1. Home
  2. Vol 5, No 1 (2024)
  3. Thirarattanasunthon

COVID-19 Patients' Experiences during the Pandemic: A Phenomenology Study

Phiman Thirarattanasunthon, Lanjakorn Kongnarong, Nattacha Chanachon, Femi Adesina, Temesgen A. Ageru, Tin Trung Pham, Muhammad H. Stanikzai, Charuai Suwanbamrung

Abstract


Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic caught the world community off guard, with irreversible effects, causing numerous hospitalizations and deaths across the globe. Understanding COVID-19 patients' lived experience is crucial to care assessment. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the experiences of COVID-19 patients before, during, and after hospitalization. Methods: The present study employed a phenomenological method, and purposive sampling was used to select participants. The individuals discharged from COVID-19 treatment in the upper southern region of Thailand were recruited to participate. Data were collected through in-depth interviews conducted by telephone, LINE, and face-to-face from July 1 to September 14, 2020. Results: The study included a total of eight participants selected from seven provinces located in the southern region of Thailand. The mean age of the participants was 42 years, and the mean duration of hospitalization was 22 days, with 62.5% of them having underlying illnesses. The patients' experiences were categorized into 14 distinct sub-themes, corresponding to the various stages of pre-hospitalization, throughout hospitalization, and post-hospitalization. The pre-infection lifestyles of the participants indicated a lack of understanding and misunderstanding regarding COVID-19. This study found that the participants had more fear, depression, and suicidal thoughts during hospitalization. Nevertheless, the participants unequivocally affirmed that the nurse-patient interaction, in terms of providing assistance and addressing mental health concerns, brought them a sense of solace. However, they encountered rejection from their community after being discharged from the hospital. Conclusion:COVID-19 survivors must remain confident in their ability to continue life and believe that they made the right choice by accepting hospital care to save their own lives and prevent the spread of the disease. Healthcare practitioners and stakeholders within the healthcare service system can utilize this knowledge of patients' experiences to assist patients in the prevention, treatment, and management of COVID-19.

 

Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2024-05-01-04

Full Text: PDF


Keywords


Patient’s Experience; COVID-19; Hospitalization; Phenomenology; Thailand.

References


W.H.O. (2023a). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva, Switzerland. Available online: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019 (accessed on October 2023).

Nicola, M., O’Neill, N., Sohrabi, C., Khan, M., Agha, M., & Agha, R. (2020). Evidence based management guideline for the COVID-19 pandemic - Review article. International Journal of Surgery, 77, 206–216. doi:10.1016/j.ijsu.2020.04.001.

W.H.O. (2022). The impact of COVID-19 on mental health cannot be made light of. World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva, Switzerland. https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-mental-health-cannot-be-made-light-of (accessed on October 2023).

W.H.O. (2021). COVID-19 responsible for at least 3 million excess deaths in 2020. World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-global-health-goals (accessed on May 2023).

Roth, W. M., & Jornet, A. (2014). Toward a Theory of Experience. Science Education, 98(1), 106–126. doi:10.1002/sce.21085.

Neubauer, B. E., Witkop, C. T., & Varpio, L. (2019). How phenomenology can help us learn from the experiences of others. Perspectives on Medical Education, 8(2), 90–97. doi:10.1007/s40037-019-0509-2.

Segers, R. (2013). Edgar Dale - Cone of experience. http://robsegers.blogspot.com/2013/03/edgar-dale-cone-of-experience.html (Accessed October 2023).

Rajatanavin, N., Tuangratananon, T., Suphanchaimat, R., & Tangcharoensathien, V. (2021). Responding to the COVID-19 second wave in Thailand by diversifying and adapting lessons from the first wave. BMJ Global Health, 6(7), 6178. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2021-006178.

NHSO (2022). Thailand and Japan share experience in COVID-19 responses. National Health Security Office, Bangkok, Thailand. Available online: https://eng.nhso.go.th/view/1/DescriptionNews/Thailand-and-Japan-share-experience-in-COVID-19-responses/429/EN-US (accessed on October 2023).

