Distancing Measures and Challenges Discussed by COVID-19 Outbreak Teams of Dutch Nursing Homes: The COVID-19 MINUTES Study

Lisa S. van Tol, Hanneke J. A. Smaling, Wendy Meester, Sarah I. M. Janus, Sytse U. Zuidema, Margot W. M. de Waal, Monique A. A. Caljouw and Wilco P. Achterberg
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Lisa S. van Tol: University Network for the Care Sector Zuid-Holland, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
Hanneke J. A. Smaling: University Network for the Care Sector Zuid-Holland, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
Wendy Meester: University Network for the Care Sector Zuid-Holland, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
Sarah I. M. Janus: Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands
Sytse U. Zuidema: Department of General Practice & Elderly Care Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands
Margot W. M. de Waal: University Network for the Care Sector Zuid-Holland, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
Monique A. A. Caljouw: University Network for the Care Sector Zuid-Holland, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
Wilco P. Achterberg: University Network for the Care Sector Zuid-Holland, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 11, 1-12

Abstract: The most severe COVID-19 infections and highest mortality rates are seen among long-term care residents. To reduce the risk of infection, physical distancing is important. This study investigates what physical distancing measures were discussed by COVID-19 outbreak teams of Dutch long-term care organizations and what challenges they encountered. The COVID-19 MINUTES study is a qualitative multi-center study ( n = 41) that collected minutes of COVID-19 outbreak teams from March 2020 to October 2021. Textual units about distancing measures were selected and analyzed using manifest content analysis for the first wave: early March–early May 2020; the intermediate period of 2020: mid-May–mid-September 2020; and the second wave: late September 2020–mid-June 2021. During all periods, COVID-19 outbreak teams often discussed distancing visitors from residents. Moreover, during the first wave they often discussed isolation measures, during the intermediate period they often discussed distancing staff and volunteers from residents, and during both the intermediate period and the second wave they often discussed distancing among residents. During all periods, less often admission measures were discussed. Challenges persisted and included unrest among and conflicts between visitors and staff, visitors violating measures, resident non-adherence to measures, and staffing issues. The discussed distancing measures and corresponding challenges may guide local long-term care and (inter)national policymakers during the further course of the COVID-19 pandemic, outbreaks of other infectious diseases, and long-term care innovations.

Keywords: COVID-19; nursing homes; infection prevention and control; isolation; distancing; qualitative (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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