Need For Emotional Support Research Articles

From Welcoming Newly Arrived Migrant Students to Creating an Inclusive and Hospitable Environment: The Proposal from the Universe School

In Catalan schools, the rising influx of newly immigrated students poses significant challenges concerning their inclusion. These students show lower academic performance and self-esteem, are more likely to engage in risky behaviors, and lack support as they cope with the mourning process of migrating. Implementing intercultural education, working on socio-emotional skills, and helping to build a support network can be protective factors in improving the students’ development. This project was implemented in a Barcelona public school and aimed to identify the needs of newcomer students and enhance their inclusion. A questionnaire administered to 30 teachers revealed low knowledge about migratory mourning and intercultural education. Consequently, training sessions addressed to the school’s teaching staff were developed to provide them with the necessary knowledge and skills to deal with these topics. Interviews were conducted with the newly arrived children, specifically with 12 of them. They revealed a need for emotional support, the presence of migratory mourning, and a lack of a support network and socio-emotional skills. Students have appreciated the active listening and the opportunity to share their migration process. Teachers feel more empowered to support students in the migration mourning process after the training sessions. Feedback after the training sessions highlighted the clarity, ease of understanding, and usefulness of the material shared positively. The project lays the groundwork for more inclusive and intercultural initiatives in the school. Integrating the provided training into the teacher training curriculum could have a significant impact, better equipping educators to support recently arrived migrant students.

Best Practices in the Nursing Care of Patients With Injuries From Violence: An Integrative Review.

The number of patients who have experienced violence is increasing worldwide. These patients have specific psychosocial and forensic needs and can present unique challenges to the health care workers caring for them. To identify best practices for the care of patients with injuries from violence in the emergency department or inpatient setting. The framework for integrative reviews by Whittemore and Knafl was used to conduct a literature search in MEDLINE, CINAHL, and ProQuest Nursing and Allied Health databases. Fourteen qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods studies from peer-reviewed journals were included in the review. Themes included identifying patients as survivors of intimate partner violence or child abuse, the need to collect forensic evidence, the need for emotional support of patients and their loved ones, support for health care workers caring for patients with injuries from violence, prevention of further violence, and the challenges of caring for patients with injuries from violence with concurrent substance use disorders. Best practices for these aspects of care are summarized on the basis of literature analysis. Screening procedures are needed to identify survivors of intimate partner violence and child abuse. Forensic evidence preservation policies should be in place. For survivors of sexual assault, a sexual assault nurse examiner should be available. Hospital systems should provide psychosocial resources for patients' and health care workers' mental health, implement violence reduction programs, and provide bias training. More research is needed to determine efficacy of care models and best practice.

“I couldn’t say goodbye”: Thematic analysis of interviews with bereaved relatives who lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundDelivering serious news is usually challenging for healthcare professionals and the pandemic of COVID-19 and related restrictions brought additional challenges in this process.AimsTo explore the experience of bereaved relatives with receiving serious news from healthcare professionals during the pandemic COVID-19.DesignA qualitative study using thematic analysis and a codebook approach of data collected in semi-structured interviews with bereaved relatives.Setting/participantsData were collected from July to August 2022 in person/via phone with bereaved relatives who lost their relatives during the pandemic (from March 2020 to March 2022). Participants were recruited using a convenience sample and snowball method through social media and through one university hospital palliative care unit that invited bereaved relatives of deceased patients treated at the unit to participate in this study.ResultsA total of 22 participants, consisting of 4 men and 18 women, were interviewed for this study. Most of the participants were sons or daughters of individuals who had died (5 grandchildren, 14 sons/daughters, 2 spouses, 1 great-niece). Six themes were identified: Burden caused by visit ban, Fear of COVID-19, Inappropriate behaviour and communication of healthcare professionals, High need for emotional support, Need for detailed and honest communication, Tendency to make excuses for mistakes and lapses by healthcare professionals.ConclusionsDelivering serious news during a pandemic was negatively influenced by a lack of contact with patients and a lack of support and empathetic communication with staff. Overcoming these circumstances can be achieved by frequent communication using various communication tools (such as videoconferences or phone calls), and maintaining empathy and honesty in the communication process.

