The experiences of children with a cardiac transplant, their families and health care providers in the COVID‐19 pandemic

• Published in: Pediatric transplantation Vol. 26; no. 8; pp. e14388 - n/a
• Main Authors: Zulla, Rosslynn T., Nicholas, David B., West, Lori J., Chan, Sarah, McCoy, Marie, Urschel, Simon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.12.2022
• Subjects: cardiac transplantation; care impacts; Children; COVID-19; Families & family life; Health care; Heart transplantation; Pandemics; Patients; Pediatrics; Qualitative research
• ISSN: 1397-3142; 1399-3046
• DOI: 10.1111/petr.14388

Background The COVID‐19 pandemic has had deleterious impacts on pediatric patients and families, as well as the healthcare providers who have attended to their care needs. Methods In this qualitative study, children with a cardiac transplant, as well as their families and healthcare providers were interviewed to explore the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on pediatric care, as well as on patients' and their families' daily lives. Participants were recruited from a children's hospital in western Canada. Fifteen caregiving parents of transplanted children, 2 young patients, and 8 healthcare providers participated in interviews. Results Findings highlighted how families and their healthcare providers experienced pandemic‐related shifts. Themes highlighted experiences, which entailed (1) initially hearing about the COVID‐19 pandemic; (2) learning about their new reality; (3) adjusting to the pandemic; (4) adjusting to shifts in pediatric services; (5) evolving a view on the future, and (6) offering recommendations for cardiac care in a pandemic. Conclusions Study implications emphasize the need to critically reflect on, and advance, methods of helping young patients and their families in pandemic circumstances, and supporting healthcare providers.