What Kind of Interventions Were Perceived as Effective Against Coronavirus-19 in Nursing Homes in Italy? A Descriptive Qualitative Study

PURPOSE: To identify interventions implemented during the first, second and third waves of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among Italian Nursing Homes (NHs). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A descriptive qualitative design according to COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative (COREQ) guideline. A purposeful sample of five public NHs, located in the north-east of Italy, equipped with from 60 to 151 beds, participated. Six nurse managers, four clinical nurses and one NH director were interviewed in depth at the end of 2021. These interviews were audio-recorded and then transcribed verbatim. A qualitative content analysis was performed to identify effective interventions as perceived by participants to protect facilities and residents from the pandemic. RESULTS: Three main sets of interventions have been applied, at the environmental, nurse staff and at the resident levels. Some have been enacted in all facilities, others in a few but in a homogeneous fashion, while other interventions have been implemented in some NHs also in contrast with available national or local recommendations. CONCLUSION: Despite their documented frailty and precarious system, NHs implemented several interventions to protect their residents from the COVID-19. All interventions have been designed and implemented during the event, suggesting the need to increase the NHs’ preparedness to face future disasters. Regarding those interventions enacted in contrast to the recommendations or not homogeneously across NHs, future investigations are suggested to assess their actual effectiveness and accumulate evidence for the future.