Perspectives and lived experiences of survivors and caregivers of COVID-19 patients in a teaching hospital in a tribal district of Chhattisgarh, India

Background The rural–urban healthcare disparity in India was exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the second wave hitting rural areas particularly hard due to weak infrastructure. A study in Chhattisgarh aims to explore the experiences of severely ill COVID-19 survivors and caregivers to i...

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Main Authors: Shilpa Khanna, Shriyuta Abhishek, Mohammad Shagill, Lakhan Singh, Chetanya Malik, Savithri Devi, T Priyadarsh, Yogeshwar Kalkonde
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2024-10-01
Series:Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
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Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_382_24
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author Shilpa Khanna
Shriyuta Abhishek
Mohammad Shagill
Lakhan Singh
Chetanya Malik
Savithri Devi
T Priyadarsh
Yogeshwar Kalkonde
author_facet Shilpa Khanna
Shriyuta Abhishek
Mohammad Shagill
Lakhan Singh
Chetanya Malik
Savithri Devi
T Priyadarsh
Yogeshwar Kalkonde
author_sort Shilpa Khanna
collection DOAJ
description Background The rural–urban healthcare disparity in India was exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the second wave hitting rural areas particularly hard due to weak infrastructure. A study in Chhattisgarh aims to explore the experiences of severely ill COVID-19 survivors and caregivers to inform patient-centric care delivery in primary settings. Methods In this qualitative study, we conducted in-depth interviews with seven patients and seven caregivers during home visits or telephonically to understand lived experiences of receiving care for COVID-19 in an ICU in the public health system. Socioecological model was used to guide the qualitative inquiry. Results COVID-19 patients faced stigma due to their diagnosis. The survivors felt lonely due to isolation, uncertainty about their illness, and fear of death. Poor mental health during ICU stay affected their physical health. Patients with caregivers felt supported despite visitor restrictions. Transparent communication with health providers reduced distress. Conclusion The study in Chhattisgarh, India, highlights ICU survivors’ and caregivers’ experiences, revealing fear and loneliness among patients. Effective communication and caregiver presence improve outcomes, emphasizing holistic support. There’s an urgent need for palliative care integration, caregiver inclusion, and comprehensive post-discharge follow-up by primary-level practitioners in rural settings. Lack of state-level palliative care policy emphasizes the need for comprehensive initiatives to enhance healthcare outcomes.
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spelling doaj-art-dfd774e052c44c4bb34cb30af8e0cfd02025-08-20T02:12:24ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Family Medicine and Primary Care2249-48632278-71352024-10-0113104545455110.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_382_24Perspectives and lived experiences of survivors and caregivers of COVID-19 patients in a teaching hospital in a tribal district of Chhattisgarh, IndiaShilpa KhannaShriyuta AbhishekMohammad ShagillLakhan SinghChetanya MalikSavithri DeviT PriyadarshYogeshwar KalkondeBackground The rural–urban healthcare disparity in India was exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the second wave hitting rural areas particularly hard due to weak infrastructure. A study in Chhattisgarh aims to explore the experiences of severely ill COVID-19 survivors and caregivers to inform patient-centric care delivery in primary settings. Methods In this qualitative study, we conducted in-depth interviews with seven patients and seven caregivers during home visits or telephonically to understand lived experiences of receiving care for COVID-19 in an ICU in the public health system. Socioecological model was used to guide the qualitative inquiry. Results COVID-19 patients faced stigma due to their diagnosis. The survivors felt lonely due to isolation, uncertainty about their illness, and fear of death. Poor mental health during ICU stay affected their physical health. Patients with caregivers felt supported despite visitor restrictions. Transparent communication with health providers reduced distress. Conclusion The study in Chhattisgarh, India, highlights ICU survivors’ and caregivers’ experiences, revealing fear and loneliness among patients. Effective communication and caregiver presence improve outcomes, emphasizing holistic support. There’s an urgent need for palliative care integration, caregiver inclusion, and comprehensive post-discharge follow-up by primary-level practitioners in rural settings. Lack of state-level palliative care policy emphasizes the need for comprehensive initiatives to enhance healthcare outcomes.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_382_24caregiverscovid-19indiapalliative caresocioecological modelsurvivors
spellingShingle Shilpa Khanna
Shriyuta Abhishek
Mohammad Shagill
Lakhan Singh
Chetanya Malik
Savithri Devi
T Priyadarsh
Yogeshwar Kalkonde
Perspectives and lived experiences of survivors and caregivers of COVID-19 patients in a teaching hospital in a tribal district of Chhattisgarh, India
Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care
caregivers
covid-19
india
palliative care
socioecological model
survivors
title Perspectives and lived experiences of survivors and caregivers of COVID-19 patients in a teaching hospital in a tribal district of Chhattisgarh, India
title_full Perspectives and lived experiences of survivors and caregivers of COVID-19 patients in a teaching hospital in a tribal district of Chhattisgarh, India
title_fullStr Perspectives and lived experiences of survivors and caregivers of COVID-19 patients in a teaching hospital in a tribal district of Chhattisgarh, India
title_full_unstemmed Perspectives and lived experiences of survivors and caregivers of COVID-19 patients in a teaching hospital in a tribal district of Chhattisgarh, India
title_short Perspectives and lived experiences of survivors and caregivers of COVID-19 patients in a teaching hospital in a tribal district of Chhattisgarh, India
title_sort perspectives and lived experiences of survivors and caregivers of covid 19 patients in a teaching hospital in a tribal district of chhattisgarh india
topic caregivers
covid-19
india
palliative care
socioecological model
survivors
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_382_24
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