Lived-in Experiences of Quarantined family members during COVID-19 Pandemic

 

Mercy Joseph¹, Sreelakshmi M. S.², Sruthi M. Nair³

¹Department of Child Health Nursing, Amrita College of Nursing, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham,

Health Sciences Campus, Kochi, Kerala, India.

^2,3Amrita College of Nursing, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Health Sciences Campus, Kochi, Kerala, India.

 

ABSTRACT:

The COVID-19 pandemic is the defining global health crisis of our time and the greatest challenge we are facing. Quarantine is the separation and restriction of movement of people who have potentially been exposed to a contagious disease to ascertain if they become unwell, so reducing the risk of them infecting others.⁵ This definition differs from isolation, which is the separation of people who have been diagnosed with a contagious disease from people who are not sick; however, the two terms are often used interchangeably, especially in communication with the public. Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the lived-in experiences of the family members under quarantine during the pandemic of COVID-19 in order to get a baseline data to plan a family care. Methods:  A Qualitative phenomenological approach was used for the study .10 samples were selected by using convenient sampling method .Study was conducted from different districts of Kerala through online platform. Result: From the study it is evident that The majority of the samples were females (90%). Majority (70%) belongs to the age between 20-45. Among the physical dimension a vast majority had minor gastric problems. In psychological dimension the majority of them had fear as a chief problem. In social dimension the, majority of sample gave importance to social support system. In Spiritual dimension majority of the people had theism. In Economical dimension major themes like majority of the sample were financial dependent. Conclusion: This study provides a baseline for lived-in experiences of the family members under quarantine during the pandemic of COVID-19 in order to get a baseline data to plan a family care.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

The outbreak of the Novel Corona virus (COVID-19) has progressed within a few months from a cluster of 44 cases reported in Wuhan, China on 31^st Dec 2019, to a global pandemic status as declared by the World Health Organization on 11^th March 2010. Pandemics are large-scale outbreaks of infectious disease with a significant impact on the morbidity and mortality over a wide geographic area.¹

 

The most pathological diseases caused by human Corona viruses are SARS, MERS, and COVID-19.² The virus causes disease in humans and animals, following infection with the Coronavirus that causes COVID-19, Patients can develop respiratory failure, which can lead to death.³ Older adults and people with underlying disorders like diabetes are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. The prevalence of COVID-19 has affected societies word wide.⁴

 

The COVID-19 pandemic is the defining global health crisis of our time and the greatest challenge we are facing.

 

Quarantine is the separation and restriction of movement of people who have potentially been exposed to a contagious disease to ascertain if they become unwell, so reducing the risk of them infecting others.⁵ This definition differs from isolation, which is the separation of people who have been diagnosed with a contagious disease from people who are not sick; however, the two terms are often used interchangeably, especially in communication with the public.⁶ Quarantine is imposed upon people who are exposed or potentially exposed to the contagious disease to control the spread of infection by separating and restricting their movement.

 

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY:

We all know that isolation and quarantine are the key measures to control disease and outbreak management. It will affect adverse impact on mental health and lower quality of care in negative patient due to limited interaction with healthcare workers. In this study, we explore the lived experience of quarantined family members during COVID-19 pandemic at selected districts of Kerala. In order to reduce the spread of the virus, national and international bodies and institutions have ordered quarantine, physical distancing, and isolation almost everywhere in the world.

 

A study was conducted on SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19: The lived experience and perceptions of patients in isolation and care in an Australian healthcare setting. This study was conducted using a phenomenological approach from a Heideggerian hermeneutical perspective, they conducted individual semi structured interviews with the first 11 COVID-19 patients admitted to a designated COVID-19 facility in Australia. The interviews weaudio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and imported into NVivo 12 coding and analysis. Participants’ lived experience and perceptions of COVID-19 were represented by 5 themes: “Knowing about COVID-19,” “Planning for, and responding to, COVID-19,” “Being infected,” “Life in isolation and the room,” and “Post-discharge life.” Within these, participants conveyed both positive and negative lived experiences of infection, isolation, and illness. Findings from this study provide a valuable insight into the lived experiences of patients with COVID-19, which reflect those of patients with other infectious diseases who require isolation.⁷

 

Another study was conducted to determine the Quarantine experience of close contacts of COVID-19 patients in China. A descriptive, qualitative design was used. All interviews were recorded and coded using thematic analysis. Sample were taken from 15 participants. The five themes emerged were, (1) experience in the early stage of quarantine; (2) experience in the middle stage of quarantine; (3) experience in the late stage of quarantine; (4) self-coping persisted throughout the quarantine period; and (5) external support was evident throughout the quarantine period. In this study, after fifteen interviews, categories were tentatively established. When theoretical saturation was reached, sampling was stopped. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes from the interview transcripts. The findings of this study were, most quarantined close contacts experienced heavy emotional turmoil and had some physical symptoms during the emotions. This study highlights the need to provide a clear rationale to quarantined individuals, assess the close contacts’ psychological state early in quarantine and provide psychological support for them, especially for older people and the less educated.⁸

 

NEED FOR THE STUDY:

