Publication:

A qualitative study to assess lived experience of patients with COVID-19 at a tertiary care hospital, Uttarakhand

Background Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus faced physical symptoms like mild to moderate respiratory distress but recover without requiring special treatment and also experienced psychosocial barriers like fear stress and stigma related to this pandemic.

Methods A Phenomenological study for COVID-19 positive patients was conducted during 2nd outbreak of COVID-19 at tertiary care hospital. Purposive sampling technique (maximum variance) was employed to collect information from COVID-19 patients admitted in COVID-19 isolation ward. Sample size was based upon data saturation which was achieved after 8 interviews. Participant’s inclusion criteria as aged above 18 years, one COVID-19 positive report by RT-PCR method and admitted in IPD. Questionnaire was administered through WhatsApp video call using ‘cube call recorder’ and it will be recoded with consent of the patient for the purpose of assessing data validity at later stage of research. Ethical permission was obtained from research review board of the institute.

Results Patients admitted in COVID-19 ward narrates mixed emotions of physical parameters health like severe body ache, respiratory problems like dyspnea, fever, weakness and cough as well psychological stress, tension and fear of loss of life. Opposed to this study our study participants narrate that doctors and nurses assist patients in their daily activity of living like provide timely medication food and warm water and assists during urination and defecation as patients unable to do so. But patients were experienced marginalization due VIP culture in the ward and hospital.

Conclusions Patients with COVID-19 experienced physical as well as psychosocial issues during hospitalization and at home due to lack of COVID-19 related information.