The Practice of Providing Palliative Care in the Situation of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) Pandemic in Czech Republic

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Pandemic of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2) causing the disease COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) overwhelmed healthcare and brought new challenges and stressful situations.

Detailed Description
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In a short time, the capacities of intensive care units (ICU) were filled in many countries and regions. Due to the need for an excessive number of patients requiring intensive care, physicians and nurses who do not routinely provide care to critically ill patients or do not have the appropriate training (non-ICU clinician) were involved in the care of COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) patients. In this context, ICU directly dedicated to the care of patients with COVID-19 ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) were also opened. Non-ICU clinicians were more or less involved together with the standard ICU staff in palliative care, including End-of-Life decision (EOLD) making, even in a situation of limited scarce resources (equipment or personnel). New workplace and scope of work, which did not correspond to the standard activity or education, most likely led to an increased stress load. EOLD can also be one of the factors leading to increased stress levels. The aim of the project is to describe the practice of palliative care for patients with COVID-19 in a situation of pandemic COVID-19 and to identify factors leading to possible moral distress related with EOLD.

Official Title
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The Practice of Providing Palliative Care in the Situation of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) Pandemic in the Perspective of Physicians and Nurses - Survey Study

Conditions
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Covid19, Distress, Emotional

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Questionnaire Survey


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Healthcare providers (physicians and nurses) providing care to patients with COVID-19 admitted at ICU in period of COVID-19 pandemic. Exclusion Criteria: Healthcare professionals who did not managed COVID-19 patients admitted at the ICU in situation of COVID-19 pandemic in the period 2020/2021.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 99 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Physicians<br>Physicians managing patients with COVID-19 admitted at ICU during period of COVID-19 pandemic. | Other: Questionnaire Survey<br>* Physicians providing care to patients with COVID-19 admitted at ICU in period of COVID-19 pandemic will be questioned by electronic web-based survey within Masaryk University information system.<br>|
| Nurses<br>Nurses providing care to patients with COVID-19 admitted at ICU during period of COVID-19 pandemic. | Other: Questionnaire Survey<br>* Physicians providing care to patients with COVID-19 admitted at ICU in period of COVID-19 pandemic will be questioned by electronic web-based survey within Masaryk University information system.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change of practice of providing palliative care at ICU in COVID-19 pandemic | Change of practice of providing palliative care including EOLD practice in patients with COVID-19 admitted at ICU during pandemic. | Through study completion, an average of 1 month | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Risk factors for moral distress | Identify factors leading to moral distress during COVID-19 pandemic and describe possible different risk factors by profession | Through study completion, an average of 1 month | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Palliative Care, Compassionate Care, End-of-life decisions, Moral distress