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In the Eye of the Hurricane - A Qualitative Study on What Is at Stake for Close Family Members to Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19

Received: 14 June 2021     Accepted: 22 June 2021     Published: 2 July 2021
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Abstract

COVID-19 causes patient trajectories that are sudden, unpredictable and imbedded in a worldwide panic as well as lack of medical experience and knowledge. This study aims to understand how close family members to patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are affected by the situation. Individual, in-depth interviews with twelve close family members to patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were conducted. The interviews were analyzed with a hermeneutic approach using reflexive methodology. Theoretical conceptualization ensured a critical interpretation. Three empirical themes were identified: fear and unpredictability, not being able to be there and being the “key caregiver”. Family members´ fear is compounded as the whole world is preoccupied with the same fear and uncertainty about COVID-19. Due to the volatile situation, a shift in coping strategies throughout the trajectory was illuminated as well as an ambivalence towards the health system´s treatment regime on COVID-19 implying a total separation between the patient and their close family member. In conclusion, close family members of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are in a vulnerable situation, characterized by a high degree of unpredictability and seriousness causing fear of losing their loved ones, as well as powerlessness due to visiting restrictions. Hospitalization with COVID-19 is an unpredictable situation, where the family members are separated from their loved ones. Family members are dependent on the communication with health care professionals. Therefore, talking to family members during COVID-19 must be prioritized and it is found necessary to develop relevant and systematic practices for communication and collaboration practices.

Published in American Journal of Nursing Science (Volume 10, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajns.20211004.11
Page(s) 191-200
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

2019-nCoV, COVID-19, Coronavirus, Qualitative Study, Family, Close Family Members, Hospitalization

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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Camilla Bernild, Malene Missel, Ilkay Dagyaran, Signe Westh Christensen, Selina Kikkenborg Berg. (2021). In the Eye of the Hurricane - A Qualitative Study on What Is at Stake for Close Family Members to Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19. American Journal of Nursing Science, 10(4), 191-200. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajns.20211004.11

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    ACS Style

    Camilla Bernild; Malene Missel; Ilkay Dagyaran; Signe Westh Christensen; Selina Kikkenborg Berg. In the Eye of the Hurricane - A Qualitative Study on What Is at Stake for Close Family Members to Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19. Am. J. Nurs. Sci. 2021, 10(4), 191-200. doi: 10.11648/j.ajns.20211004.11

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    AMA Style

    Camilla Bernild, Malene Missel, Ilkay Dagyaran, Signe Westh Christensen, Selina Kikkenborg Berg. In the Eye of the Hurricane - A Qualitative Study on What Is at Stake for Close Family Members to Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19. Am J Nurs Sci. 2021;10(4):191-200. doi: 10.11648/j.ajns.20211004.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajns.20211004.11,
      author = {Camilla Bernild and Malene Missel and Ilkay Dagyaran and Signe Westh Christensen and Selina Kikkenborg Berg},
      title = {In the Eye of the Hurricane - A Qualitative Study on What Is at Stake for Close Family Members to Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19},
      journal = {American Journal of Nursing Science},
      volume = {10},
      number = {4},
      pages = {191-200},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajns.20211004.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajns.20211004.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajns.20211004.11},
      abstract = {COVID-19 causes patient trajectories that are sudden, unpredictable and imbedded in a worldwide panic as well as lack of medical experience and knowledge. This study aims to understand how close family members to patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are affected by the situation. Individual, in-depth interviews with twelve close family members to patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were conducted. The interviews were analyzed with a hermeneutic approach using reflexive methodology. Theoretical conceptualization ensured a critical interpretation. Three empirical themes were identified: fear and unpredictability, not being able to be there and being the “key caregiver”. Family members´ fear is compounded as the whole world is preoccupied with the same fear and uncertainty about COVID-19. Due to the volatile situation, a shift in coping strategies throughout the trajectory was illuminated as well as an ambivalence towards the health system´s treatment regime on COVID-19 implying a total separation between the patient and their close family member. In conclusion, close family members of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are in a vulnerable situation, characterized by a high degree of unpredictability and seriousness causing fear of losing their loved ones, as well as powerlessness due to visiting restrictions. Hospitalization with COVID-19 is an unpredictable situation, where the family members are separated from their loved ones. Family members are dependent on the communication with health care professionals. Therefore, talking to family members during COVID-19 must be prioritized and it is found necessary to develop relevant and systematic practices for communication and collaboration practices.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - In the Eye of the Hurricane - A Qualitative Study on What Is at Stake for Close Family Members to Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19
    AU  - Camilla Bernild
    AU  - Malene Missel
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    JO  - American Journal of Nursing Science
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    AB  - COVID-19 causes patient trajectories that are sudden, unpredictable and imbedded in a worldwide panic as well as lack of medical experience and knowledge. This study aims to understand how close family members to patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are affected by the situation. Individual, in-depth interviews with twelve close family members to patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were conducted. The interviews were analyzed with a hermeneutic approach using reflexive methodology. Theoretical conceptualization ensured a critical interpretation. Three empirical themes were identified: fear and unpredictability, not being able to be there and being the “key caregiver”. Family members´ fear is compounded as the whole world is preoccupied with the same fear and uncertainty about COVID-19. Due to the volatile situation, a shift in coping strategies throughout the trajectory was illuminated as well as an ambivalence towards the health system´s treatment regime on COVID-19 implying a total separation between the patient and their close family member. In conclusion, close family members of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are in a vulnerable situation, characterized by a high degree of unpredictability and seriousness causing fear of losing their loved ones, as well as powerlessness due to visiting restrictions. Hospitalization with COVID-19 is an unpredictable situation, where the family members are separated from their loved ones. Family members are dependent on the communication with health care professionals. Therefore, talking to family members during COVID-19 must be prioritized and it is found necessary to develop relevant and systematic practices for communication and collaboration practices.
    VL  - 10
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Author Information
  • The Heart Center, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, the Heart Center, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Department of Infectious Diseases, the Heart Center, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

  • The Heart Center, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

  • The Heart Center, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark

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