Wilasang, C., Jitsuk, N. C., Sararat, C., & Modchang, C. (2022). Reconstruction of the transmission dynamics of the first COVID-19 epidemic wave in Thailand. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 2002. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-06008-x.

MOPH (2020). Guidelines for surveillance and investigation of the novel coronavirus disease 2019. Thai Ministry of Public Health, Bangkok, Thailand. Available online: https://ddc.moph.go.th/viralpneumonia/file/g_km/handout004_26022020.pdf (accessed on October 2023).

Suppapitnarm, N., & Saengpattrachai, M. (2022). Physician Engagement before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Thailand. Healthcare (Switzerland), 10(8), 1394. doi:10.3390/healthcare10081394.

Phulkerd, S., Thapsuwan, S., Soottipong Gray, R., Chamratrithirong, A., Pattaravanich, U., Ungchusak, C., & Saonuam, P. (2023). Life Satisfaction Before and During COVID-19 Pandemic in Thailand. International Journal of Public Health, 68, 1605483. doi:10.3389/ijph.2023.1605483.

Sangpoom, S., Adesina, F., Kaewchandee, C., Sikanna, K., Noppapak, N., Maneerattanasak, S., Shohaimi, S., & Suwanbamrung, C. (2023). Levels and Predictors of Proactive Practical Experience to Solve COVID-19 among Public Health Officers in Primary Care Units in the Upper Southern Region, Thailand: An Explanatory Mixed Methods Approach. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(15), 6487. doi:10.3390/ijerph20156487.

Pumipak, B., Jittimanee, S., Thananun, S., Mathong, K., Poungdok, J., Sinsap, M., Sueathong, T., Kongruang, O., Faungprachakorn, S., Thunyaphun, T., Insook, P., & Soontornmon, K. (2023). Symptom Experience and Perceived Health Status of People with Long COVID in Thailand. SAGE Open Nursing, 9, 1-10. doi:10.1177/23779608231206748.

Phu, D. H., Maneerattanasak, S., Shohaimi, S., Trang, L. T. T., Nam, T. T., Kuning, M., Like, A., Torpor, H., & Suwanbamrung, C. (2023). Prevalence and factors associated with long COVID and mental health status among recovered COVID-19 patients in southern Thailand. PLoS ONE, 18(7 July), 289382. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0289382.

Realino, V. J. L., Cagasan, E. G., & Gravoso, R. S. (2023). Lived experiences and meanings of the COVID-19 pandemic: A case of the elderly survivors. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 93, 103772. doi:10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103772.

Shaban, R. Z., Nahidi, S., Sotomayor-Castillo, C., Li, C., Gilroy, N., O’Sullivan, M. V. N., Sorrell, T. C., White, E., Hackett, K., & Bag, S. (2020). SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19: The lived experience and perceptions of patients in isolation and care in an Australian healthcare setting. American Journal of Infection Control, 48(12), 1445–1450. doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2020.08.032.

Laverty, S. M. (2003). Hermeneutic Phenomenology and Phenomenology: A Comparison of Historical and Methodological Considerations. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 2(3), 21–35. doi:10.1177/160940690300200303.

Williams, H. (2021). The meaning of “Phenomenology”: Qualitative and philosophical phenomenological research methods. Qualitative Report, 26(2), 366–385. doi:10.46743/2160-3715/2021.4587.

Braun, V. & Clarke, V. (2012) Thematic analysis. In H. Cooper, P. M. Camic, D. L.Long, A. T. Panter, D. Rindskopf, & K. J. Sher (Eds), APA handbook of research methods inpsychology, Volume 2: Research designs: Quantitative, qualitative, neuropsychological, and biological, 57-71. American Psychological Association, Washington, DC, United States.

WHO Thailand (2020). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). WHO Thailand Situation Report, World Health Organization Geneva, Switzerland. Available online: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/searo/thailand/2020-05-13-tha-sitrep-80-covid19---final.pdf (accessed on November 2023).

UNFPA (2023). World Population Dashboard; Thailand. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), New York, United States. Available online: https://www.unfpa.org/data/world-population/TH (accessed on October 2023).

