Long‐term care facilities' response to the COVID‐19 pandemic: An international, cross‐sectional survey
Authors: Eltaybani Sameh , Igarashi Ayumi , Cal Ayse , Lai Claudia K. Y. , Carrasco Cristina , Sari Dianis Wulan , Cho Eunhee , Haugan Gørill , Bravo Jorge D. , Abouzeid Nesreen A. , Wachholz Patrick Alexander , Isaramalai Sang‐arun , Dawood Shaimaa Samir , Pappas Yannis , Abd El Moneam Abeer Abd El Galeel , Rodríguez Ana Beatriz , Alqahtani Bader A. , Pereira Catarina Lino Neto , Jenssen Cathrine Ragna Solheim , Yu Doris S. F. , Ahmed Fatma Refaat , Mendes Felismina Rosa P. , Randhawa Gurch , Ahmed Hanaa Abou El‐soued Hussein , Suzuki Haruno , Prambudi Hery , Avci Ilknur Aydin , Waluyo Imam , Nurbaeti Irma , Vseteckova Jitka , Horne Joanna Kathryn , Liu Justina Yw , Ingstad Kari , Kashiwabara Kosuke , Grant Louise , Abd El Moniem Maha Mohammed , Sakka Mariko , Abdelgawad Mohamed Ezzelregal , Subu Muhammad Arsyad , Kentzer Nichola , Almadani Noura A. , Tomas‐Carus Pablo , Rodrigues Garcia Renata Cunha Matheus , Indarwati Retno , Maneerat Sonthaya , Chien Wai Tong , Amamiya Yuko , Cavalcanti Yuri Wanderley , Yamamoto‐Mitani Noriko 
Published: July 2023

Aims

To (i) assess the adherence of long‐term care (LTC) facilities to the COVID‐19 prevention and control recommendations, (ii) identify predictors of this adherence and (iii) examine the association between the adherence level and the impact of the pandemic on selected unfavourable conditions.

Design

Cross‐sectional survey.

Methods

Managers (n = 212) and staff (n = 2143) of LTC facilities (n = 223) in 13 countries/regions (Brazil, Egypt, England, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Thailand and Turkey) evaluated the adherence of LTC facilities to COVID‐19 prevention and control recommendations and the impact of the pandemic on unfavourable conditions related to staff, residents and residents' families. The characteristics of participants and LTC facilities were also gathered. Data were collected from April to October 2021. The study was reported following the STROBE guidelines.

Results

The adherence was significantly higher among facilities with more pre‐pandemic in‐service education on infection control and easier access to information early in the pandemic. Residents' feelings of loneliness and feeling down were the most affected conditions by the pandemic. More psychological support to residents was associated with fewer residents' aggressive behaviours, and more psychological support to staff was associated with less work–life imbalance.

Conclusions

Pre‐pandemic preparedness significantly shaped LTC facilities' response to the pandemic. Adequate psychological support to residents and staff might help mitigate the negative impacts of infection outbreaks.

Impact

This is the first study to comprehensively examine the adherence of LTC facilities to COVID‐19 prevention and control recommendations. The results demonstrated that the adherence level was significantly related to pre‐pandemic preparedness and that adequate psychological support to staff and residents was significantly associated with less negative impacts of the pandemic on LTC facilities' staff and residents. The results would help LTC facilities prepare for and respond to future infection outbreaks.

Patient or public contribution

No Patient or Public Contribution.