Abstract
Background: Understanding the experiences of general practice (GP) residents caring for dependent elderly people during the first lockdown as part of the countries COVID-19 pandemic strategy. The aim was to explore themes that could explain the gap between the missions and values at the heart of GP practice during this period of strict isolation. Method: Qualitative study using an iterative approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 GP residents using a pre-established interview guide. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed according to a coding grid, developed using Nvivo software (NVivo Qualitative Data Analysis Software; QSR International Pty Ltd. Version Release 1.5.1 (940) 2021), to identify emerging themes. Results: Three themes emerged from this qualitative research: cognitive dissonance, psychosocial risks, and fear. General practice residents have lived in the paradox between care and deprivation of liberty of dependent elderly people. Conclusion: The results suggest that the GP residents experienced a form of work-related suffering in this situation of deprivation of liberty of dependent elderly people. The present research serves as a pilot study to explore how GP residents experienced their care of locked-up dependent elderly people.
Highlights
Moral distress is “psychological harm that occurs when people are forced to make or witness decisions or actions that contradict their fundamental moral values” [1]
We constructed a model for understanding the experiences of the thirteen participants (Table 1), all general practice (GP) residents, who managed dependent elderly people during the first COVID19 pandemic containment
We have reported how the GP residents experienced the management of the dependent elderly people during the first lockdown related to COVID-19
Summary
Moral distress is “psychological harm that occurs when people are forced to make or witness decisions or actions that contradict their fundamental moral values” [1]. The. 2019 Coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19) has had an impact on health care workers around the world [2] and caused psychosocial risks [3]. Since the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic and during the first lockdown in France from 17 March to 11 May 2020, the freedom of every citizen was restricted, especially in social and medico-social establishments and services. The restrictions on liberty were much more restrictive for dependent elderly residents in institutional care than the general population [4]. These people were forced to remain alone in their rooms. They were forbidden to come into physical contact with other residents
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