The study titled “La muerte en soledad desde la perspectiva de supervivientes COVID-19. Un estudio fenomenológico” (‘Dying in isolation from the perspective of COVID-19 survivors. A phenomenological study’) led by the WeCare Chair, has been awarded a grant from the Víctor Grífols Foundation, with a view to broadening knowledge on the experience of dying in isolation.  The study endeavours to investigate the experience of COVID-19 survivors who were at risk of dying whilst isolated.

 

The research, led by Dr Andrea Rodríguez, hopes to outline personalised strategies to support all COVID-19 survivors who faced the threat of death in a context of isolation. “The project’s first preliminary phase will involve analysing patients’ experiences” Rodriguez explained, “which will help us create a theoretical framework for the empirical study”. 

 

The COVID-19 virus has not only resulted in high mortality, but has also had a major impact on the psychological well-being of the global population. "From an ethical point of view, the situation caused by the epidemic has led us to question certain assumptions that are considered established truths in contemporary Western culture," said Rodríguez, "and as such, we intend to explore the ethical dimension of survivors’ personal experiences of isolation”. 

 

This project has been orchestrated by the WeCare Chair and will also receive cooperation from Dr Cristina Monforte, Dr Albert Balaguer, Dr Josep Porta, Dr Denise Pergolizzi and Dr Iris Crespo from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences; Dr Natalia de Iriarte, director of the Support team for advanced diseases and palliative care at Cuides UIC Barcelona and Dr Joaquim Julià, medical care director of ICO Badalona.