Pictorial Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life. Development and Pre-Test of the PictoQOL Questionnaire.

The aim of the present study was to develop a pictorial questionnaire for the assessment of health-related quality of life (PictoQOL) and to examine its content validity and usability across three exemplary population groups of different origin residing in Germany (non-migrants, Turkish migrants and Arabic-speaking migrants). A mixed-methods design combining qualitative and quantitative methods was used, comprising 6 focus group discussions with a total of 17 participants, 37 cognitive interviews and a quantitative pretest with 15 individuals. The PictoQOL consists of a pictorial representation of a total of 15 different situations. Using a visual Likert scale, respondents indicate how much each situation applies to them. Some representations proved to be culturally sensitive and were adapted. Respondents found the use of an additional graphic layer in the form of symbols in addition to pictures helpful for interpretation. The PictoQOL is considered to allow a more accessible assessment and better comparability of HRQOL across different population groups regardless of their literacy level. It is therefore considered to be superior to existing instruments for routine use in health research and practice. Future studies need to examine its convergent and factorial validity.

[Strategies, guidelines and recommendations for coping with the COVID-19 pandemic in palliative and hospice care facilities. Results of a scoping review]. / Strategien, Richtlinien und Empfehlungen zur Bewältigung der COVID-19-Pandemie in Einrichtungen der Palliativ- und Hospizversorgung. Ergebnisse eines Scoping-Reviews.

BACKGROUND: Palliative and hospice care facilities face different challenges emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, this results from the high age and pre-existing diseases of patients as well as the physically close contact between staff and patients. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify existing strategies, guidelines and recommendations in Germany and other countries with respect to addressing the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic in palliative and hospice care. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The databases PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science and PsycInfo were searched as part of a scoping review. Additionally, Google Search and Google Scholar were used to identify "grey literature". All German and English language articles related to inpatient palliative and hospice care were included which were published between January 2020 and August 2021. RESULTS: A total of 51 publications were included in the analysis. The identified measures can be clustered into 10 different categories: infection control measures, structural measures, visiting regulations, communication structures, education and training, psychosocial support measures, specific considerations for people with dementia, advance care planning, farewell and measures after death. CONCLUSION: With respect to addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, the primary focus is on measures to enable communication between patients, staff and relatives, psychosocial support measures, structural measures and recommendations for training and education of all stakeholders. Measures for the palliative care of people with dementia in times of a pandemic as well as the farewell and grief management of bereaved families received less attention.

Expectations, concerns and experiences of rehabilitation patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany: a qualitative analysis of online forum posts.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic, as well as efforts to prevent its spread, have had a strong impact on the delivery of rehabilitative services in Germany. While several studies have addressed the impact of these developments on health service providers and COVID-19 patients, little is known about its impact on patients in need of rehabilitative treatment because of other conditions. This study aims to identify expectations, concerns and experiences of rehabilitation patients related to service delivery in this situation. METHODS: Using a qualitative study design, user posts from six German online forums between March and Mid-November 2020 were systematically searched with respect to experiences, concerns and expectations of health care users toward receiving rehabilitative treatment. We used qualitative content analysis with inductive coding as our methodological approach. RESULTS: Users fearing physical or psychological impairment were concerned about not receiving timely or effective treatment due to closed hospitals, reduced treatments and limited admissions. In contrast, patients more concerned about getting infected with COVID-19 worried about the effectiveness of protective measures and being denied postponement of treatment by the funding bodies. During their stay, some patients reported feeling isolated due to contact restrictions and did not feel their treatment was effective, while others reported being satisfied and praised hospitals for their efforts to ensure the safety of the patients. Many patients reported communication problems before and during their treatment, including concerns about the safety and effectiveness of their treatment, as well as financial concerns and worries about future treatments. Several users felt that their concerns were disregarded by the hospitals and the funding bodies, leaving them feeling distressed, insecure and dissatisfied. CONCLUSIONS: While some users report only minor concerns related to the pandemic and its impact on rehabilitation, others report strong concerns relating not only to their own health and safety, but also to financial aspects and their ability to work. Many users feel ignored and disregarded, showing a strong need for more coordinated strategies and improved communication specifically with funding bodies like health insurance companies and the German pension funds.