"Not Even in The Corridor!" - Subjective Perception Of Institutional Measures During The Covid-19 Pandemic Of Nursing Home Residents: A Qualitative Study

Background In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, institutional measures were decreed to protect nursing home residents from infection. Their appropriateness has been a subject of controversy. The aim of this work was to better understand the subjective perception of the protective measures during the Covid-19 pandemic by the nursing home residents in Bavaria and to shed light on the role of nursing staff and general practitioners in coping with the crisis. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with residents of inpatient long-term care facilities. Data analysis was carried out by means of structured content analysis according to Kuckartz. Results A total of ten nursing home residents with various degrees of care were interviewed, five of whom had already been infected with Covid-19 at the time of the survey. The respondents reported, on the one hand, their need for protection and, on the other hand, the isolation they experienced during the pandemic. Trust in the care provided by the nursing staff was emphasized. A reliable personal contact to already known general practitioners was missing. Conclusion The role of nurses and general practitioners deserves more attention and may be a key to better acceptance and management of such crisis situations.