'We are working in specialty units'-An exploratory qualitative study.

To explore related support needs of general nurses in specialty mental health units and provide references for formulating a model to support this population working in mental health care units. An exploratory qualitative design. In-depth individual unstructured interviews were performed with 15 general nurses who worked in mental health care units and were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through in-depth, individual, unstructured interviews. Data were analysed thematically using Tech's eight-step analysis method. Two themes with their subthemes were extracted. The two themes included (a) Needs for professional growth and (b) the Need for emotional support. Influenced by many factors, general nurses could not perform some nursing activities in mental health care units. Health managers should plan the training program to empower and provide emotional support to the general nurses in mental health care units. Further research is required to develop a model to facilitate the support of general nurses allocated to these units. This study follows the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research. A total of 15 general nurses participated in the study. We utilized their lunch time to conduct the interviews, significantly contributing to the article's content.

Needs Expressed in Peer-to-Peer Web-Based Interactions Among People With Depression and Anxiety Disorders Hospitalized in a Mental Health Facility: Mixed Methods Study.

Hospitalization in psychiatric wards is a necessary step for many individuals experiencing severe mental health issues. However, being hospitalized can also be a stressful and unsettling experience. It is crucial to understand and address the various needs of hospitalized individuals with psychiatric disorders to promote their overall well-being and support their recovery. Our objectives were to identify and describe individual needs related to mental hospitals through peer-to-peer interactions on Polish web-based forums among individuals with depression and anxiety disorders and to assess whether these needs were addressed by peers. We conducted a search of web-based forums focused on depression and anxiety and selected samples of 160 and 176 posts, respectively, until we reached saturation. A mixed methods analysis that included an in-depth content analysis, the Pearson χ2 test, and φ coefficient was used to evaluate the posts. The most frequently identified needs were the same for depression and anxiety forums and involved informational (105/160, 65.6% and 169/393, 43%, respectively), social life (17/160, 10.6% and 90/393, 22.9%, respectively), and emotional (9/160, 5.6% and 66/393, 16.8%, respectively) needs. The results show that there is no difference in the expression of needs between the analyzed forums. The needs were directly (42/47, 89% vs 98/110, 89.1% of times for depression and anxiety, respectively) and not fully (27/47, 57% vs 86/110, 78.2% of times for depression and anxiety, respectively) addressed by forum users. In quantitative analysis, we found that depression-related forums had more posts about the need for informational support and rectification, the expression of anger, and seeking professional support. By contrast, anxiety-related forums had more posts about the need for emotional support; social life; and information concerning medications, hope, and motivation. The most common co-occurrence of expressed needs was between sharing own experience and the need for professional support, with a strong positive association. The qualitative analysis showed that users join web-based communities to discuss their fears and questions about psychiatric hospitals. The posts revealed 4 mental and emotional representations of psychiatric hospitals: the hospital as an unknown place, the ambivalence of presumptions and needs, the negative representation of psychiatric hospitals, and the people associated with psychiatric hospitals. The tone of the posts was mostly negative, with discussions revolving around negative stereotypes; traumatic experiences; and beliefs that increased anxiety, shock, and fright and deterred users from hospitalization. Our study demonstrates that web-based forums can provide a platform for individuals with depression and anxiety disorders to express a wide range of needs. Most needs were addressed by peers but not sufficiently. Mental health professionals can benefit from these findings by gaining insights into the unique needs and concerns of their patients, thus allowing for more effective treatment and support.