W.H.O. (2023b). Number of COVID-19 cases reported to WHO. World Health Organization Geneva, Switzerland. Available online: https://covid19.who.int/region/searo/country/th (accessed on November 2023).

Tangcharoensathien V. (2020). Thailand COVID-19 responses: health sector, governance and institutions. Philippines Institute for Development Studies: Annual public policy conference 2020, Makati, Philippines Available online: https://pidswebs.pids.gov.ph/CDN/EVENTS/pidsappc2020-0922finalviroj.pdf (accessed on November 2023).

W.H.O. (2020a). Joint Intra-Action Review of the Public Health Response to COVID-19 in Thailand. World Health Organization Geneva, Switzerland. Available online: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/searo/thailand/iar-covid19-en.pdf (accessed on November 2023).

Jindahra, P., Wongboonsin, K., & Wongboonsin, P. (2022). Demographic and initial outbreak patterns of COVID-19 in Thailand. Journal of Population Research, 39(4), 567–588. doi:10.1007/s12546-021-09276-y.

CDC. (2023). COVID-19 Risks and Information for Older Adults. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Georgia, United States. Available online: https://www.cdc.gov/aging/olderadultsandhealthyaging/index.html (accessed on May 2023).

Wilasang, C., Modchang, C., Lincharoen, T., & Chadsuthi, S. (2022). Estimation of Excess All-Cause Mortality Due to COVID-19 in Thailand. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 7(7), 116. doi:10.3390/tropicalmed7070116.

Aburto, J. M., Kashyap, R., Schöley, J., Angus, C., Ermisch, J., Mills, M. C., & Dowd, J. B. (2021). Estimating the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic on mortality, life expectancy and lifespan inequality in England and Wales: A population-level analysis. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 75(8), 735–740. doi:10.1136/jech-2020-215505.

A.D.B. (2020). COVID-19 and older people in Thailand. Asian Development Bank (ADB), Mandaluyong, Philippines. Available online: https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/linked-documents/54177-001-sd-10.pdf (Accessed May 2023).

Liu, Z., Chu, R., Gong, L., Su, B., & Wu, J. (2020). The assessment of transmission efficiency and latent infection period in asymptomatic carriers of SARS-CoV-2 infection. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 99, 325–327. doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2020.06.036.

Suwanbamrung, C., & Kaewsawat, S. (2020). Public health students’ reflection regarding the first case of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in a University, Southern Thailand. Journal of Health Care and Research, 1(3), 182. doi:10.36502/2020/hcr.6177.

Beale, S., Hoskins, S., Byrne, T., Fong, W. L. E., Fragaszy, E., Geismar, C., Kovar, J., Navaratnam, A. M. D., Nguyen, V., Patel, P., Yavlinsky, A., Johnson, A. M., Van Tongeren, M., Aldridge, R. W., Hayward, A., Michie, S., Hardelid, P., Wijlaars, L., Nastouli, E., … Rodger, A. (2023). Differential Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Infection by Occupation: Evidence from the Virus Watch prospective cohort study in England and Wales. Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, 18(1), 5. doi:10.1186/s12995-023-00371-9.

Aygün, İ., Kaya, M., & Alhajj, R. (2020). Identifying side effects of commonly used drugs in the treatment of Covid 19. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 21508. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-78697-1.

Yang, Y. (2020). Use of herbal drugs to treat COVID-19 should be with caution. The Lancet, 395(10238), 1689–1690. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31143-0.

Erku, D. A., Belachew, S. A., Abrha, S., Sinnollareddy, M., Thomas, J., Steadman, K. J., & Tesfaye, W. H. (2021). When fear and misinformation go viral: Pharmacists’ role in deterring medication misinformation during the “infodemic” surrounding COVID-19. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 17(1), 1954–1963. doi:10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.04.032.

Chailek, C., Taweewigyakarn, P., Yimchoho, N., Saritapirak, N., Namwat, C., & Sawanpanyalert, N. (2021). Epidemiological Characteristics and Medical Visits of the First 58 COVID-19 Deaths, January–June 2020, Thailand. Outbreak, Surveillance, Investigation & Response (OSIR) Journal, 14(1), 1–11. doi:10.59096/osir.v14i1.262692.

