It’s made a really hard situation even more difficult: The impact of COVID-19 on families of children with chronic illness

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273622
• Publication Date: 2022-09-01T17:41:32Z
• Authors: Jordana McLoone; Claire E. Wakefield; Glenn M. Marshall; Kristine Pierce; Adam Jaffe; Ann Bye; Sean E. Kennedy; Donna Drew; Raghu Lingam
• Keywords: Thematic Analysis; Pandemic; Social distance

For over two years, the global COVID-19 pandemic has forced major transformations on health, social, and educational systems, with concomitant impacts mental health. This study aimed to understand unique additional challenges faced by children chronic illness their families during era.Parents of receiving treatment for a within neurology, cancer, renal respiratory clinics Sydney Children's Hospital were invited participate. We used qualitative methodology, including semi-structured interview guide, verbatim transcription, thematic analysis supported QSR NVivo.Thirteen parents tertiary-level care, nine illnesses, participated. Parents reported intense fears relating ill child's vulnerabilities, which included risk developing severe disease potential impact COVID-19-related disruptions accessing clinical medications, allied health support daily care protocols should parent contract COVID-19. perceived telehealth as highly convenient preferred method ongoing management less complex healthcare needs. that accrual stressors responsibilities pandemic, experienced in combination restricted social interaction reduced access usual networks was detrimental own Hospital-based visitation restrictions emotional support, coping, resilience both some cases led marital discord, sibling distress, financial loss. Supportive factors increased time spent together at home improved hygiene practices school, dramatically incidence non-COVID-19-related communicable illnesses chronically children.For caring child, made difficult situation harder. The highlighted need targeted psychosocial intervention vulnerable families, mitigate current burden prevent psychological distress.