Advanced Ovarian Cancer Patients’ Experiences of Surgical Treatment: A Qualitative Analysis

ObjectivesRecommended treatment for advanced ovarian cancer involves a combination of debulking surgery and chemotherapy. Surgery places a significant burden on a patient's physical, social, sexual, and emotional wellbeing. Existing research exploring the impact of surgery is often limited to questionnaire administration with large gaps between data collection time points, missing key aspects of the perioperative period. Little is known of the experience of ovarian cancer surgical treatment from a patient perspective. This research aims to qualitatively explore advanced ovarian cancer patients’ experience of surgery and identify areas in which quality of life may be impacted. MethodsSemi-structured telephone or face-to-face interviews were conducted with patients who had undergone combined surgical and chemotherapy treatment. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analyzed using an inductive approach to thematic analysis. ResultsTwenty ovarian cancer patients who had undergone debulking surgery participated in interviews lasting between 33 and 68 minutes. Qualitative analysis generated five key themes: (1) care services; (2) experiences of a stoma; (3) preoperative experience; (4) impact of surgery; and (5) coping mechanisms. ConclusionsUnderstanding the patient experience of surgical treatment for advanced ovarian cancer can help inform and improve future care. This research explored the ways in which a patient's quality of life is impacted by surgery and highlights areas in which further support may be needed. Knowledge of the patient experience may also aid decision-making for both clinicians and patients when considering different treatment pathways. Implications for Nursing PracticeResults highlighted two crucial points in the surgical pathway where patients' need for emotional support was significant: during pre-op and recovering from surgery as an inpatient. Nursing staff are key to providing reassurance during this time. Specialized stoma nurses were also essential for supporting patients to adapt to their stomas both physically and psychologically.

Nurses' experiences of the family's role in end-of-life care.

Family units can be deeply affected and require nurses' attention and care when their loved ones reach the end-of-life stage. However, the role of the family in end-of-life nursing is under-researched in a tertiary hospital setting. This study aims to explore and describe nurses' lived experiences of the family's role in end-of-life care at a tertiary hospital in the Western Cape. The study took place in a tertiary hospital in the Western Cape. A qualitative hermeneutic design with a phenomenological approach was used. Ten professional nurses were interviewed in person, and two focus groups comprised enrolled and auxiliary nurses (11) with a minimum of 6 months of experience in end-of-life care. Data analysis was conducted by categorising qualitative information into codes and themes, following Creswell's outlined methodology. Three themes emerged: emotional challenges associated with families of end-of-life patients, strategies that assist families and impediments to providing care. Participants experienced challenges managing strong emotions expressed by families and their own, but provided care regardless. Strategies that have been found to be helpful to families include communication, access, and involving them in patient care. Participants experienced the need for emotional support and specialised end-of-life training. Participants strive to provide understanding and support to families despite challenges, but emotional and end-of-life training resources are required to equip nurses to address patients' and families' needs competently. This study adds the nurses' experience and understanding of the family's role in providing end-of-life care in a tertiary hospital.

Beyond standard treatment: A qualitative descriptive study of cancer patients' perceptions of hypnotherapy in cancer care

Background and purposeCancer remains a leading cause of death in Australia. The number of new cancer cases diagnosed each year is expected to surpass 200,000 by 2033. This marks a significant increase from about 88,000 cases in 2000 to an estimated 165,000 cases in 2023. Despite advancements in treatment, emotional and psychological challenges in cancer care are often overlooked. This study focuses on hypnotherapy, a complementary therapy recognized for its efficacy for physical and emotional symptoms, yet underutilized in Australian cancer care. The research aims to explore patients' perceptions of hypnotherapy and identify barriers to its integration, contributing to the development of holistic, patient-centered cancer care models. Materials and methodsA qualitative study employing semi-structured interviews was conducted with 14 adult cancer patients (breast, lung, and colorectal) undergoing active treatment, selected through convenience sampling. The interviews were carried out from May 2022 to August 2023, focusing on participants' experiences and attitudes toward hypnotherapy among other complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies. Thematic analysis using Braun and Clarke's six-step framework was applied to the data. ResultsFive themes were developed following analysis: 1) emotional roller coaster of cancer diagnosis, 2) participants’ perspectives on hypnotherapy among other CAM modalities, 3) hypnotherapy as a psychological vs physiological support, 4) fringe benefits of hypnosis, and 5) the main hurdles: cost and lack of information. Participants expressed a diverse range of experiences and attitudes towards hypnotherapy and CAM, with a strong emphasis on the need for emotional support in cancer care. Although hypnotherapy was recognized for its potential to address both emotional and physical symptoms, its predominant use was for emotional well-being. Participants also highlighted the importance of attitudes and endorsements from healthcare providers in their decision-making process about CAM therapies. ConclusionThe study findings emphasize the need for a more integrative and patient-centered approach in cancer care that includes hypnotherapy as a non-pharmacological intervention for physical and particularly emotional support. Healthcare providers should be aware of the potential value of hypnotherapy and consider patient preferences in their recommendations. In addition, addressing the identified barriers could improve the accessibility and integration of hypnotherapy into cancer care protocols in Australia.

