Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canadian transplant journeys: a mixed methods study
Background Navigating the organ donation and transplantation system in Canada can be challenging for individuals on transplant journeys. Although it is likely that the COVID-19 pandemic has further contributed to these challenges, the experiences of individuals during the pandemic in Canada have not...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2023-12-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/12/e068347.full |
| _version_ | 1797366147437297664 |
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| author | Marc Hall Danielle Fox Carrie Thibodeau Kristi Coldwell Lydia Lauder Sarah Dewell Sandra Davidson |
| author_facet | Marc Hall Danielle Fox Carrie Thibodeau Kristi Coldwell Lydia Lauder Sarah Dewell Sandra Davidson |
| author_sort | Marc Hall |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Navigating the organ donation and transplantation system in Canada can be challenging for individuals on transplant journeys. Although it is likely that the COVID-19 pandemic has further contributed to these challenges, the experiences of individuals during the pandemic in Canada have not been well elicited.Objective To illuminate how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted individuals on transplant journeys in Canada.Design Convergent parallel mixed-methods study.Setting Canada.Participants Adult patients, caregivers, and donors on transplant journeys across Canada.Data collection Eight focus groups and an online survey between May and November 2021. Focus group transcripts were analysed using an inductive conventional content analysis approach. Survey data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The study was guided by individuals with lived experience of organ donation and transplantation.Results A total of 830 participants completed three COVID-19 related survey questions, with 21 participating in the focus groups. Survey results: over 50% of patients and caregivers reported that the pandemic impacted their access to their healthcare team, their mental health (60% and 65%, respectively) and their comfort going out in public (80% and 75%, respectively). Although many donors reported several factors that impacted their transplant journey, the impact appeared to be greater for patients and caregivers. Qualitative results: three themes emerged from the qualitative data that contextualise participant’s experiences: compounding isolation, disruption amid uncertainty and unforeseen benefits.Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated many of the challenges that individuals on transplant journeys experience. It will be critical for transplant programmes to consider these factors in future care provision. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T17:00:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b5c9bc8d4314412ab4cdb9684c3db33a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T17:00:11Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-b5c9bc8d4314412ab4cdb9684c3db33a2024-01-04T15:25:07ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552023-12-01131210.1136/bmjopen-2022-068347Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canadian transplant journeys: a mixed methods studyMarc Hall0Danielle Fox1Carrie Thibodeau2Kristi Coldwell3Lydia Lauder4Sarah Dewell5Sandra Davidson6Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, CanadaCommunity Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, CanadaKidney Foundation of Canada, Montreal, Québec, CanadaTransplant Research Foundation of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaKidney Foundation of Canada, Montreal, Québec, CanadaSchool of Nursing, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, British Columbia, CanadaFaculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, CanadaBackground Navigating the organ donation and transplantation system in Canada can be challenging for individuals on transplant journeys. Although it is likely that the COVID-19 pandemic has further contributed to these challenges, the experiences of individuals during the pandemic in Canada have not been well elicited.Objective To illuminate how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted individuals on transplant journeys in Canada.Design Convergent parallel mixed-methods study.Setting Canada.Participants Adult patients, caregivers, and donors on transplant journeys across Canada.Data collection Eight focus groups and an online survey between May and November 2021. Focus group transcripts were analysed using an inductive conventional content analysis approach. Survey data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The study was guided by individuals with lived experience of organ donation and transplantation.Results A total of 830 participants completed three COVID-19 related survey questions, with 21 participating in the focus groups. Survey results: over 50% of patients and caregivers reported that the pandemic impacted their access to their healthcare team, their mental health (60% and 65%, respectively) and their comfort going out in public (80% and 75%, respectively). Although many donors reported several factors that impacted their transplant journey, the impact appeared to be greater for patients and caregivers. Qualitative results: three themes emerged from the qualitative data that contextualise participant’s experiences: compounding isolation, disruption amid uncertainty and unforeseen benefits.Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated many of the challenges that individuals on transplant journeys experience. It will be critical for transplant programmes to consider these factors in future care provision.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/12/e068347.full |
| spellingShingle | Marc Hall Danielle Fox Carrie Thibodeau Kristi Coldwell Lydia Lauder Sarah Dewell Sandra Davidson Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canadian transplant journeys: a mixed methods study BMJ Open |
| title | Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canadian transplant journeys: a mixed methods study |
| title_full | Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canadian transplant journeys: a mixed methods study |
| title_fullStr | Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canadian transplant journeys: a mixed methods study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canadian transplant journeys: a mixed methods study |
| title_short | Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canadian transplant journeys: a mixed methods study |
| title_sort | impact of the covid 19 pandemic on canadian transplant journeys a mixed methods study |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/12/e068347.full |
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