Coping Strategies Used by Older Adults to Deal with Contact Isolation in the Hospital during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Jogé Boumans, Aukelien Scheffelaar, Vera P. van Druten, Tessel H. G. Hendriksen, Lenny M. W. Nahar- van Venrooij and Andrea D. Rozema
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Jogé Boumans: Tranzo, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, 5037 AB Tilburg, The Netherlands
Aukelien Scheffelaar: Tranzo, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, 5037 AB Tilburg, The Netherlands
Vera P. van Druten: Tranzo, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, 5037 AB Tilburg, The Netherlands
Tessel H. G. Hendriksen: Jeroen Bosch Academy Research, Jeroen Bosch Hospital, 5223 GZ ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
Lenny M. W. Nahar- van Venrooij: Jeroen Bosch Academy Research, Jeroen Bosch Hospital, 5223 GZ ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
Andrea D. Rozema: Tranzo, Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, 5037 AB Tilburg, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 14, 1-19

Abstract: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many older adults have experienced contact isolation in a hospital setting which leads to separation from relatives, loss of freedom, and uncertainty regarding disease status. The objective of this study was to explore how older adults (55+) cope with contact isolation in a hospital setting during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to improve their physical and psychological wellbeing. The realist evaluation approach was used to formulate initial program theories on coping strategies used by (older) adults in an isolation setting. Twenty-one semi-structured interviews with older patients ( n = 21) were analysed. This study revealed that both emotion-focused coping strategies as well as problem-focused coping strategies were used by older adults during contact isolation. The study also uncovered some new specific coping strategies. The results have useful implications for hospital staff seeking to improve the wellbeing of older adults in contact isolation in hospitals. Problem-focused coping strategies could be stimulated through staff performing care in a person-centred way. Trust in staff, as part of emotion-focused coping strategies, could be stimulated by improving the relationship between patients and staff.

Keywords: COVID-19; older adults; contact isolation; coping strategy; realist evaluation; hospital setting (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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