The lived experiences of operating room nurses from the surgery on COVID-19 patients: a phenomenological study

BackgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, some patients who were transported to the operating room for emergency surgery had COVID-19; operating room nurses should be in direct contact with these patients in a small and closed space of the operating room. This can lead to unpleasant experiences for these people. Accordingly, this study was conducted to understand the experience of operating room nurses during the surgery of COVID-19 patients.MethodsThis qualitative study is a descriptive phenomenological study. Sampling was done purposefully and participants were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data of this study was obtained through semi-structured interviews with 12 participants and analyzed using the Colaizzi method.ResultsFour main themes and 13 sub-themes were presented in this study: (1) feeling heroic (being a savior, self-sacrificing). (2) Exacerbating burnout (emotional exhaustion, feeling of incompetence, physical overtiredness). (3) Psychiatric crisis (destructive anxiety, horror of death, worrying about being a carrier, drastic feeling of pity). (4) Feeling the need for support (need for professional support, need for emotional support, need for social support).ConclusionThe results of this study show that operating room nurses experienced conflicting feelings during surgery on patients with COVID-19. So the feeling of being a hero was a heartwarming experience, but the aggravation of job burnout and mental crisis was unpleasant for them. Also, these people have experienced the need to be supported in various aspects.

Association of Various Factors and HIV Infection in Pregnancy: A Clinico- Epidemiological Review

HIV infection among pregnant women has been on the rise, demanding efforts to prevent vertical transmission. This study analyzed the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of HIV-positive pregnant women treated at the Hospital of Tropical Diseases of the Federal University of Tocantins between 2015 and 2019. Out of the 85 pregnant women analyzed, the majority were between 26 and 34 years old, with 37.64% completing high school. Most resided in Tocantins and had stable partners, with 44.11% unaware of their serological status. Women aged ≥25 years showed lower viral load detection. The majority already had HIV before prenatal care, but only 45.88% started follow-up in the first trimester. Treatment adherence was high, but 14.10% dropped out. The analysis highlighted the need for specific strategies for young pregnant women, emphasizing the importance of prenatal exams for early diagnosis and immediate treatment initiation, reducing vertical transmission. Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) was crucial, although cases of dropout underscored the need for emotional support. The results reinforce the importance of health policies tailored to the needs of HIV-positive pregnant women, aiming to ensure a holistic and effective approach to this vulnerable population.

The relationship between husband’s emotional support and anxiety of third trimester pregnant women at Lulu’s independent midwifery practice Surabaya

