Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.24869/psyd.2021.402

FEELINGS, THOUGHTS AND EXPERIENCES OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS WHO RECOVERED AFTER BEING DIAGNOSED WITH COVID-19, A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY

Sadiye Ozcan orcid.org/0000-0003-4468-5542 ; Yalova University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecological Nursing, Yalova, Turkey
Nurcan Kirca ; Akdeniz University Faculty of Nursing, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecological Nursing, Antalya, Turkey

Abstract

Background: It is very important to protect the physical, mental and social health of healthcare workers who are at risk, are
faced with a difficult pandemic process, and have been infected with the disease. In previous studies, the thoughts of healthcare
professionals who gave care to coronavirus patients were investigated. The present study is the first study in which experiences and
thoughts of healthcare professionals who had coronavirus disease were investigated, and unlike other studies, data were collected
through one-to-one, face-to-face interviews. This study was conducted to determine the feelings, thoughts and experiences of
healthcare professionals who recovered after being diagnosed with COVID-19.
Subjects and methods: This qualitative study was designed based on Husserlian's phenomenological approach. The participants
were selected from healthcare professionals receiving COVID-19 treatment through the purposive sampling method. The interviews
were held between September 2020 and February 2021. Colaizzi's qualitative analysis method was used.
Results: After the analysis of the interviews, three themes and seven sub-themes emerged. The theme "fear" has three subthemes:
"fear of the unknown", "fear of being infected again" and "fear of transmitting the disease". The theme “social isolation” has
two sub-themes: “Unhappiness” and “stigma”. Finally, the theme "lack of motivation" has two sub-themes: "excessive workload"
and "Inadequate number of employees".
Conclusions: In order to help healthcare workers manage these psychosocial problems they experience, managers should make
appropriate planning and should give them psychosocial support. It is recommended that the criteria regarding healthcare
professionals’ starting work again after they survive the COVID-19 should be reviewed and revised. In particular, healthcare
workers who survive illness but cannot fully recover should be evaluated physically and psychologically before going back to work.

Keywords

Colaizzi's qualitative analysis; healthcare professionals; phenomenological study; COVID-19

Hrčak ID:

266103

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/266103

Publication date:

22.11.2021.

Visits: 481 *