Phenomenological study on COVID-19 recovered adults of Bagmati province.

Research Report.

ABSTRACT:

During epidemic outbreaks patients with infections experience more psychological and social quandary. Recovered patients of COVID-19 also face issues related to physical health and financial hardships that negatively impact on their life. So, it is of paramount importance to study the experiences of COVID-19 recovered people in order to help improve the quality of life of recovered people and assist the policy makers to develop and adopt community care models and streamline the workforce. With the objective of exploring the experiences and challenges of COVID-19 recovered adults of Bagmati Province this study was conducted. The study is qualitative in nature and used purposive sampling technique to select the participants. As a qualitative study, the sample was based on saturation for information and 15 participants were interviewed. In-depth interviews were conducted with each participant using ZOOM, Skype software and telephonic interview. Interview guideline was used that focused on their disease experience and challenges faced by them and the recorded interviews was transcribed, translated, and analyzed with thematic analysis. The study depicted that there were challenges to receiving treatment from health facilities as patients had to wait for long duration for their test and treatment however most of the health workers were willing to provide treatment despite the onerous situation. At home-based treatments respondents conveyed that they lacked knowledge regarding scientifically proven methods of home remedies. There was psychological stress on family members of respondents and respondents expressed that they feared the severity of disease and fear of getting re-infected. Few respondents expressed that they had financial burden during the disease period and that even impacted in economic privilege of their family members. Respondents revealed that they got community support during and after the COVID infection and praised the kind and responsible gesture of local government on supporting and counseling COVID-19 infected patients. The study provides the need of health facilities to be managed/organized with proper system that can handle health emergency situations like COVID-19, also the need of imparting information regarding scientifically proven home remedies, treatment protocols and treatment charges marked by the government should be strictly put into action and monitored.

Key words: Challenges, Community support, COVID-19, Experiences, Financial burden, Health facilities, Isolation, Psychosocial impact.