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Lived Experiences of Critically Ill Patients with Covid-19 After Discharge from Intensive Care Unit: A Phenomenological Study

Document Type : Research articles

Authors

1 Professor, Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Ph.D. in Nursing, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Aim: The present study aimed to explore lived experiences of critically ill patients with COVID-19 after discharge from intensive care units of hospitals in Iran.
Materials and Methods: The present study was qualitative research with a hermeneutic phenomenological approach. Participants were purposefully selected from critically ill patients with COVID-19 who were discharged from the intensive care unit (ICU) and transferred to the general ward. Data were mostly collected through in-depth, semi-structured, face-to-face interviews and, in some cases, telephone calls. Data were analyzed using the method of Dickelman et al. (1985). Guba and Lincoln's (1989) criteria were used to achieve data authenticity.
Results: Data were obtained from 16 COVID-19 recovered patients with a history of ICU admission. Twelve participants were female and four were male with a mean age of 35 years. The four main themes were identified along with their subthemes: perception of death before dying  (worry, helplessness, and expecting a different death), social stigma (social isolation and stigma), a nurse as a symbol of rebirth (a compassionate and supportive nurse and the supportive role of others), and meaningful life (a change in outlook on life and the manifestation of spirituality).
Conclusion: The results of the present study indicated that personal thoughts such as thinking about death and social treatments such as stigma can lead to threatening physical and psychological problems in COVID-19 patients. Nurses and family members can prevent many of these problems by providing holistic care and psychological support. Apart from the challenges posed by the disease, post-recovery changes in patients' attitudes toward life can be considered as a positive point.

Keywords

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Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal (IRCMJ)
Volume 23, Issue 7 - Serial Number 7
2021
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History
  • Receive Date: 23 January 2021
  • Accept Date: 23 January 2021
  • First Publish Date: 01 July 2021
  • Publish Date: 01 July 2021
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