Anxiety during pregnancy arises due to physical and psychological changes in the mother. Anxiety makes emotional conditions unstable. If anxiety persists until the third trimester, it will cause prolonged labor, low birth weight, and premature birth and cause hypertension which leads to preeclampsia. Anxiety in pregnant women can be overcome with husband support. A husband plays a role in providing support to pregnant women. Husband support is one of the important factors obtained by pregnant women, because husbands are the closest people to pregnant women. During pregnancy, the mother has an unstable emotional condition so there is a need for emotional support from her husband. This emotional support includes expressions of empathy, care, and attention. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between husband's emotional support and anxiety of third trimester pregnant women. This study is an observational analytic study using a cross sectional design. Data analysis using Spearman's Rho correlation test. The number of samples that met the inclusion criteria was 52 third trimester pregnant women at Lulu’s Independent Midwifery Practice, Surabaya. Mothers with good husband's emotional support 86,4% were not anxious, while 53,3% of mothers with poor husband's emotional support experienced mild-moderate anxiety. The results of the Spearman's rho correlation test obtained an rs value: 0.468 (p <0.001) which means that there is a significant correlation between husband's emotional support and anxiety of third trimester pregnant women, with moderate correlation strength. Husband's emotional support has a moderate relationship with anxiety of third trimester pregnant women.

Emotional Support and Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Focus on Gender and Sexual Identities

Emotional support is essential to health outcomes, especially for marginalized communities. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic increased the prevalence of mental health issues and thus increased the need for emotional support, particularly for sexual minoritized people. The authors applied minority stress theory and the stress process framework by drawing on a population-based data source of 3,642 respondents, the National Couples’ Health and Time Study, which oversampled sexual minoritized people during the pandemic. The authors examine three sources of emotional support (friends, family, and partners) and their association with three mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, and loneliness) separately for cisgender men and cisgender women. The authors find that emotional support plays a larger role in the association between sexual identity and mental health for cisgender men than cisgender women. Regardless of gender, bisexual individuals have consistently higher levels of depression, anxiety, and loneliness across all models, and this difference is not attenuated by emotional support.

Psychological challenges of female caregivers in providing home-based palliative care for patients with advanced cancer: A descriptive-exploratory study.

Family caregivers play a key role in providing care for patients with advanced cancer. Most of this care burden is shouldered by female caregivers in the family. Compared to their male counterparts, female caregivers face numerous psychological challenges in the process of caregiving. The aim of this study was to identify the psychological challenges of female caregivers in providing care to patients with advanced cancer. This descriptive-exploratory study began with purposive sampling method in 2020-2021 in Isfahan and continued until data saturation was reached. Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted with female caregivers of patients with advanced cancer and 18 more interviews with providers of health services and supportive-palliative care. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using conventional qualitative content analysis. The results were classified into three categories. The first category was psychological reactions that included the four subcategories of depression and anxiety, aggression, mental exhaustion, and death anxiety; the second category was psychological needs which included the three subcategories of need for professional counseling, need for emotional support, and need to prepare for mourning; and the third category was mental occupations which consisted of the two subcategories of feeling of regret and remorse. Assessment of psychological challenges is a prerequisite for planning psychological interventions, providing high-quality care, and improving quality of life and satisfaction of caregivers. The findings of this study will contribute to the development of guidelines and empowerment programs for female caregivers providing palliative care.

Men's perception of paternal parenthood and the promotion of child development.

to comprehend men's perception of paternal parenthood while caring for infants to promote child development. this qualitative study adopts an exploratory approach and was conducted with undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff who are fathers of infants up to 6 months old from a higher education institution, excluding fathers from mononuclear families. Data collection occurred through semi-structured interviews and was analyzed using thematic categorical analysis. fifteen men participated in the study. From the analysis, two empirical categories emerged: "Perception of being a father: challenges and novelties" and "Promotion of child development: actions carried out by fathers". Fathers revealed feeling unprepared, the need for emotional support, and recognized activities aimed at their children's development. the relevance of the paternal figure for child development is highlighted, as well as the need for public policies to encourage paternal parenthood.

Experimental program regulations emotional states students (formative experiment)

This article introduces an experimental program designed to regulate students’ emotional states and reduce exam stress. The program, involving 120 students from Bukhara State University, comprises the theoretical course “Psychology of Emotional States” and practical training sessions. It addresses psychological health, emotional intelligence, and self-regulation. The “Emotional Balance” program, with its focus on enhancing self-regulation and emotional intelligence, demonstrated significant improvements in emotional well-being and motivation while reducing exam-related anxiety and escapism. Students learned diagnostic and corrective techniques for emotional states and ways to prevent burnout. The use of visualization and group exercises improved their communication skills. The results emphasize the program’s effectiveness in reducing exam stress and enhancing the overall emotional state of students, underscoring the need for emotional support and motivational balance in education.

