A qualitative study: to understand the barriers and enablers of receiving healthcare from the healthcare recipient point during COVID-19: A Study from two tertiary-care hospitals of India

Clinical Research Results Abstract Background/Objectives: Covid-19 emergence and spread has created stress, confusion, anxiety, fear and stigma among the population. The study will thus provide pertinent contextual data that can be used to understand the perspectives of Covid-19 patients as Healthcare Recipients (HCR’s) and their caregivers on medical, psychological and social conditions and also to understand the experiences and challenges of receiving health care when admitted to these specialized Covid-19 wards.Methods: The study was conducted at two different level hospitals in two different geographical locations in India. Selection of respondents was purposive with maximum variation. Respondents were the patients discharged from the hospital. And between the age of 18-70 years. Respondents were requested to nominate a caregiver who has been closely responsible for their health-care. The age of the caregiver was above 18 years and they were mentally sound. Results: The data for the study was collected from 8 Patients and 8 caregivers. Several themes emerged during the in-depth interviews: (a) Hospital admission barriers`: unavailability of helpline numbers, difficulty in admission and access to facilities available (b) Phycological barriers: psychological barriers, sense of validation of existence, societal pressure and lack of support (c) Burden on the caregivers: negative impact on the physical and mental health, lack of communication with the family member admittedDiscussion: The patients (HCR’s) and their caregivers’ receivers have both been hit hard by the outbreak of COVID-19. The pandemic has drastically increased many of the inherent problems of national health care systems in general and of long-term care in particular. The spread of the virus together with further COVID-19-related epidemiological control measures have affected the lives of those providing care to others as well as those receiving care from people outside their own household to an unprecedented extent. Research Idea Abstract Service Development & Evaluation Abstract Declaration of Interest The study is funded by IPCRG Research School and the University of Bristol. References and Clinical Trial Registry Information