End-of-Life Care During the Pandemic. Perspectives from Healthcare Professionals in Home-based Palliative Care in Colombia

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.iatreia.228

Keywords:

Terminal care, Palliative care, COVID 19, Health personnel, Pandemics

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant social and health impact. Given the high risk of contagion and the potential collapse of the healthcare system, strategies such as social isolation, the use of personal protective equipment, and an increased reliance on telemedicine were adopted. These measures  altered the dynamics of end-of-life patient care.
Methodology: This observational cross-sectional study explored the experiences of home care staff providing end-of-life care and the impact of the pandemic on the care process, as well as on their quality of life and emotional well-being. A survey incorporating the adapted Care Of the Dying Evaluation (iCODE) questionnaire was conducted, alongside an assessment of quality of life using question 30 of the EORTC QLQ, and emotional wellbeing using the PANAS scale.
Results: The experiences of 131 deceased patients were characterized. Professionals reported adequate therapeutic efforts in managing pain, dyspnea, and delirium. Additionally, they noted that the pandemic impeded treatment in 24% of the patients. The average quality of life score for professionals was 6 points, with a predominantly positive affect reported.
Conclusions: Healthcare professionals in home-based care programs observed that the pandemic affected the treatment of nearly a quarter of end-of-life patients. Nonetheless, they highlighted that satisfactory symptomatic care and control were maintained. Additionally, they reported an adequate quality of life.

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Author Biographies

Marta Ximena León-Delgado, Universidad de La Sabana

Head of the Department of Anesthesia, Pain, and Palliative Care, Full Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de La Sabana, Chia, Colombia. Cuidarte Tu Salud.

Ángela Rocío Acero-González, Universidad de La Sabana

Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Mental Health Research Group, Department of Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de La Sabana, Chía, Colombia.

Lina Angélica Buitrago-Reyes, Universidad Nacional de Colombia

Professor, Department of Statistics, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogota, Colombia.

Luisa Fernanda Rodríguez-Campos, Universidad de La Sabana

Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesia, Pain, and Palliative Care, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de La Sabana, Chía, Colombia.

Carmen Juliana Pino-Pinzón, Forja Empresas

Medical Coordination, Forja Empresas, Bogotá, Colombia.

César Consuegra-Pareja, Cuidarte Tu Salud

Research, Cuidarte Tu Salud, Bogotá, Colombia.

Linda Lorena Cuenca-Anacona, Universidad de La Sabana

Internal Medicine Physician, Universidad de La Sabana, Chía, Colombia.

Laura Vanessa González-Salazar, Universidad de La Sabana

Internal Medicine Physician, Universidad de La Sabana, Chia, Colombia.

Mariana Michelsen-Andrade, Universidad de La Sabana

Internal Medicine Physician, Universidad de La Sabana, Chía, Colombia. 

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Published

2023-06-13

How to Cite

1.
León Delgado MX, Acero-González Ángela R, Buitrago Reyes LA, Rodríguez Campos LF, Pino Pinzón CJ, Consuegra Pareja C, Cuenca Anacona LL, González Salazar LV, Michelsen-Andrade M. End-of-Life Care During the Pandemic. Perspectives from Healthcare Professionals in Home-based Palliative Care in Colombia. Iatreia [Internet]. 2023 Jun. 13 [cited 2025 Dec. 5];37(2). Available from: https://revistas.udea.edu.co/index.php/iatreia/article/view/351040

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Section

Original research

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