Use of Virtual Communication Technologies for People Who Have Lost a Loved One at the End-of-Life During a Pandemic
To limit the spread of COVID-19, various restrictions have been put in place, including during palliative care and funeral ceremonies. To counteract these restrictions and their effects, some families have resorted to using virtual communication technologies to stay in touch with their loved ones. The purpose of this article is to document the impacts of the use of virtual technologies on the experience of family members of pandemic decedents. A scoping-type literature review was conducted in 4 databases. The results suggest that the use of virtual communication technologies during palliative care had a positive impact on the psychological state of the patient and the satisfaction of relatives. In contrast, those who did not have access to these means experienced frustration about not being able to say goodbye to their loved one.