Experiences of Patients Recovered from COVID-19: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study

Abstract

Background and purpose: Today, the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as a pandemic disease, has a high incidence and mortality rate. The experiences of those who have recovered could be of great benefit in understanding and management of the disease. This study aimed at determining the experiences of patients who have recovered from COVID-19. Materials and methods: A phenomenological study was performed in recovered COVID-19 patients (n=17) in Yavaran Mehdi Convalescent Care Center in Qom, Iran 2020. Purposive sampling was done and continued until data saturation was reached. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted. Data analysis was performed using Colaizzi method and MAXQDA 2018 was used to encode the data. Results: Data analysis led to identification of 304 primary codes and 48 sub-concepts which were adjusted into four main concepts, including perception of COVID-19, causes of the disease, symptoms, and patients' concerns. Conclusion: The main concepts of imagining and thinking about COVID-19, causes, and routes of transmission, signs, and symptoms, and concerns associated with the disease are the main dimensions, so, academic centers are recommended to provide people with informative programs.

Keywords

• coronavirus
• experiences
• covid-19
• symptoms
• phenomenology