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Being between life and death—experiences of COVID-19 survivors 12 to 18 months after being treated in intensive care

Lundberg, Tina ; Falk, Eleonora ; Alvariza, Anette ; Åkerman, Eva LU ; Dahl, Oili ; Nilsson, Marie and Anmyr, Lena (2024) In International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being 19(1).
Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to explore the experiences of care, psychosocial support, and psychosocial wellbeing among patients treated for COVID-19 in intensive care 12 to 18 months after discharge. Methods: This study used a qualitative approach with a descriptive design. Semi-structured interviews were performed with 20 adult patients treated for COVID-19 12 to 18 months after being discharged from a university hospital in Sweden. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Findings: The participants were severely affected by COVID-19 both during the hospital stay and afterwards. They experienced overwhelming fears and uncertainties related to their wellbeing and possibility to recover. The care was described chaotic with... (More)

Purpose: This study aims to explore the experiences of care, psychosocial support, and psychosocial wellbeing among patients treated for COVID-19 in intensive care 12 to 18 months after discharge. Methods: This study used a qualitative approach with a descriptive design. Semi-structured interviews were performed with 20 adult patients treated for COVID-19 12 to 18 months after being discharged from a university hospital in Sweden. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Findings: The participants were severely affected by COVID-19 both during the hospital stay and afterwards. They experienced overwhelming fears and uncertainties related to their wellbeing and possibility to recover. The care was described chaotic with staff that were stressed; however, the efforts of the staff during this strenuous circumstance were still positively acknowledged. Difficulties to stay in touch with family and friends due to visiting restrictions affected the patient’s psychosocial wellbeing. Conclusion: Contracting COVID-19 in the beginning of the pandemic was a stressful event. Being seen and heard is of importance as it has the possibility to create a feeling of security and being cared for despite unclarities about treatment and illness trajectory. Accordingly, healthcare staff play an important role for the psychosocial wellbeing of patients treated for COVID-19.

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author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
COVID-19, intensive care, patients, psychosocial support, psychosocial wellbeing
in
International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being
volume
19
issue
1
article number
2398223
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • pmid:39238148
  • scopus:85203420001
ISSN
1748-2623
DOI
10.1080/17482631.2024.2398223
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2024 Karolinska University hospital. Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
id
19299013-84b2-4942-bb83-a94980a2fff5
date added to LUP
2024-12-03 14:55:29
date last changed
2025-07-16 09:11:06
@article{19299013-84b2-4942-bb83-a94980a2fff5,
  abstract     = {{<p>Purpose: This study aims to explore the experiences of care, psychosocial support, and psychosocial wellbeing among patients treated for COVID-19 in intensive care 12 to 18 months after discharge. Methods: This study used a qualitative approach with a descriptive design. Semi-structured interviews were performed with 20 adult patients treated for COVID-19 12 to 18 months after being discharged from a university hospital in Sweden. Data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Findings: The participants were severely affected by COVID-19 both during the hospital stay and afterwards. They experienced overwhelming fears and uncertainties related to their wellbeing and possibility to recover. The care was described chaotic with staff that were stressed; however, the efforts of the staff during this strenuous circumstance were still positively acknowledged. Difficulties to stay in touch with family and friends due to visiting restrictions affected the patient’s psychosocial wellbeing. Conclusion: Contracting COVID-19 in the beginning of the pandemic was a stressful event. Being seen and heard is of importance as it has the possibility to create a feeling of security and being cared for despite unclarities about treatment and illness trajectory. Accordingly, healthcare staff play an important role for the psychosocial wellbeing of patients treated for COVID-19.</p>}},
  author       = {{Lundberg, Tina and Falk, Eleonora and Alvariza, Anette and Åkerman, Eva and Dahl, Oili and Nilsson, Marie and Anmyr, Lena}},
  issn         = {{1748-2623}},
  keywords     = {{COVID-19; intensive care; patients; psychosocial support; psychosocial wellbeing}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being}},
  title        = {{Being between life and death—experiences of COVID-19 survivors 12 to 18 months after being treated in intensive care}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2024.2398223}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/17482631.2024.2398223}},
  volume       = {{19}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}