People with High Irritability; A Qualitative Study on Patients with COVID-19 in Iran

Recognizing the emotional responses of patients who have suffered from COVID-19 can lead to the possibility of better confrontation with the disease, and decrease psychological distress throughout their illness. The aim of the present study is to describe the lived experiences of patients who have recovered from COVID-19 about emotional responses during illness. This qualitative study was conducted in 2020. The data collection method was semi-structured in-depth interviews. Participants were patients who had recovered from COVID-19 and were willing to share their experiences. Sampling was done from 3 cities of Gachsaran, Basht and Noorabad with a purposeful sampling approach. Data were analyzed by content analysis method. The extracted codes were managed through MAXQDA software version 10. A total of 15 interviews were conducted, involving 8 women and 7 men aged 23 to 58 years. Analysis of data resulted in the identification of 368 codes that were classified into 3 main categories including: “reaction to trauma”, “depression”, and “anxiety”, and 13 subcategories. Two subcategories of preoccupation and irritability appeared in this research. According to the results of this research, nurses and relatives of these patients must pay more attention to the emotional response to irritability. Relatives should not only display kindness but also be mindful of their own behavior when interacting with patients. Creating a hopeful environment and ensuring that patients are not exposed to frustrating news through vigilant supervision are essential. it is recommended that patients and their relatives receive mandatory telephone consultations with a psychologist to address these emotional concerns.