Death: between the individual and the social

This paper discusses the concept of death and its various types, focusing on how death affects terminally ill nurses. The importance of understanding and managing emotions related to death in nursing practice is explored. Types of death such as natural, apparent, sudden, violent, suicide, homicide, accidental death, and assisted suicide are discussed. The paper reflects on the universal fear of death and how this fear can influence the pursuit of achievement to counteract distress, often leading to an anxious race against time without enjoying achievement. The importance of recognizing and addressing death-related fears and emotions in nursing staff to provide high quality care to terminally ill patients and their families is highlighted. It is highlighted that, despite the inevitability of death in nursing practice, nursing professionals are not always emotionally prepared to deal with death. It is mentioned that the dying process not only affects nurses in their professional lives but also impacts their personal lives. The need to provide adequate support and resources to help nurses cope with the complex emotions associated with the death of patients is highlighted. In conclusion, this paper highlights the importance of addressing the issue of death in nursing practice, recognizing the need for emotional support and training for nursing professionals. The need for more compassionate and dignified care in the process of caring for terminally ill patients is emphasized.

ConnectShareCare builds connections among care partners of people with serious illness

AbstractPeople living with chronic illnesses naturally turn to peers and community members to address the need for emotional support, practical advice, and quick help with emergent problems. Health systems have been slower to incorporate the expertise that comes from patients and caregivers/ care partners’ lived experience into the design and delivery of care. A coproduction learning health system model aims to draw on the expertise of all to deliver optimal “whole person” care and to capture learning for improvement in the process of care delivery. This model harnesses naturally occurring peer‐to‐peer connections outside the traditional healthcare system into facilitated support networks, which extend the scope of services offered by the health system to support lay care partners, thereby improving their resiliency and inviting them to share their expertise with others. With patients and care partners, we co‐designed and piloted an online facilitated support network, connectsharecare.org, to help persons providing care or support to an adult with a serious illness better prepare to cope with surprises that arise post diagnosis and/or during bereavement. The team prioritized two network functions (1) connecting care partners to information and (2) facilitating emotional support. Between its launch in April 2021 and January 2023 the network has grown to more than 200 members with more than 3,500 posts over 21‐months. Most members report satisfaction with the support and information received, and say that the network helps them find meaning and purpose by supporting others. The most frequently used discussion threads focus on well‐being, emotions, and sources of joy and hope. The network is being adapted and improved as we learn from the data generated. It is feasible to engage a multi‐stakeholder team to co‐design an online peer‐to‐peer facilitated support network for care partners of people with serious illness. ConnectShareCare is valued by care partners. This work has the potential to contribute to a coproduction learning health system for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias by (1) prioritizing and addressing potentially unique needs of their care partners, (2) generating data for continuous quality improvement, and (3) contributing to scientific knowledge.

ConnectShareCare builds connections among care partners of people with serious illness

