The Experiences of Caregivers of Chronic Psychiatric Patients in the COVID-19 Pandemic : Qualititative Study

Öz

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to determine the difficulties, needs and coping experiences of caregivers of chronic psychiatric patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: One of the qualitative research methods, was a case study. Individual interviews were conducted with 15 relatives of patients who benefited from the Community Mental Health Center. A Personal Information Form and A Semi-Structured Interview Form were used as data collection tools. Conventional content analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: The average age of the participants in the study is 50.73 ± 10.32; 10/15 are female, 12/15 are married, 14/15 are in a nuclear family structure, 7/15 are primary school graduates, 7/15 of them do not work and 5/15 are siblings of the patient. 6/15 of the patients have a diagnosis of schizophrenia, the average duration of the disease is 17.07 ± 9.95 and the average time to receive support from the Community Mental Health Center is 3.33 ± 1.54. The difficulties experienced by the patient during the pandemic period, 7/15 is not being able to manage patients’ drug treatment and 7/15 experiencing disease recurrence. The caretakers during the pandemic period experienced 11/15 need for treatment for patients and 9/15 need for communication with the patients. In relation to how caretakers managed the pandemic, 10/15 were asking for support from the Community Mental Health Center and 5/15 were unable to cope. Conclusion: It is seen that caregivers are faced with many difficulties. This reveals the need for effective community mental health services and telepsychiatry.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• COVID-19
• community mental health center
• caregiver
• chronic psychiatric patient

COVID-19 Pandemisinde Kronik Psikiyatri Hastasına Bakım Verenlerin Deneyimleri: Nitel Bir Çalışma

Öz

Amaç: Bu araştırmada COVID-19 pandemisinde kronik psikiyatri hastasına bakım verenlerin yaşadıkları zorluklarını, ihtiyaçlarını ve başetme deneyimlerini belirlemek amaçlandı. Yöntem: Araştırmada nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden, durum çalışması kullanıldı. Toplum Ruh Sağlığı Merkezinden yararlanan 15 bakım verici ile bireysel görüşmeler yapıldı. Veri toplama aracı olarak “Kişisel Bilgi Formu” ve “Yarı Yapılandırılmış Görüşme Formu” kullanıldı. Verilerin analizinde betimsel analiz yöntemi kullanıldı. Bulgular: Araştırmada katılımcıların yaş ortalaması 50.73±10.32 olup; 10/15’i kadın, 12/15’i evli, 14/15’i çekirdek aile yapısında, 7/15’i ilkokul mezunu, 7/15’i çalışmıyor, 5/15’u hastanın kardeşidir. Hastaların 6/15’i şizofreni tanısına sahip, hastalık süresi ortalama 17.07±9.95 ve Toplum Ruh Sağlığı Merkezi’nden destek alma süresi ortalama 3.33±1.54’dür. Toplum Ruh Sağlığı Merkezinin anlamı sorusunda 10/15’i “destek” ve 4/15’u “hastalığa yönelik farkındalık”; Pandemi döneminde hasta ile ilgili yaşanılan zorluklar sorusunda 7/15’u “ilaç tedavisini yönetememe” ve 7/15’u “hastalık nüksü”; Pandemi döneminde ihtiyaçlar sorusunda 11/15’i “hastanın tedavisi” ve 9/15’i “hasta ile iletişim”; sorunlarla nasıl başettiniz sorusunda 10/15’i “Toplum Ruh Sağlığı Merkezi’nden destek isteme” ve 5/15’i “başedememe” temaları öne çıkan temalar olarak belirtilmiştir. Sonuç: Bakım verenlerin birçok zorlukla karşı karşıya kaldıkları görülmektedir. Bu durum, etkili toplum ruh sağlığı hizmetlerine ve telepsikiyatriye olan ihtiyacı ortaya koymaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• COVID-19
• toplum ruh sağlığı merkezi
• bakım verici
• kronik psikiyatrik hasta

Kaynakça

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