Life Experience of Patients with Covid-19

Abstract

The emerging disease of Covid-19 (coronavirus) has become a health crisis globally and has affected various aspects of human life. Understanding patients' experience with this disease is essential for proper and comprehensive care. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of patients with Covid-19. The present study was based on a qualitative approach and interpretive phenomenology. For this purpose, 13 patients with Covid-19 were selected by a purposive method based on inclusion criteria. In-depth, semi-structured interviews and field notes were used to collect data. The transcripts of the interviews were recorded and analyzed by a hermeneutic approach using the Van Manen method based on the reliability of the qualitative data. The results showed that the participants were 13 patients with a mean age of 41.84 ±17.60 and most of them were single. From the analysis of the interview texts, three themes of "dusty life," "in search of life," and "in the fence of disability," 6 floors and 12 sub-floors were extracted. In the "Edge of Vulnerability" category, there were two sub-categories, "Physical Injury" and "Psychological Injury." Also, in the category of "trying to survive" were two subcategories, "the use of complementary therapies" and "self-medication," and in the category of "obtaining information" were two subcategories, "seeking information from unreliable sources" and "seeking information from others." In the category of "narrowing of the living space," there were two subcategories, "economic hardship" and "complications of the illness." In the category of "immersion in suffering," there were two subcategories, "restriction and quarantine" and "escape and distance from those around." The findings of this study described the vast experiences of patients with Covid-19. They showed that these patients have experienced a unique life and indicate that according to their experience, concepts such as dusty life, in search of life, and the fence of disability.