EMERGENCY SERVICES IN THE CONTEXT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: FAMILY EXPERIENCES OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM

Abstract

Objective: Understanding the experiences of families of children with autism spectrum disorder in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic in emergency and urgent care services. Methods: This is a multiple case study with a qualitative, descriptive approach. The collection of evidence took place during the year 2022, in an online manner, with 13 families of children with autism, through semi-structured interviews in a virtual environment. Results: The evidence resulted in two thematic categories: “Pandemic” and “Experiencing urgency and emergency”. The families expressed that the pandemic had a negative impact on their lives and the use of urgent services was also experienced negatively, affecting the child with the disorder, as well as their family, on different levels and aspects. Final considerations: Families are capable of promoting actions that directly refer to the aspect of the resilience process that their members were able to establish during this period.

Keywords

• Family nursing
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Coronavirus infections
• Urgences
• Child.