Abstract
COVID-19 social distancing recommendations potentially disrupted support provided to patients after hospital discharge. The aim of this study was to use the Individual and Family Self-Management Theory to understand the effect the COVID-19 pandemic had on patients’ abilities to obtain and receive support after hospital discharge. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 26 patients discharged from medical or surgical services. Qualitative description was used to identify salient themes. Most participants described little impact from COVID-19 on their ability to obtain and receive support from informal and formal resources. These experiences fell in contrast to one participant, whose changes in support dramatically affected her post-discharge experience. While social disruptions occurred for patients transitioning home after hospitalization during the COVID-19 pandemic, our findings indicate that strong pre-existing support networks are resilient and protective. All patients should be provided with resources on what to do if unexpected events occur post-discharge.
Clinical Trial Registration
This study is a part of a parent study: Social Needs and Resources in the Evaluation and Enhancement of Discharge Support. The trial registry is clinicaltrials.gov, number NCT04248738. Initial release was 1/27/2020 and the first participant was enrolled on 2/4/2020. Link to the information on the registry: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04248738
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