Impact of COVID-19 on Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Wards
Author Information
Author(s): Josephine Holland, Morenike Da-Silva-Ellimah, James Roe, Richard Morriss, Kapil Sayal
Primary Institution: Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, UK
Hypothesis
What are the experiences of young people, parents, and healthcare professionals regarding psychiatric admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions negatively impacted young people's experiences in psychiatric wards, but the increased use of technology for meetings was seen as a positive change.
Supporting Evidence
- Young people reported feeling isolated due to restrictions on visits and self-isolation requirements.
- Virtual meetings increased involvement of families in care decisions.
- Discharge planning was complicated by the need for isolation after leave.
Takeaway
The COVID-19 pandemic made it really hard for kids in mental health hospitals to see their families and friends, but using video calls helped them feel less alone.
Methodology
Multi-methods data collection including a national surveillance study and thematic analysis of interviews.
Limitations
The study only captured experiences in England and did not explore individual experiences in depth.
Participant Demographics
{"young_people":{"n":30,"gender":{"female":22,"male":8},"age":{"mean":15.9,"range":"13-17"},"ethnicity":{"white":19}},"parents":{"n":21,"gender":{"female":16,"male":5},"age":{"mean":49.65,"range":"37-63"},"ethnicity":{"white":12}},"healthcare_professionals":{"n":68}}
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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