What have nursing home staff learned from the COVID-19 pandemic about managing pandemic infectious diseases? A qualitative study.

AIM: The aim of this study is to explore the lessons that nursing home staff learned from the COVID-19 pandemic related to the management of pandemic infectious diseases.

METHODS

Four focus groups were conducted with nursing home staff who had experienced COVID-19 infections at the nursing home where they were employed. The focus groups, conducted during September and October 2023 at the respective nursing homes, were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis as described by Braun and Clarke (2022).

FINDINGS: The analysis resulted in three themes: 1) organization of infection control measures, 2) framework for training in infection control routines, and 3) clinical assessments and measures when suspecting infection. The participants experienced challenges regarding access to personal protective equipment, a lack of knowledge about infection control routines, and the difficulty of limiting infection given the building layout. Using clinical tools or assessments to detect signs of infection in nursing home residents improved nursing home staff's ability to detect symptoms of contagious infections.

CONCLUSION

For nursing homes to be more prepared and resilient in the event of a new pandemic, overall planning of nursing homes' needs should take place at both the national and municipal levels, as well as at the management level within each nursing home. This planning must ensure sufficient staffing, access to infection control equipment, and the updating of employees' professional and clinical knowledge.