The Practice of Providing Palliative Care in the Situation of the COVID-19 Pandemic

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. In a short time, intensive care units (ICU) capacities 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 patients. In this context, ICU directly dedicated to caring for patients with COVID-19 ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) was 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 project aims 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 to EOLD.

Inclusion criteria

• Healthcare providers (physicians/nurses)
• Involvement in care for patients with COVID-19 admitted at intensive care unit

Exclusion criteria

• Non-ICU staff
• not involved in care for patients with COVID-19