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Table 3 Overview of qualitative themes

From: “I have never felt so alone and vulnerable” – A qualitative study of bereaved people’s experiences of end-of-life cancer care during the Covid-19 pandemic

Main themes

Sub-themes

The impact of COVID-19 measures on contact with the person who died

• Restricted contact and communication challenges

• (Non)adherence to guidelines

Support for family members during the end of life period

• Informal support networks, isolation, and loneliness

• Variable provision of formal support for caregivers

Communication with health and social care professionals

• Lack of communication and information regarding patients

• Variable communication quality

Prioritisation of COVID-19 and the impact on patient care

• Challenges accessing care and de-prioritisation of cancer services

• Inconsistent quality of patient care