Familie's experiences of non-face-to-face visitations with patients receiving end-of-life care during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

This study aimed to shed light on the experiences of families whose loved ones received end-of-life care through non-face-to-face visitations during the COVID-19 pandemic. To this end, a qualitative descriptive study design was employed, involving four family members who experienced non-face-to-face end-of-life care visitations between 2020 and 2022. The participants were asked to describe their experiences. The analysis revealed 163 codes that were categorized into 31 subcategories and 5 categories. The study found that while the end-of-life care provided was of the highest possible quality, even with limited involvement, family members felt a strong connection with the patient despite the limited contact. They expressed sadness because restrictions prevented them from spending the final days with their loved one. In addition, they expressed both the usefulness and limitations of online end-of-life care devices and identified factors necessary to accept the patient's death. Despite the challenges and limitations of providing end-of-life care during the COVID-19 pandemic, family members viewed the visitation restrictions positively and believed that they were able to provide the best possible care under the circumstances.