"ECT should never stop": Exploring the experiences and recommendations of ECT clinical directors and anesthetists about ECT during the COVID-19 pandemic

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
File version

Version of Record (VoR)

Author(s)
Branjerdporn, Grace
Sarma, Shanthi
McCosker, Laura
Dong, Vanessa
Martin, Donel
Loo, Colleen
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
2022
Size
File type(s)
Location
Abstract

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective treatment option for severe, treatment-resistant, and life-threating psychiatric illness. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted ECT services. Services across North America, Europe, and Australia have reported decreased ECT delivery, and changes in the ways ECT is delivered. This study aimed to identify the impacts of COVID-19 on ECT services globally by exploring clinicians' experiences about ECT during the pandemic, and their recommendations for reducing the negative impacts of the pandemic. Data were collected using an electronic, cross-sectional survey, which included elicitation of free-text responses. The survey was open from March to November 2021. Clinical directors in ECT services, their delegates, and anesthetists were invited to participate. This paper reports the qualitative analysis of responses provided. Fifty-two participants provided qualitative response/s; 74.5% were clinical directors or their delegates, and 25.5% were anesthetists. Greater than one-third of participants were from Australia/New Zealand, and there was also representation from North America, Europe, and the UK. Participants' responses were detailed, averaging 43 words. Three themes were identified: (1) Service provision, about the importance of ECT services continuing during the pandemic, (2) Preparedness, through guidelines and environmental design, and (3) Personal protection, about strategies to increase staff safety. This is the first multi-site, international study to document the experiences and recommendations of ECT clinical directors and anesthetists about the effect of COVID-19 on ECT practice. The findings inform evidence-based practice, and ensure people with major psychiatric illnesses continue to receive ECT during the pandemic.

Journal Title

Frontiers in Psychiatry

Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume

13

Issue
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement

© 2022 Branjerdporn, Sarma, McCosker, Dong, Martin and Loo. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

Item Access Status
Note
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject

Psychiatry (incl. psychotherapy)

Science & Technology

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Psychiatry

electroconvulsive therapy

ECT

Persistent link to this record
Citation

Branjerdporn, G; Sarma, S; McCosker, L; Dong, V; Martin, D; Loo, C, "ECT should never stop": Exploring the experiences and recommendations of ECT clinical directors and anesthetists about ECT during the COVID-19 pandemic, Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2022, 13

Collections