Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38290757›Full record

ArticleBMJ open quality2024

Challenges of using body bags for COVID-19 deaths from the healthcare provider perspective - a qualitative study.

Mayumi Toyama, Hiroko Mori, Akira Kuriyama, Makiko Sano, Haruki Imura, Mayumi Nishimura, Takeo Nakayama

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open quality, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
0.6field-weighted citation impact, top 35% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Mayumi ToyamaDepartment of Health Informatics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Kyoto, Japan toyama.mayumi.7f@kyoto-u.ac.jp.ORCID 0000-0001-8614-4870
Hiroko MoriDepartment of Health Informatics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Kyoto, Japan.
Akira KuriyamaDepartment of Health Informatics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Kyoto, Japan.
Makiko SanoDepartment of Health Informatics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Kyoto, Japan.
Haruki ImuraDepartment of Health Informatics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Kyoto, Japan.
Mayumi NishimuraDepartment of Health Informatics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Kyoto, Japan.
Takeo NakayamaDepartment of Health Informatics, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Kyoto, Japan.
Kyoto University · JP

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous issues regarding end-of-life care for COVID-19 patients have been discussed. Among these issues, challenges related to the use of body bags following the death of COVID-19 patients have been suggested. This study aimed to identify the challenges faced by healthcare professionals (HCPs) when using body bags after the death of patients infected with COVID-19 in medical settings.

methodsWe conducted a qualitative descriptive study with semistructured in-depth interviews using inductive thematic analysis. From August to December 2021, we interviewed nurses and doctors who provided end-of-life care to COVID-19 patients focusing on their experiences with the use of body bags for the deceased.

resultsOf the 25 interviewees who mentioned body bag use, 14 were nurses (56%) and 13 were women (52%). The mean interview length was 52.0 min (SD 9.6 min). Challenges associated with body bag use were classified into four themes with eight categories: preserving the dignity of the deceased, consideration for the bereaved saying a final goodbye to a loved one in a body bag, the physical and emotional impact on HCPs, and diverse opinions on body bag use.

conclusionOur findings include ethical concerns about the dignity of the deceased, empathy for the grief of bereaved families, and the emotional and physical distress experienced by HCPs struggling with the recommendation to use body bags based on limited evidence. The diverse perspectives of HCPs in this study highlight potential issues that developers should consider when formulating more appropriate and acceptable guidelines/guidance and policies.

Indexed as

COVID-19PhysiciansTerminal CareFemaleHealth PersonnelHumansMalePandemicsCOVID-19Critical careHealth policyQualitative research

Identifiers

PMID38290757
PMCPMC10828837
OpenAlexW4391345088

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.