Abstract
Objectives The aim of this study was to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the efforts taken to contain it on specialized palliative homecare (SPHC) practice from the perspective of SPHC team leaders.Methods In this cross-sectional study, an online questionnaire with quantitative and qualitative questions was developed and used, focusing on the experience of SAPV in the first and second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. In a structured recruitment process, all German SPHC teams (n=357) were invited to participate. Results From 10/10/2020 to 07/01/2021, 154 SPHC teams participated (response rate 43%). They described clear effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on their activities. Despite pandemic-related problems with staff availability (78.5%), patient care was ensured without major problems. The number of patients to be cared for remained stable for most teams, was increasing for some, and decreasing only for a few. A central factor was the switch from direct contact with patients and their relatives to telephone contact. Additional complicating factors were the general avoidance of contacts, compliance with hygiene regulations for necessary personal contacts, and pandemic-related uncertainties and fears, both among the team itself and among relatives and patients. The procurement of protective equipment was a challenge during the first wave. Problems in collaboration with network partners (e. g., nursing homes and volunteer hospice services) had decreased over the course of the pandemic, but were greater than before in all areas. Many measures to cope with the pandemic challenges were implemented, others were assessed as useful but not implemented, and others as not useful or feasible. Conclusions SPHC teams report that despite the need to adapt many processes to the pandemic situation, they have managed to maintain patient care, although under more difficult conditions.