AbstractPeople living with chronic illnesses naturally turn to peers and community members to address the need for emotional support, practical advice, and quick help with emergent problems. Health systems have been slower to incorporate the expertise that comes from patients and caregivers/ care partners’ lived experience into the design and delivery of care.A coproduction learning health system model aims to draw on the expertise of all to deliver optimal “whole person” care and to capture learning for improvement in the process of care delivery. This model harnesses naturally occurring peer‐to‐peer connections outside the traditional healthcare system into facilitated support networks, which extend the scope of services offered by the health system to support lay care partners, thereby improving their resiliency and inviting them to share their expertise with others.With patients and care partners, we co‐designed and piloted an online facilitated support network, connectsharecare.org, to help persons providing care or support to an adult with a serious illness better prepare to cope with surprises that arise post diagnosis and/or during bereavement. The team prioritized two network functions (1) connecting care partners to information and (2) facilitating emotional support.Between its launch in April 2021 and January 2023 the network has grown to more than 200 members with more than 3,500 posts over 21‐months. Most members report satisfaction with the support and information received, and say that the network helps them find meaning and purpose by supporting others. The most frequently used discussion threads focus on well‐being, emotions, and sources of joy and hope. The network is being adapted and improved as we learn from the data generated.It is feasible to engage a multi‐stakeholder team to co‐design an online peer‐to‐peer facilitated support network for care partners of people with serious illness. ConnectShareCare is valued by care partners. This work has the potential to contribute to a coproduction learning health system for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias by (1) prioritizing and addressing potentially unique needs of their care partners, (2) generating data for continuous quality improvement, and (3) contributing to scientific knowledge.

Cancer patients’ needs for volunteer services during Covid-19: a mixed-method exploratory study

IntroductionTo date, there are no known studies that have investigated the new need for volunteer services among cancer patients during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, it is essential for volunteer associations to heighten such knowledge to best guide their offer in this challenging period.AimThe present study aims to provide a mapping of the cancer patients’ needs for volunteer services followed at Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori in Milan (Italy) during the Covid-19 pandemic. Since there are no specific questionnaires for this purpose, we created an ad hoc tool for which we report the preliminary result.MethodWe used a mixed-method multiphase approach. Phase I: in April-May 2020 40 ad hoc paper questionnaires were distributed at the entrance of the aforementioned hospital, with the aim of investigating patients’ needs through two open-ended questions then analyzed through thematic analysis. Phase II: the contents that emerged from Phase I were transformed into items and submitted to the judgment of a small group of “peers” (patients) and “experts” (professionals) in November-December 2020 to evaluate their comprehensiveness, representativeness and intrusiveness. Phase III: in January-February 2021 paper questionnaires, containing the items reviewed in Phase II, were distributed within the hospital to a representative sample of cancer patients. We applied descriptive statistics, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Cronbach’s Alpha.Results32 patients completed Phase I, 3 “peers” and 9 “experts” participated in Phase II, 214 patients completed the questionnaire in Phase III. EFA highlights five kinds of needs during the Covid-19 pandemic, in order of priority: (1) need to be supported at the hospital; (2) need for emotional support; (3) need for daily errands; (4) need for practical support to family members; (5) need to share free time. Preliminary results on the tool are encouraging, although further studies are needed. These results will allow local volunteer associations to adapt their services during the pandemic.

Consumer values, perspectives and experiences of psychological health when living with dialysis at home: An in-depth interview study.

People treated with home dialysis report social and emotional isolation, fear of catastrophic events and concern about being a burden. There is a paucity of research exploring psychological well-being among consumers dialysing at home. We aimed to explore the psychological health issues related to home dialysis, and how these issues may impact on sustaining home-based treatment. We conducted a qualitative interview study with 36 consumers. We included patients with experience of home dialysis and caregivers. Thirteen participants had experienced peritoneal dialysis, seven home haemodialysis, seven had experienced both and nine caregivers. Data were analysed inductively to generate themes and a conceptual framework. We identified four themes and subthemes: overwhelming isolation and disconnection (devastating isolation of home dialysis; abandoned from support; escalating anxiety; compounding impact of feeling like a burden); importance of support systems (impact on relationships; need for emotional support; reassurance through shared experiences; valuing trustworthy and committed clinicians); burden of distress (individualised feelings of low mood; grappling with stigma surrounding diagnosis; contemplating treatment withdrawal and suicide); seeking mental health support (normalising mental health support as a distinct entity in dialysis care; overcoming barriers to seeking mental health support; additional tools for mental health support and connection). Consumers may experience intense psychological distress during home-based dialysis care. Increasing clinician and health services literacy about the management of psychological impacts of home-based dialysis may improve consumer safety, quality of life and sustainability of home treatment.