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Convalescents’ Reports on COVID-19 Experience—A Qualitative Study

Author

Listed:
  • Renata Bogusz

    (Chair and Department of Humanities and Social Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, 7 Chodźki St., 20-093 Lublin, Poland)

  • Luiza Nowakowska

    (Chair and Department of Humanities and Social Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, 7 Chodźki St., 20-093 Lublin, Poland)

  • Anita Majchrowska

    (Chair and Department of Humanities and Social Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, 7 Chodźki St., 20-093 Lublin, Poland)

  • Rafał Patryn

    (Chair and Department of Humanities and Social Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, 7 Chodźki St., 20-093 Lublin, Poland)

  • Jakub Pawlikowski

    (Chair and Department of Humanities and Social Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, 7 Chodźki St., 20-093 Lublin, Poland)

  • Anna Zagaja

    (Chair and Department of Humanities and Social Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, 7 Chodźki St., 20-093 Lublin, Poland)

  • Paweł Kiciński

    (Department of Experimental Hematooncoloogy, Medical University of Lublin, 1 Chodźki St., 20-093 Lublin, Poland)

  • Magdalena Pacyna

    (Regional Center of Transfusion Medicine, 8 Żołnierzy Niepodległej St., 20-078 Lublin, Poland)

  • Elżbieta Puacz

    (Department of Laboratory Diagnostics of SPZOZ, 4 M. Sobieskiego St., 22-300 Krasnystaw, Poland)

Abstract

Background: The dynamic character of the COVID-19 pandemic and its social consequences caused several medical and societal issues and dilemmas. The aim of our qualitative research was to capture and analyze attitudes and beliefs of convalescents who experienced mild symptoms of COVID-19 in the first wave of the pandemic and decided to donate their plasma for therapeutic purposes. Material and Methods: The article presents results of qualitative research conducted on the basis of grounded theory (GT) methodology. Empirical material includes 10 in-depth interviews conducted with respondents who had mild or asymptomatic disease and, after recovery, voluntarily donated their plasma to the Regional Centre for Blood Donation and Blood Treatment (RCKiK). Data were collected in May and June 2020 in Poland. Qualitative analysis was focused on the experience of convalescents who entered the social role of a sick person in individual, social, and organizational dimensions. Results: The social role of the patient in the narratives of convalescents was related to three stages: (1) initiation to the role, (2) staying in the COVID-19 patient role, and (3) leaving the role. Research results enabled the distinction of three basic descriptive categories (“ontological uncertainty”, “the global and individual dimension”, and “being sick in the disease-infected environment”), which became epistemological framework for a detailed description of the roles played by an individual COVID-19 patient during the pandemic. Conclusions: The disease, despite its mild course, generated a number of non-medical issues, and the entire process of being ill was burdened with institutional and emotional struggles. The experience of mild COVID-19 is significantly modified by disease institutionalization. These results may contribute to a better understanding of the psychosocial dimension of COVID-19 and convalescents’ motivations for plasma donation.

Suggested Citation

  • Renata Bogusz & Luiza Nowakowska & Anita Majchrowska & Rafał Patryn & Jakub Pawlikowski & Anna Zagaja & Paweł Kiciński & Magdalena Pacyna & Elżbieta Puacz, 2022. "Convalescents’ Reports on COVID-19 Experience—A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-15, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:10:p:6147-:d:818463
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cuiyan Wang & Riyu Pan & Xiaoyang Wan & Yilin Tan & Linkang Xu & Cyrus S. Ho & Roger C. Ho, 2020. "Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-25, March.
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