McPeake Joanne, Castro Pedro, Kentish-Barnes Nancy, Cuzco Cecilia, Azoulay Elie, MacTavish Pamela, Quasim Tara, Puxty Kathryn
The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Medical Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Intensive Care Med. 2023 Oct;49(10):1203-1211. doi: 10.1007/s00134-023-07202-9. Epub 2023 Sep 12.
The immediate impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) visiting restrictions for family members has been well-documented. However, the longer-term trajectory, including mechanisms for support, is less well-known. To address this knowledge gap, we aimed to explore the post-hospital recovery trajectory of family members of patients hospitalised with a critical care COVID-19 admission. We also sought to understand any differences across international contexts.
We undertook semi-structured interviews with family members of patients who had survived a COVID-19 critical care admission. Family members were recruited from Spain and the United Kingdom (UK) and telephone interviews were undertaken. Interviews were analysed using a thematic content analysis.
Across the international sites, 19 family members were interviewed. Four themes were identified: changing relationships and carer burden; family health and trauma; social support and networks and differences in lived experience. We found differences in the social support and networks theme across international contexts, with Spanish participants more frequently discussing religion as a form of support.
This international qualitative investigation has demonstrated the challenges which family members of patients hospitalised with a critical care COVID-19 admission experience following hospital discharge. Specific support mechanisms which could include peer support networks, should be implemented for family members to ensure ongoing needs are met.
2019年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）对家庭成员探视限制的直接影响已有充分记录。然而，包括支持机制在内的长期轨迹却鲜为人知。为填补这一知识空白，我们旨在探索因COVID-19危重症入院而住院的患者家庭成员出院后的康复轨迹。我们还试图了解不同国际背景下的差异。
我们对COVID-19危重症入院幸存者的家庭成员进行了半结构化访谈。家庭成员从西班牙和英国招募，并进行了电话访谈。访谈采用主题内容分析法进行分析。
在各个国际地点，共访谈了19名家庭成员。确定了四个主题：关系变化与照顾者负担；家庭健康与创伤；社会支持与网络以及生活经历差异。我们发现不同国际背景下在社会支持与网络主题上存在差异，西班牙参与者更频繁地将宗教作为一种支持形式进行讨论。
这项国际定性调查揭示了因COVID-19危重症入院而住院的患者家庭成员出院后所面临的挑战。应为家庭成员实施包括同伴支持网络在内的特定支持机制，以确保其持续需求得到满足。
