Research-Driven Critique Essay
Topic: Differences that would be led by the permission of meeting COVID-19 patients among the loved ones
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What difference could it make to the lives of everyone involved if the loved ones of a person dying due to COVID-19 were allowed to meet them?
The patients suffering from COVID-19 were not allowed to meet their family members and loved ones due to the restrictions and provision implemented by the government for eliminating the spread and only important visitors and medical staff resides with the permission to meet the patient. This research has looked into the impact onto the lives of the people had they been allowed to meet patients and their loved ones.
The article developed by Cadell et al. (2022) holds strong importance in today’s world as being unable to take care of, look after, and even be with their loved ones during the time when they are suffering from the Virus can lead to severe implications in terms of trauma and efficiency to battle illness in the context of provision of vital and intimate information which can, at such moments, prove to be life-saving. In simple words, the improvement in visitation policies could positively impacts on the improvement of patient’s health.
The authors have highlighted how the healthcare visitor system in the Canadian Law requires a reform, as individuals in their time of suffering from the implications of the virus, we're unable to be with their loved ones. With the provisions being solely in regards to protecting other citizens, such regulations can consequently prove to be vital as it is those who are closely related to the patient that knows the most about their well-being due to a psychological connection built through strong relationships. Systematic methods shall be instilled in such situations to cope with this aspect, as well as allow individuals to feel the presence of their loved ones during their time of difficulty, which can boost their morale and reduce the chances of traumatic problems for those, grieving.
In a watershed study conducted by O’Brien et al. (2020) the authors researched the effectiveness of psychiatric communication aimed at healing through face to face interaction. Their conclusion was that mental health of the patients which thrives on the motivation and gratification received from loved ones had the potential to fuel physical recovery. They stated that face to face communication aimed at healing the patient was a medical tool that has stayed underutilized throughout the pandemic. This goes on to prove that the arguments for allowing loved ones to meet the patients are not based solely on emotions but have grounded medical benefits rooted in published research.
The abilities of the frontline workers are limited due to their dependence on the availability of patient’s condition, workers’ skills, and equipment. However, the presence of a loved one during a time of difficulty can make a vital difference due to their familiarity with taking care and monitoring the health of the patient through many years. The information provided by the loved ones could support the medical professionals in improving the health of the patient signifying the need for change implementation in the guidelines of healthcare.
In addition, the effective communication between the loved ones and the healthcare staff can lead to the reduction of potential anxiety-led issues within individuals due to the condition of their peer. Furthermore, this aspect can lead to a sense of comfort and bring any tensions under a certain control limit during the times of restrictions due to COVID-19. This process can reduce the stress levels of the patient, the family members, and loved ones, as well as that of the caregivers and healthcare workers who have endured significant levels of stress and anxiety during the time of the pandemic led by ever-increasing pressure (Adam et al. 2020).
By demonstrating the impact that could be present on all the defined parties involved in the communication process, the authors provide vital information in regards to the steps that can be taken for the reduction of stress amongst the loved ones of the patient, the healthcare workers, and the patient themselves, leading to a better treatment process with higher levels of emotional control.
For years the medical fraternity has been believers of the power of touch. This touch can be defined simply as an expression of care (Vente et al. 2021). The author of an interesting study has emphasized on the importance of touch which according to them can have healing powers not through the virtue of some mystical power but through the power of care and sentiment itself. Many have believed this to be the effects of Placebo effect but most agree that the effects of touch can be positive and can act as a last resort when most other tools of care fail.
The likeliness of experiencing grief among the relatives and loved ones of those deceased due to the COVID-19 Virus, or battling has been increased in the past two years. While the pandemic has enhanced aspects related to care-giving and precautionary elements being inducted in the daily activities of citizens, recovering from grief in a situation like this can be a difficult task, especially when it is added to by the fact that those grieving have been unable to visit them during their most difficult moments. It has been advised by the authors that there exists a requirement of reform in the regulations developed in the context of concerned individuals being able to visit the patients in their final moments. Certain steps that have been defined include making visitation for end-of-life a priority, allowing more individuals at the bedside as per convenience, increasing transparency of policies, as well as enabling cloud connectivity to ensure that communication can be maintained. The collaborative approach could support in the improvement of this situation and ensures the prevention of elongating grief, anxiety, and other mental health issues.
The inability of the individuals for meeting their loved ones in their final moments could result in the proneness of the individuals for the mental health issues that might become chronic for their life time. Furthermore, due to the implementation of restrictions at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, and special guidelines for those who had contracted the virus, or came in contact with someone who did, the grieving process was different than it would have the cause of death been different (Firouzkouhi et al. 2021). This leads to a build-up of grief within the loved ones of the deceased and can increase levels of anxiety to a point where mental health disorders start taking shape and become observable in nature. The analysis of this aspect demands the need for a system that can allow those close to the patient, to be in contact with them through one method or potentially other, as defined in the main source of the argument, and reduce the chances of the discussed threats. In other words, the changes in the guidelines that ensures the loved ones with the permission to meet the patient could help in the elimination of the threats associated with their mental health issues for the life time.
The discussion carried out by Cadell et al. (2022) helps in understanding the importance of meeting the loved ones at their final moment could ensure the emotional support for the patient and helps the loved ones in coping with their grief.
Does the aspect of ensuring communication during the treatment phase of someone suffering from COVID-19 to their loved ones cause an increased risk of spread even with adequate precautions?
The article prepared by Cadell et al. (2022) shows that even though there exist state-of-the-art amenities in healthcare institutions, the support of loved ones can often be defining inadequately maintaining the health of a patient. Furthermore, the article has also suggested the appropriate means which, if utilized through precaution, can bring about a significant change in the healthcare industry and prevent buried and elongated levels of grief in those close to the one deceased to cause further harm.
The pandemic has not been the last and human kind will certainly face similar challenges in the future. As bystanders of history repeating itself we can take small action at this junction in time to make the future better. Humans by making provisions in our legislature can pave way for scope to learn from our past mistakes and allow the loved ones to use the last resort of care, to use the touch of care to their aid and bring the lesser known practice of psychiatric healing to the microscope for better use in the future.
References
Adams, J. G., & Walls, R. M. (2020). Supporting the health care workforce during the COVID-19 global epidemic. Jama, 323(15), 1439-1440. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2763136
Cadell, S., Doyle, A., Kortes-Miller, K. & Lad, S. (2022). People should be allowed to visit, say goodbye to those who are dying during COVID-19. The Conversation. Retrieved 23 March 2022, from https://theconversation.com/people-should-be-allowed-to-visit-say-goodbye-to-those-who-are-dying-during-covid-19-174955
Firouzkouhi, M., Alimohammadi, N., Abdollahimohammad, A., Bagheri, G., & Farzi, J. (2021). Bereaved Families Views on the Death of Loved Ones Due to COVID 19: An Integrative Review. OMEGA-Journal of Death and Dying, 00302228211038206. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00302228211038206
O’Brien, M., & McNicholas, F. (2020). The use of telepsychiatry during COVID-19 and beyond. Irish journal of psychological medicine, 37(4), 250-255.
Vente, T. (2021). A year without touch: a reflection on physician–patient interaction during COVID-19. Pediatric research, 90(6), 1115-1116.
