Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, restrictions to prevent its spread were formed, thereby hindering patients’ relatives from maintaining contact with and visiting their loved ones, even saying goodbye at the end of life. This study aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of bereaved relatives’ experiences of losing a loved one to COVID-19. Eight in-depth interviews were conducted and analysed using an interpretative phenomenological approach. The results revealed two superordinate themes: (a) the lonely and painful loss and (b) the double crises. The relatives were oscillating between hope and despair. During the time of their loved one’s illness, they felt powerless, excluded, lonely and vulnerable. The death was unexpected, and it was painful to not be able to say goodbye in person or when the life support was terminated. Furthermore, the relatives were in crisis at the same time as the health care system was in crisis. Sometimes the relatives did not receive information, and they felt like bystanders waiting for answers. The health care professionals’ attitudes were of importance in supporting the relatives. If there was a lack of empathy and understanding for the relative’s situation, feelings of frustration and not being respected emerged. To meet relatives’ needs when losing a loved one during circumstances such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare system needs to develop routines pertaining to providing adequate information, supporting relatives’ need to say goodbye, and coping with ethical dilemmas, such as when there are insufficient life support machines for patients.

摘要

在COVID-19大流行期间，制定了防止其传播的限制措施，从而阻碍了患者亲属与亲人保持联系和探望，甚至在生命结束时告别。这项研究旨在深入了解失去亲人的亲人因 COVID-19 失去亲人的经历。使用解释现象学方法进行和分析了八次深度访谈。结果揭示了两个最重要的主题：（a）孤独和痛苦的损失和（b）双重危机。亲戚们在希望和绝望之间摇摆不定。在亲人患病期间，他们感到无能为力、被排斥、孤独和脆弱。死亡是出乎意料的，无法亲自告别或生命维持系统终止时令人痛苦。此外，在医疗保健系统陷入危机的同时，亲属也陷入了危机。有时亲戚们没有收到信息，他们感觉自己就像一个等待答案的旁观者。医疗保健专业人员的态度对于支持亲属至关重要。如果对亲属的处境缺乏同理心和理解，就会产生挫败感和不被尊重的感觉。为了满足在 COVID-19 大流行等情况下失去亲人的亲属的需求，医疗保健系统需要制定有关提供充分信息、支持亲属告别的需要以及应对道德困境的例程，例如患者的生命支持机器不足。有时亲戚们没有收到信息，他们感觉自己就像一个等待答案的旁观者。医疗保健专业人员的态度对于支持亲属至关重要。如果对亲属的处境缺乏同理心和理解，就会产生挫败感和不被尊重的感觉。为了满足在 COVID-19 大流行等情况下失去亲人的亲属的需求，医疗保健系统需要制定有关提供充分信息、支持亲属告别的需要以及应对道德困境的例程，例如患者的生命支持机器不足。有时亲戚们没有收到信息，他们感觉自己就像一个等待答案的旁观者。医疗保健专业人员的态度对于支持亲属至关重要。如果对亲属的处境缺乏同理心和理解，就会产生挫败感和不被尊重的感觉。为了满足在 COVID-19 大流行等情况下失去亲人的亲属的需求，医疗保健系统需要制定有关提供充分信息、支持亲属告别的需要以及应对道德困境的例程，例如患者的生命支持机器不足。如果对亲属的处境缺乏同理心和理解，就会产生挫败感和不被尊重的感觉。为了满足在 COVID-19 大流行等情况下失去亲人的亲属的需求，医疗保健系统需要制定有关提供充分信息、支持亲属告别的需要以及应对道德困境的例程，例如患者的生命支持机器不足。如果对亲属的处境缺乏同理心和理解，就会产生挫败感和不被尊重的感觉。为了满足在 COVID-19 大流行等情况下失去亲人的亲属的需求，医疗保健系统需要制定有关提供充分信息、支持亲属告别的需要以及应对道德困境的例程，例如患者的生命支持机器不足。