COVID-19: Opportunities for interdisciplinary research to improve care for older people in Sweden

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of public health Vol. 49; no. 1; pp. 29 - 32
• Main Authors: Baxter, Rebecca, Jemberie, Wossenseged Birhane, Li, Xia, Naseer, Mahwish, Pauelsen, Mascha, Shebehe, Jacques, Viklund, Emilia W.E., Xia, Xin, Zulka, Linn Elena, Badache, Andreea
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 2021
• Subjects: Aged; ageing; Caring Sciences; Commentaries; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - mortality; COVID-19 - therapy; evidence-based policy; Evidence-Based Practice; Fysioterapi; Health Sciences; health services research; Humans; hälso- och sjukvårdsforskning; Hälsovetenskaper; Interdisciplinary Research - organization & administration; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; older people; omvårdnadsforskning med medicinsk inriktning; patient and public engagement (PPE); Physiotherapy; Psychology; Psykologi; public health; Quality Improvement - organization & administration; Residential Facilities - organization & administration; Residential Facilities - standards; Social Work - organization & administration; Social Work - standards; Sweden; Sweden - epidemiology; Sweden; COVID-19; Sweden; ageing; evidence-based policy; aged; older people; patient and public engagement (PPE); public health
• ISSN: 1403-4948; 1651-1905; 1651-1905
• DOI: 10.1177/1403494820969544

The emergence of COVID-19 has changed the world as we know it, arguably none more so than for older people. In Sweden, the majority of COVID-19-related fatalities have been among people aged ⩾70 years, many of whom were receiving health and social care services. The pandemic has illuminated aspects within the care continuum requiring evaluative research, such as decision-making processes, the structure and organisation of care, and interventions within the complex public-health system. This short communication highlights several key areas for future interdisciplinary and multi-sectorial collaboration to improve health and social care services in Sweden. It also underlines that a valid, reliable and experiential evidence base is the sine qua non for evaluative research and effective public-health systems.