COVID-19 Patients’ Life Events, Emotional Health And Post-Illness Awareness: A Qualitative Study

ABSTRACT

Purpose

This study aimed to examine the life events, emotional health and post-illness awareness of COVID-19 patients. We interviewed 25 people who experienced COVID-19.

Design

The study was executed in qualitative descriptive design.

Methods

The study was conducted with a phenomenological design approach. Data were collected using an in-depth, semi-structured interview method. We interviewed 25 people who experienced COVID-19.

Findings

Three themes were identified in the content analysis: “Experiences before COVID-19,” “The active experience of COVID-19,” “Remnants of COVID-19.” We found that when participants first heard they tested positive for COVID-19, the anxiety they experienced turned into panic and fear of death as the duration and severity of the symptoms of the disease increased. That uncertainty, as well as the influence of the media, intensified their fears. However, despite the unfavorable conditions, experiencing the disease led to positive awareness in all the participants.

Conclusions

We observed that the intensity of the symptoms of COVID-19, the uncertainty of the treatment process, and the attitude of the media were important factors in producing fear and anxiety. Experiencing the illness created an awareness that resulted in the participants’ questioning the meaning of life.

Clinical Evidence

Within the scope of preventive health services, there is a need for informative programs of education on COVID-19 prevention, coping, and self-improvement that will be useful in reducing the psychological effects of the disease.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethical Approval

The study was approved by the non-interventional clinical research ethics committee of a nursing faculty (Protocol Number: 2020/219). Participants were informed about the purpose of the study and its contribution to the development of the emotional health of the community, and the written consent of the individuals who voluntarily agreed to participate in the study was obtained.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants in this study.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) received no financial support for the research authorship and/or publication of this article.This research was not supported by any funding.