Perceptions of COVID-19 Disease Among Patients in Isolation Ward

Abstract

Objective: To explore the perceptions about COVID – 19 disease among patients admitted in Isolation ward and to improve management ideas.
 Methodology: This qualitative cross sectional interview based study was conducted at Isolation ward, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Islamabad from April to June 2020. Patients who were reported positive for SARS COV-2 through nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swabs and were admitted for at least one day in isolation ward, were included in the study. Patients who were too ill to talk for the interview and those who could not survive the disease were excluded. After taking informed consent and following the standard operating procedures (SOPs) of Corona Isolation ward; data was obtained by conducting in depth interviews arranged as per patients’ convenience on mobile calls. Data was analyzed using Narrative Analysis. Themes were delineated and organized to groups for understanding.
 Results: Twenty two patients participated with the mean age of 34.64±7.26 years. Majority of the patients had anxiety and fear for the COVID-19 disease however also were hopeful to face it. The delineated themes were anxiety & depression, fear, hopefulness & moving forward, health facilities & related issues, living in isolation and physiological disturbances like sleep, appetite, smoking or addiction, exercise.
 Conclusion: Covid-19 patients depict mixed perceptions while admitted in Isolation ward and this provide us an insight to this catastrophic illness. Their experiences help the health authorities to address this issue.