Abstract

MARTINEZ CRUZ, María Belén; PEREZ AZNAR, Coro; BRAVO TURPIN, Sonia  and  NAVARRO ROMERO, José. Support strategies for patients in need of palliative care during the Covid-19 pandemic. Index Enferm [online]. 2020, vol.29, n.4, pp.240-243.  Epub Nov 01, 2021. ISSN 1699-5988.

This article aims to present the experience gained from carrying out training and information rounds on a protocol to support and improve the care of Covid-19 patients at the end of their lives, carried out by the Palliative Care Unit in coordination with the Psychiatric Service of the Gregorio Marañón Hospital. In the Covid-19 pandemic, when patients have a bad evolution, they generally present, among other symptoms, respiratory distress and/or agitation. If the deterioration evolves towards the end of life, expert and flexible palliative care intervention is needed to support the frontline professionals. The objective was to strengthen the areas of “how to do” and “how to cope” with end-of-life situations in nurses during the Covid-19 pandemic. To achieve this objective, the Unit’s professionals carried out an information/training strategy through short meetings where needs and possible improvements were detected. In the different contacts with the professionals, the areas of care and management of the subcutaneous route, accompaniment and surveillance in the case of patients in the last few hours, and the need to say goodbye were addressed. Main conclusion: In such critical moments as the approach to the end of life in a pandemic, the voice of experts can help to achieve quality care at the end of life.

Keywords : Palliative Care; Pandemic; Strategy; Training.