Abstract
BACKGROUND: In the outpatient setting, COVID-19 primarily affects palliative care patients who receive care as part of specialized outpatient palliative care (SAPV). To prevent infections, the implementation of new safety precautions and telemedical communication options in the SAPV participating in the study became necessary. OBJECTIVE: This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on palliative care patients’ personal and social problems and their experiences with caregiving SAPV. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 20 SAPV patients were interviewed about their problems in relation to the pandemic and about their experiences with care provided by SAPV in semi-structured phone interviews. RESULTS: Fear of loneliness and infection weigh heavily on palliative care patients. Most patients wanted to avoid hospitalization due to increased risk of infection. Protective measures of SAPV gave them a sense of security and were accepted despite restrictions on personal contact. Modern forms of communication were useful but could not replace personal contact. CONCLUSION: The pandemic led to changes in SAPV and had an impact on the social environment of palliative care patients. Protective measures are important for the sense of security of palliative care patients under care. The quality of care provided by the SAPV structure adapted to COVID-19 is usually not perceived by patients as having deteriorated. Fears of social isolation are highly valued by palliative care patients and can be reduced by SAPV. Personal contact with SAPV cannot be replaced by modern communication options, although patients do accept telemedicine as an “emergency solution”.