Patient isolation during Sars-CoV-2 pandemic: the caregivers' experience in a neuro-rehabilitation unit

Introduction. During the Covid-19 pandemic, caregiver visits were suspended in many health care facilities and, even today, limitations remain. These restrictions have impac-ted not only the patients but also caregivers. Aim. To ex-plore the life experience of caregivers of hospitalized pa-tients, during the pandemic and the impact of visit limitations in a rehabilitation unit. Method. An exploratory qualitative study was conducted, following the COREQ gui-delines. Caregivers of inpatients were purposefully sampled and interviewed, until data saturation. A qualitative thematic analysis with an inductive approach was performed. Results. Fifteen caregivers were interviewed. The themes emerged were: 1. perception of the illness as a sudden chan-ge; 2. concerns for their loved one (i.e. the loneliness or the suffering); 3. critical (difficult to organize and perceived too short) and positive aspects of the visits; 4. barriers to communication (for example, masks when in presence; or the difficult use of technologies by elders); 5. patient's protection and support (thinking that the relative's presence may improve the rehabilitation); 6. emotions (from di-scouragement when visits were not allowed, to joy when meeting their loved one). Conclusions. Caregivers experienced uncertainty, worry, anxiety, fear, and lack of understan-ding of their loved one's clinical situation. Alternatives to the visits or the visits with physical barriers were helpful but not always effective.