Under the COVID-19 threat, quarantine is a public health tool to prevent the spread of this infectious disease. Based on clinical investigations, the incubation period is generally 1-14 days, and most are 3-7 days.⁹ The close contacts were quarantined for 14 days in accordance with the incubation period of COVID-19. In view of the existence of the COVID-19 patients with a longer incubation period (>14 days), some close contacts were quarantined for 21 days.¹⁰ Close contacts need sufficient information related to quarantine, such as the reasons for being quarantined, its effectiveness for public infection control, the quarantine length, the procedures that may experience, the basic clinical facts about COVID-19, and updates on the COVID-19 outbreak, in the early stages of quarantine.¹¹ Furthermore, given the presence of asymptomatic infected patients and the extra-long incubation period of 14 days, the worry of the participants is understandable. Specifically, those who are older, live in the countryside and are less educated thought that patients with COVID-19 could not be cured, and they were fairly worried about being diagnosed with COVID-19. This was a misconception. Therefore, it is necessary for healthcare professionals to convey basic clinical knowledge about COVID-19 to close contacts to correct their misconceptions. Additionally, one study reported that particular psychological support must be directed to the infected patients and their close contacts who belong to vulnerable populations.¹²

 

Since COVID-19 pandemic is widespread in the world, quarantine is a definite measure to prevent it’s spread.

 

Less studies are being done in exploring the family concerns during COVID-19, even though few lived-in experiences are done among nurses but family members review of literature is not much, hence there is an absolute need to explore this field. The present study is needed to assess the lived-in experiences of the family members under quarantine during the pandemic of COVID-19 in order to get a baseline data to plan a family care in community setting.

 

METHODOLOGY:

A Qualitative phenomenological approach was used for the study .10 samples were selected by using convenient sampling method. Study was conducted from different districts of Kerala through online platform. The demographic variables such as age, gender, marital status, education, occupation, religion, family income per month were collected. The audio-taped interviews were listened and transcribed into verbatim on the same day. The collected data were analysed thematically using modified Colaizzi's five step methodological interpretation approach, to retain the participant’s view points.

 

RESULTS AND ANALYSIS:

The tool used for the study consisted of 2 parts.

SECTION A:

The demographic variables such as age, gender, marital status, education, occupation, religion, family income per month

 

SECTION B:

Self-developed unstructured questionnaire to assess the lived-in experiences during COVID-19 pandemic

 

Section A: 

Table1: Frequency and percentage distribution of socio-demographic variables

 

Figure 1; Percentage Distribution Of Gender

 

Figure 2; Percentage Distribution of Age

 

Figure 3: Percentage distribution of marital status

 

Figure 4: Percentage distribution of religion

 

Section  B: Unstructured interview schedule

The audio-taped interviews were listened and transcribed into verbatim on the same day. The collected data were analysed thematically using modified Colaizzi's five step methodological interpretation approach, to retain the participant’s view points.

 

MODIFIED COLAZZI’S ANALYSIS FRAMEWORK:

1.     All interviews were transcribed into verbatim and read in order to get an understanding of the same.

2.     Significant statement and phrases pertaining to the experiences of patients under investigation were extracted.

3.     Meanings were formulated from these significant statements.

4.     Significant statements were organized into cluster of themes.

5.     The themes were used to provide a full description of the experiences.

 

The common question asked by the investigator was

1.     What were the symptoms you had during the infectivity of COVID-19 ?

2.     What was the difficulties you faced during your quarantine period?

3.     How quarantine affected your studies/ work?

4.     What were the economic issues that caused you during your quarantine period?

5.     Did the quarantine period made any changes in your sleep pattern ?

6.     Whether you were depressed most of the time during quarantine period ?

7.     How did you spend your time during quarantine period?

8.     How was the attitude of your friends and family towards you when you were in quarantine ?

9.     How did you purchase household items when you were in quarantine ?

1.     Did your friends / neighbours help you to buy or you purchased it through online ?

10. Did you feel any changes in your normal health pattern after affected with covid ?

11. Are you vaccinated? If yes, how many doses?

12. What is your attitude towards quarantine?

13. Are you afraid of the third wave of covid?

14. How did the quarantine helped you in preventing further infection of corona virus?

 

Figure 5: Schematic representation of themes and subthemes

 

MAJOR FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION:

·       The majority of the samples were females (90%).

·       Majority (70%) belongs to the age between 20-45.

·       Among the physical dimension a vast majority had minor gastric problems

·       In psychological dimension the majority of them had fear as a chief problem.

·       In social dimension the, majority of sample gave importance to social support system.

·       In Spiritual dimension majority of the people had theism.

·       In Economical dimension major themes like majority of the sample were financial dependent

 

Investigator felt Most inspiring verbatim as:

The participant said “I used to read Bible, pray rosary and I have even written a bible verse for 1000 times”. our main focus was on spirituality. It was during these days; we prayed the most ….I saw god face to face during my difficulties and tensions…

Investigator felt most touching verbatim as:

“My son had exam and I was unable to teach him. Myself and my son were sitting in different rooms wearing a mask and i used to teach him. It was very difficult for me. And for the exam, I used to sanitize all the articles including pen and paper and give it to them. Similarly, while receiving any articles from him, I used to put inside the plastic cover for one day then I would take it on next day after sanitising teaching was a difficult job for me”.

 

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Received on 17.03.2022         Modified on 20.04.2022

Accepted on 19.05.2022       ©A&V Publications All right reserved