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Patients’ Health Experiences of Post COVID-19 Condition—A Qualitative Study

Almgren, Johanna ; Löfström, Emma LU ; Malmborg, Julia S. ; Nygren, Jens LU ; Undén, Johan LU and Larsson, Ingrid LU orcid (2022) In International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19(21).
Abstract

Patients who suffer from long-term symptoms of COVID-19, described as post COVID-19 condition, are a new and large group of patients. There is a lack of knowledge concerning health experiences in this patient group. The aim of this study was to explore patients’ health experiences of post COVID-19 condition. Data collection was performed through 14 semi-structured interviews. The qualitative content analysis resulted in six sub-categories, three categories, and an overall theme. Patients experienced symptoms of varying duration—ranging from 5–21 months. The results showed that patients’ health experiences of post COVID-19 condition moved between uncertainty and new insights. This was shown by patients experiencing: (1) loss of... (More)

Patients who suffer from long-term symptoms of COVID-19, described as post COVID-19 condition, are a new and large group of patients. There is a lack of knowledge concerning health experiences in this patient group. The aim of this study was to explore patients’ health experiences of post COVID-19 condition. Data collection was performed through 14 semi-structured interviews. The qualitative content analysis resulted in six sub-categories, three categories, and an overall theme. Patients experienced symptoms of varying duration—ranging from 5–21 months. The results showed that patients’ health experiences of post COVID-19 condition moved between uncertainty and new insights. This was shown by patients experiencing: (1) loss of abilities, including losing smell and taste and lacking energy, (2) loss of control, including being foreign to oneself and seeking answers, and (3) revaluation of life, including accepting the transformed body and prioritizing health. This study illustrates that patients living with post COVID-19 condition need to be treated with flexibility, based on each individual’s unique challenges and experiences of the symptoms and the consequences for their health.

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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
COVID-19, experience, health, lifestyle, long-term symptoms
in
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
volume
19
issue
21
article number
13980
publisher
MDPI AG
external identifiers
  • scopus:85141554462
  • pmid:36360860
ISSN
1661-7827
DOI
10.3390/ijerph192113980
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f05177e5-c1ed-40e1-ac58-9a7ead331f26
date added to LUP
2022-12-01 14:33:15
date last changed
2024-06-13 09:48:44
@article{f05177e5-c1ed-40e1-ac58-9a7ead331f26,
  abstract     = {{<p>Patients who suffer from long-term symptoms of COVID-19, described as post COVID-19 condition, are a new and large group of patients. There is a lack of knowledge concerning health experiences in this patient group. The aim of this study was to explore patients’ health experiences of post COVID-19 condition. Data collection was performed through 14 semi-structured interviews. The qualitative content analysis resulted in six sub-categories, three categories, and an overall theme. Patients experienced symptoms of varying duration—ranging from 5–21 months. The results showed that patients’ health experiences of post COVID-19 condition moved between uncertainty and new insights. This was shown by patients experiencing: (1) loss of abilities, including losing smell and taste and lacking energy, (2) loss of control, including being foreign to oneself and seeking answers, and (3) revaluation of life, including accepting the transformed body and prioritizing health. This study illustrates that patients living with post COVID-19 condition need to be treated with flexibility, based on each individual’s unique challenges and experiences of the symptoms and the consequences for their health.</p>}},
  author       = {{Almgren, Johanna and Löfström, Emma and Malmborg, Julia S. and Nygren, Jens and Undén, Johan and Larsson, Ingrid}},
  issn         = {{1661-7827}},
  keywords     = {{COVID-19; experience; health; lifestyle; long-term symptoms}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{21}},
  publisher    = {{MDPI AG}},
  series       = {{International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health}},
  title        = {{Patients’ Health Experiences of Post COVID-19 Condition—A Qualitative Study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192113980}},
  doi          = {{10.3390/ijerph192113980}},
  volume       = {{19}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}