face-to-face interactions, did not manage to successfully mitigate the increased feelings of anxiety and isolation experienced by young parents. Concerns were raised by perinatal healthcare professionals that these changes reduced young parent’s access to vital support for themselves and their child and may contribute to exacerbating pre-existing inequalities. Conclusions This study provides insight into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision of perinatal care to young parents. Perinatal mental health professionals felt these negative impacts could be overcome by using a blended approach of technology and face-to-face interactions allowing regular contact with young parents and facilitating the exchange of vital information, while maintaining access to opportunities for social interactions with other parents. Findings from this study could be used to future-proof services against further COVID-19 restrictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bettina Moltrecht
- Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK.,Evidence-Base Practice Unit, University College London, London, N1 9JH, UK.,Centre for Longitudinal Studies, University College London, London, WC1H 0NU, UK
| | - Simone de Cassan
- Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK
| | - Elizabeth Rapa
- Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK
| | - Jeffrey R Hanna
- Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK.,School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Clare Law
- Centre for Early Child Development, Blackpool Better Start (NSPCC), Blackpool, UK
| | - Louise J Dalton
- Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK.
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Nomura S, Endo K, Omori T, Kisugi N. Changes in parental involvement and perceptions in parents of young children during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional observational study in Japan. Glob Health Med 2022; 4:166-173. [PMID: 35855065 DOI: 10.35772/ghm.2022.01003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to clarify changes in parental involvement with their children and parental perceptions related to parenting in both fathers and mothers of young children during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. A cross-sectional observational design was used. Data were collected using a web-based questionnaire from 28 fathers and 115 mothers between October 1 and November 30, 2020. Parents answered questions regarding themselves, basic sociodemographic variables, perceived changes in involvement with their children, the presence or absence of abusive behavior (e.g., violence toward children), and parental perceptions related to parenting. Many parents indicated that they did not experience major changes in their involvement or perceptions compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic. Half of the fathers considered themselves to be in more physical contact or communication with their children; there was a significant difference between fathers and mothers regarding eating meals with their children (p = 0.00). Fathers felt tired due to parenting (35.7%) or a lack of free time (42.9%) during the COVID-19 pandemic. While significantly more mothers than fathers responded that their partners took care of their children (p = 0.03), significantly greater number of mothers than fathers also reported feeling overburdened (p = 0.00). Family support workers should help fathers maintain involvement with their young children without high stress levels and support mothers to reduce their heavy burden of parenting continuously. This would contribute to young childrens growth and development despite a public health crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satomi Nomura
- Department of Child Nursing, National College of Nursing, Japan, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazue Endo
- Department of Child Nursing, National College of Nursing, Japan, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Namiko Kisugi
- Department of Child Nursing, National College of Nursing, Japan, Tokyo, Japan
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Wells MB, Svahn J, Svedlind K, Andersson E. A qualitative study of Swedish fathers’ experiences of becoming a father during the COVID-19 pandemic. Eur J Midwifery 2022; 6:15. [PMID: 35434537 PMCID: PMC8951515 DOI: 10.18332/ejm/146082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Expectant fathers want to participate in perinatal care. COVID-19 policies restrict their access to care, but it is unknown how these policies have affected them. The aim of this study is to explore the perinatal care given to and wanted by expectant and new fathers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sweden. METHODS The current study used an inductive qualitative design where 14 expectant or new fathers participated in a video- or telephone-based semi-structured interview. Interviews lasted 20 minutes, on average. The collected data were analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS Two main themes were reported: 1) ‘Being left out, but trying to remain positive’, and 2) immediate consequences related to restrictions. Expectant fathers were not able to attend as many perinatal visits as they wanted to, due to the COVID-19 restrictions on non-birthing parents. Expectant fathers regretted and felt discouraged that they could not support their partner during visits and not follow their baby’s growth and development. Furthermore, they faced uncertainties and stress regarding whether or not they could attend the birth of their child. Fathers reported how their exclusion negatively impacted the entire family. CONCLUSIONS Expectant and new fathers felt that their level of participation in prenatal care was negatively impacted by the Swedish policies imposed on them during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fathers were physically and emotionally excluded, resulting in receiving little direct care support, and lacked companionship with other parents. Fathers provided suggestions and alternatives on how to increase their participation with individual midwives and from an organizational level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael B. Wells
