Page 113 - Petelin, Ana, ur. 2021. Zdravje starostnikov / Health of the Elderly. Zbornik povzetkov z recenzijo / Book of Abstracts. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press
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of personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 psihologija / sociala in zdravje starejših odraslih | psychology / social and health of the elderly
epidemic in nursing homes – a students’ perspective
Adriana Kozina1, Jožica Čehovin Zajc2, Marija Milavec Kapun1
1 University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ljubljana, Slovenia
2 University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Social Sciences, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Introduction. Spreading of the new coronavirus among the community after
spring 2020 considerably impacted the lives of residents and the work of staff in
Slovenia’s nursing homes. Infections were detected in 99% of all nursing homes,
with their residents accounting for 58% of deaths due to COVID-19 in 2020.
Even before the epidemic, nursing homes were understaffed – the epidem-
ic exacerbated this problem (more work with strict protective measures and
less staff due to illness). Those who were still working also faced a bigger work-
load following the introduction of many additional preventive measures. Con-
sistent and proper use of personal protective equipment is vital for managing
infections and keeping residents and staff healthy, which may prove challeng-
ing for them both. The use of personal protective equipment and implementa-
tion of measures to limit the spread of the virus also seriously constrains resi-
dents’ ability to socialise. The aim of this paper is to explore the challenges and
issues encountered by residents, staff and students in nursing homes while us-
ing personal protective equipment and implementing other measures to limit
the spread of infection.
Methods. In spring 2021, in-depth interviews were conducted with ten nursing
and medical students who had worked or were working in nursing homes as
part of ‘Covid expeditions’. The interviews were transcribed and then coded
using NVivo software. Content analysis was performed and key findings were
supported with interviewee quotes.
Results. Students found the nursing home staff and residents have faced sever-
al challenges in combating COVID-19. They identified the lack of resources and
information, the organisational and psychological burdens on staff, the social
isolation and the lack of personal contact with caregivers as the biggest prob-
lems for residents.
Discussion and conclusions. While personal protective equipment use and the
application of other measures to limit the spread of the virus is very impor-
tant to prevent the transfer of diseases such as COVID-19, if their implementa-
tion is to be effective conditions like sufficient resources, adequate organisation
and guidelines, enough staff knowledge and the consistent use of appropriate
personal protective equipment must be ensured. It is important to consider
the importance of the residents’ social life and prevent excessive social isola-
tion. To effectively control diseases like COVID-19, it is necessary to study the
problems that arise in such situations among the staff and residents of nurs-
ing homes, especially those occurring while implementing infection-prevention
measures and using personal protective equipment to help manage similar sit-
uations in the future. Our findings may serve as a basis for both recommenda-
tions for better and safer working and living in these facilities for staff and resi-
dents alike and for future research in this field.
Keywords: coronavirus, problems, elderly, Covid expedition, social welfare
institutions
111
epidemic in nursing homes – a students’ perspective
Adriana Kozina1, Jožica Čehovin Zajc2, Marija Milavec Kapun1
1 University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ljubljana, Slovenia
2 University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Social Sciences, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Introduction. Spreading of the new coronavirus among the community after
spring 2020 considerably impacted the lives of residents and the work of staff in
Slovenia’s nursing homes. Infections were detected in 99% of all nursing homes,
with their residents accounting for 58% of deaths due to COVID-19 in 2020.
Even before the epidemic, nursing homes were understaffed – the epidem-
ic exacerbated this problem (more work with strict protective measures and
less staff due to illness). Those who were still working also faced a bigger work-
load following the introduction of many additional preventive measures. Con-
sistent and proper use of personal protective equipment is vital for managing
infections and keeping residents and staff healthy, which may prove challeng-
ing for them both. The use of personal protective equipment and implementa-
tion of measures to limit the spread of the virus also seriously constrains resi-
dents’ ability to socialise. The aim of this paper is to explore the challenges and
issues encountered by residents, staff and students in nursing homes while us-
ing personal protective equipment and implementing other measures to limit
the spread of infection.
Methods. In spring 2021, in-depth interviews were conducted with ten nursing
and medical students who had worked or were working in nursing homes as
part of ‘Covid expeditions’. The interviews were transcribed and then coded
using NVivo software. Content analysis was performed and key findings were
supported with interviewee quotes.
Results. Students found the nursing home staff and residents have faced sever-
al challenges in combating COVID-19. They identified the lack of resources and
information, the organisational and psychological burdens on staff, the social
isolation and the lack of personal contact with caregivers as the biggest prob-
lems for residents.
Discussion and conclusions. While personal protective equipment use and the
application of other measures to limit the spread of the virus is very impor-
tant to prevent the transfer of diseases such as COVID-19, if their implementa-
tion is to be effective conditions like sufficient resources, adequate organisation
and guidelines, enough staff knowledge and the consistent use of appropriate
personal protective equipment must be ensured. It is important to consider
the importance of the residents’ social life and prevent excessive social isola-
tion. To effectively control diseases like COVID-19, it is necessary to study the
problems that arise in such situations among the staff and residents of nurs-
ing homes, especially those occurring while implementing infection-prevention
measures and using personal protective equipment to help manage similar sit-
uations in the future. Our findings may serve as a basis for both recommenda-
tions for better and safer working and living in these facilities for staff and resi-
dents alike and for future research in this field.
Keywords: coronavirus, problems, elderly, Covid expedition, social welfare
institutions
111
