Care trajectories of COVID-19 patients: from preventive measures to rehabilitation

This study aims to analyze the care trajectories of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who were hospitalized and are currently undergoing rehabilita-ti on regarding their use of and access to the healthcare network (HN). An evaluative, qualitative study was carried out based on interviews with patients in the city of Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. The care trajectories were reconstructed at three different occasions that express their experiences with the healthcare and support network during the pandemic: prevention, support and diagnosis measures; hospitalization; post-COVID-19 care, rehabilita-tion and support. The results indicate that the main source of information about COVID-19 was TV newscasts. Preventive hygiene measures were the most widely adopted. The family was the main support network. There was no waiting time for admission to the municipal referral hospital. Hospitaliza-tion was very well evaluated in terms of user embracement, multidisciplinary care, virtual visits and daily contact between doctor and family members. A post-discharge care vacuum was identified, with no follow-up by primary health care (PHC) and other public services. Low-cost health insurance plans and private specialized post-COVID-19 services were frequently and sponta-neously sought until the implementation of the rehabilitation service. In sum-mary, solitary and discontinuous care trajectories of individuals and families shed light on several challenges to the health system, including guaranteed ac-cess to coordinated PHC and expanded offer of specialized public services and rehabilitation, aligned with the principles of humanized care, in addition to the maintenance of social support measures.

Automated summary

This study analyzes the use of and access to the healthcare network by COVID-19 patients in Niteroi, Brazil. The study findings indicate that TV newscasts were the main source of information about COVID-19, preventive hygiene measures were widely adopted, and the family served as the primary support network. However, there was a lack of post-discharge care and a need for improved primary health care and specialized public services and rehabilitation.