Kompaniyets, L., Pennington, A. F., Goodman, A. B., Rosenblum, H. G., Belay, B., Ko, J. Y., Chevinsky, J. R., Schieber, L. Z., Summers, A. D., Lavery, A. M., Preston, L. E., Danielson, M. L., Cui, Z., Namulanda, G., Yusuf, H., Kenzie, W. R. M., Wong, K. K., Baggs, J., Boehmer, T. K., & Gundlapalli, A. V. (2021). Underlying Medical Conditions and Severe Illness Among 540,667 Adults Hospitalized With COVID-19, March 2020–March 2021. Preventing Chronic Disease, 18, 1–13. doi:10.5888/PCD18.210123.

Alimohamadi, Y., Yekta, E. M., Sepandi, M., Sharafoddin, M., Arshadi, M., & Hesari, E. (2022). Hospital length of stay for COVID-19 patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine, 17(1), 856. doi:10.4081/mrm.2022.856.

Skilbeck, L., Spanton, C., & Paton, M. (2023). Patients’ lived experience and reflections on long COVID: an interpretive phenomenological analysis within an integrated adult primary care psychology NHS service. Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes, 7(1), 30. doi:10.1186/s41687-023-00570-2.

Alkaissi, A., Zaben, F., Abu-Rajab, M., & Alkony, M. (2022). Lived experiences of Palestinian patients with COVID-19: a multi-center descriptive phenomenological study of recovery journey. BMC Public Health, 22(1), 470. doi:10.1186/s12889-022-12868-9.

Zarocostas, J. (2020). How to fight an infodemic. Lancet (London, England), 395(10225), 676. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30461-X.

Yip, Y. C., Yip, K. H., & Tsui, W. K. (2022). Psychological Experiences of Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) during and after Hospitalization: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(14), 8742. doi:10.3390/ijerph19148742.

Deng, X., Chen, S., Li, X., Tan, C., Li, W., Zhong, C., ... & Ye, M. (2023). Gender differences in empathy, emotional intelligence and problem-solving ability among nursing students: A cross-sectional study. Nurse Education Today, 120, 105649. doi:10.1016/j.nedt.2022.105649.

Barkhordari-Sharifabad, M., Nadian-Sadeh, H., & Sedaghati-kasbakhi, M. (2020). The relationship between spiritual intelligence with caring behavior and empathy in nurses working in hospitals affiliated to university of medical sciences of Kashan. Journal of Nursing Education, 8(6), 1‐10. doi:10.21859/jne-080602.

Fernandes, J. B., Vareta, D. A., Fernandes, S., Castro, C., Simões, A., Peças, D., & Almeida, A. (2022). Nursing interventions that humanise care for patients affected by COVID-19 in isolation units: An integrative review. Infection, Disease and Health, 27(3), 163–174. doi:10.1016/j.idh.2022.03.001.

Fu, L., Wang, B., Chan, P. S. F., Luo, D., Zheng, W., Ju, N., Hu, Y., Xiao, X., Xu, H., Yang, X., Fang, Y., Xu, Z., Chen, P., He, J., Zhu, H., Tang, H., Huang, D., Hong, Z., Ma, X., … Zou, H. (2022). Associations between COVID-19 related stigma and sleep quality among COVID-19 survivors six months after hospital discharge. Sleep Medicine, 91, 273–281. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2021.10.020.

Iqbal, A., Iqbal, K., Arshad Ali, S., Azim, D., Farid, E., Baig, M. D., Bin Arif, T., & Raza, M. (2021). The COVID-19 Sequelae: A Cross-Sectional Evaluation of Post-recovery Symptoms and the Need for Rehabilitation of COVID-19 Survivors. Cureus, 13(2), 13080. doi:10.7759/cureus.13080.

W.H.O. (2020b). Social Stigma associated with COVID-19. World Health Organization Geneva, Switzerland. Available online: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/covid19-stigma-guide.pdf (accessed on May 2023).


Full Text: PDF

DOI: 10.28991/HEF-2024-05-01-04

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2024 charuai suwanbamrung