An Exploratory Qualitative Study of Perinatal Experiences in an Acute Setting during Early Phases of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic was highly disruptive for people delivering babies in-hospital and for obstetrical healthcare professionals. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of people with or without COVID-19 giving birth in a community-based hospital to provide patient insight to obstetrical care providers regarding the services/policies used during the pandemic. Nine interviews were conducted with participants within six months of giving birth in-hospital – four who tested positive for COVID-19 and five who tested negative. Seven themes were identified in the analysis: conflicting emotions; experiences of COVID-related protocols; altered experiences of pregnancy and birth; other aspects of in-hospital care; support from family and friends; interactions and communications with the healthcare team; and seeking information. Results were positively received by the perinatal clinical team and changes were identified to further improve experiences of care. A deeper understanding of patients’ lived experiences of hospital services available during public health emergencies can offer important, actionable information for healthcare providers.
Related content
-
Patient Family & Community Engagement
Family Support Liaisons: Improving Experience in the ED
By Lani Knutson and Daniela Milea Children’s Wisconsin’s Emergency Department (ED) was confronted with two pressing challenges: a declining Net Promoter Score (NPS) and a significant surge in patient volume. A review of post-visit survey data revealed that 56% of negative comments over a three-month period were directly related to concerns about wait times and
Learn more -
Culture & Leadership | Patient Family & Community Engagement | Staff & Provider Engagement
PX Chat: Leading with Pride – Navigating Patient Experience in Today’s Political Climate
2pm ET / 1pm CT / 12pm MT / 11am PT – Join us for a special PX Chat hosted by The Beryl Institute, created specifically for members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community working in patient experience. This virtual gathering is a dedicated space to connect, reflect, and support one another as we navigate
Learn more -
Patient Family & Community Engagement | Staff & Provider Engagement
Co-Creating Change Using Storytelling
During this webinar members of the Global Patient and Family Advisory Board (GPFAB) will demonstrate how telling stories instead of creating guidelines for healthcare professionals will improve patient outcomes. The GPFAB has created a unique storytelling guide that will help healthcare professionals understand the principles of sharing patient/care partner lived experience through storytelling and how
Learn more