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Joline Svahn
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karolina Svedlind
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ewa Andersson
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Moltrecht B, Dalton LJ, Hanna JR, Law C, Rapa E. Young parents' experiences of pregnancy and parenting during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study in the United Kingdom. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:523. [PMID: 35300654 PMCID: PMC8927525 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-12892-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Young parents (aged 16–24 years) in the perinatal period are at an increased risk of poor mental health especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, due to multiple risk factors including social and economic instability. COVID-19 related restrictions had profound implications for the delivery of perinatal care services and other support structures for young parents. Investigating young parents’ experiences during the pandemic, including their perceived challenges and needs, is important to inform good practice and provide appropriate support for young parents. Qualitative interviews were conducted with young parents (n = 21) during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom from February – May 2021. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Three key themes were identified to describe parents’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents reported specific COVID-19 related anxieties and stressors, including worries around contracting the virus and increased feelings of distress due to uncertainty created by the implications of the pandemic. Parents described feeling alone both at home and during antenatal appointments and highlighted the absence of social support as a major area of concern. Parents also felt their perinatal care had been disrupted by the pandemic and experienced difficulties accessing care online or over the phone. This study highlights the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young parents, including their mental wellbeing and the perinatal support they were able to access. Insights from this study can inform the support and services offered to families going forward. Specifically, the findings emphasise the importance of (a) supporting both parents during perinatal appointments, (b) providing parents with mental health support early on and (c) finding ways to facilitate communication pathways between professionals and parents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bettina Moltrecht
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK.,Evidence-Base Practice Unit, University College London, London, N1 9JH, UK.,Centre for Longitudinal Studies, University College London, London, WC1H 0NU, UK
| | - Louise J Dalton
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK
| | - Jeffrey R Hanna
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK.,School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK
| | - Clare Law
- Centre for Early Child Development, Blackpool Better Start (NSPCC), Blackpool, UK
| | - Elizabeth Rapa
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK.
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Shah HS, Dolwick Grieb S, Flores-Miller A, Phillips KH, Page KR, Cervantes A, Yang C. A Crowdsourcing Open Contest to Design a Latino-specific COVID-19 Campaign: A Mixed Methods Analysis (Preprint). JMIR Form Res 2021; 6:e35764. [PMID: 35357317 PMCID: PMC9106278 DOI: 10.2196/35764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Latino communities are among the most heavily impacted populations by the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States due to intersectional barriers to care. Crowdsourcing open contests can be an effective means of community engagement but have not been well studied in Latino populations nor in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective The aims of this study are to (1) implement and evaluate a crowdsourcing open contest to solicit a name for a COVID-19 social marketing campaign for Latino populations in Maryland and (2) conduct a thematic analysis of submitted entries to guide campaign messaging. Methods To assess the level of community engagement in this crowdsourcing open contest, we used descriptive statistics to analyze data on entries, votes, and demographic characteristics of participants. The submitted text was analyzed through inductive thematic analysis. Results We received 74 entries within a 2-week period. The top 10 entries were chosen by community judges and the winner was decided by popular vote. We received 383 votes within 1 week. The most common themes were collective efficacy, self-efficacy, and perceived benefits of COVID-19 testing. We used these themes to directly inform our social marketing intervention and found that advertisements based on these themes became the highest performing. Conclusions Crowdsourcing open contests are an effective means of community engagement and an agile tool for guiding interventions to address COVID-19, including in populations impacted by health care disparities, such as Latino communities. The thematic analysis of contest entries can be a valuable strategy to inform the development of social marketing campaign materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harita S Shah
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Suzanne Dolwick Grieb
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Alejandra Flores-Miller
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Katherine H Phillips
- The Esperanza Center, Catholic Charities of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Kathleen R Page
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Ana Cervantes
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Cui Yang
- Department of Biostatistics, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
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