Challenges of providing Health Services to Cardiovascular Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Iran

The COVID-19 pandemic has had many effects on the process of receiving medical services in patients with chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases. The focus of all attention and the allocation of resources to control the epidemic has made it difficult for cardiovascular patients to access health services. This study aimed to identify the challenges of providing cardiovascular patients with health services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran.

This applied study was performed via a qualitative descriptive method. Participants included 15 cardiologists, emergency medicine specialists, internal medicine specialists, and cardiac nurses. Collected through semi-structured interviews, the data were analyzed by qualitative content analysis using MAXQDA software.

In the present study, four categories and nine subcategories were extracted. The categories included lack of resources in the cardiovascular department [lack of physical space, allocation of resources to patients with COVID-19, limitations of equipment and facilities], weaknesses in providing efficient and effective education [fear of disease, lack of sufficient information], weaknesses in the hospital preparedness program [inadequate service delivery planning, inefficient resource management planning], poor quality and quantity of health care services [reduction in the amount of care provided, inadequate and untimely medical care.

Providing cardiovascular patients with health services has been challenged due to the simultaneous response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Properly allocating resources, informing and educating the community and medical staff, and developing preparedness programs can help address these challenges and provide cardiovascular patients with optimal health services.