Living in Isolation: A Thematic Analysis of COVID-19 Patient Experiences, Perceptions and its Literature Review

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has not only placed an unprecedented strain on healthcare systems worldwide, but has also caused irreparable physical and psychological damage to those infected.It is essential to understand the disease process and psychological experience of patients with COVID-19, to provide them with efficacious psychological guidance and interventions.This qualitative systematic review sought to explore the experience of COVID-19 patients.Methods: A qualitative study including COVID-19 patients who experienced isolation in Peshawar was conducted from 1st Feb, 2021 to 15th March, 2021.It included 20 males of mean age around 20-60.Audio/telephonic interviews were conducted based on a well-structured Questionnaire comprising seven questions, a copy of which is attached below.Study design: A phenomenological qualitative study using in-depth interviews.Results and Conclusion: Worldwide the pandemic had caused the social and personal lives of human beings to change drastically, the patients initially had negative responses and thoughts regarding isolation in the first week, once time passed, they got used to it and response changed from negative to positive responses in a short time.Psychologically about one third of patients had developed anxiety, depression and hopelessness.Patients had fear of progression of disease but slowly and gradually they got used to it and they developed certain ways of keeping