Key result
During the COVID-19 pandemic, elderly patients with heart failure faced major challenges including economic hardship, fear, and limited healthcare access, which they managed through faith, social support, and self-care.
Why the study?
Patients with HF, especially the elderly, faced many challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic that needed to be explored.
Elderly patients with heart failure faced significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, including economic issues, fear, and limited healthcare access, and utilized coping strategies such as faith, social support, and self-care.
May guide preparation for healthcare disruptions in elderly HF; leaves open optimal support mechanisms for future events.
BACKGROUND: Patients with heart failure (HF), especially the elderly, faced many challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, which need to be explored. The present study aimed to analyse the challenging experiences facing the elderly with heart failure during the pandemic in Iran. To achieve this aim, a qualitative approach to research was employed. METHODS: The present qualitative research employed a phenomenological approach to study 12 elderly with heart failure visiting Imam Ali Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kermanshah, Iran. The data collection occurred between August 5, 2022, and November 21, 2022. The participants were selected through a purposive sampling method and interviewed using a semi-structured interview. MAXQDA10 software was used for data organisation and the Colizzi analytical technique for data analysis. Guba and Lincoln's criteria were also used to evaluate the trustworthiness of the qualitative research. RESULTS: A total of two categories, 8 subcategories, and 110 primary codes were extracted from the data. The two categories were challenges and coping strategies. The former included the sub-categories of economic issues, fear, anxiety, and fear of death; limited access to health care; quarantine issues; disruption of family life; and medication non-adherence. The subcategories of the latter were faith in God, social support, and self-care behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed the challenges experienced and the coping strategies employed by elderly patients with heart failure during the pandemic in Iran. A knowledge of these challenges and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic can raise healthcare workers' awareness of the elderly patients' strategies used to cope with the virus.
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Ziapour et al. (2023) studied Heart failure (n=12). COVID-19 pandemic was evaluated on Challenging experiences and coping strategies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, elderly patients with heart failure faced major challenges including economic hardship, fear, and limited healthcare access, which they managed through faith, social support, and self-care.
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