Evaluation of Lived experience of Covid-19 survivors in Tehran

The present study aimed to evaluate the lived experiences of patients with COVID-19, whether hospitalized or quarantined at home, their caregivers and treatment staff involved in the care and treatment of the patients with COVID-19 between 2020 to 2021 in Tehran.

This was a descriptive phenomenology study. A questionnaire guide was designed and piloted to be used for in-depth interviews. Interviews were conducted by telephone. All interviews were recorded and were coded based on the objectives of the study after completion. The report collected from all interviews was categorized according to key themes and sub-themes. In the end, similar themes were grouped together and eventually the main themes emerged.

Individual interviews were conducted with 14 patients, six medical staff (nurses and physicians) and three caregivers of the patients. The mean age of patients was 40.1±14. Ten main themes were identified for the patient group, five for the treatment staff and eight for the caregivers. Fear of spreading the disease to others and the experience of loneliness and being away from family was the biggest concern of the patients. The findings indicated lack of adequate and specific food services for patients with COVID-19 in the hospitals. In general, patients quarantined at home experienced more favorable conditions during the treatment period compared with hospitalized patients. Some of the participants complained about mistreatment of some members of the medical staff and the public regarding their illness. The economic burden imposed on the patients was another mentioned problem. Psychological and emotional support was the greatest expectation of patients with COVID-19 from those around them. They also called for community members to adhere to the protocols and help break the virus transmission chain.

The results of this study contain valuable points that can be used for future policy-making and will certainly be an aid for those in charge to provide effective and efficient services.