Explaining the Experiences of Families with Patients Affected by COVID-19: A Qualitative Study

Introduction:The coronavirus crisis is a multidimensional phenomenon that affects even the family.The impact of the situation on the family has been less discussed.Therefore, a qualitative study was conducted to explain families' experiences with patients suffering from COVID-19.Methods: A qualitative study was conducted with a content analysis approach in 2021.Sampling started with purposive sampling and continued theoretically until information saturation was reached.The primary data collection tool was a semi-structured, in-depth interview in which 10 participants were interviewed.The participants were people from the family of a patient with COVID-19 who, while willing to participate in the study, were either involved in caring for the patient or were worried about the patient's infection.In addition, their patient recovered from Corona and was alive.The interview location was chosen according to the participants' opinion, whether it was at their home or a place that was convenient for them.The interviews were analyzed using the Granheim and Lundman method.Results: After analyzing the data, initially, 391 codes, 16 subcategories, and finally, five themes were extracted.The five themes that emerged are the experienced symptoms of the disease with two subcategories (symptoms of the onset of the disease and the course of the symptoms), mental and emotional disturbances with seven subcategories (contagion anxiety, death anxiety, fear of the vague nature of the disease, torment of conscience, obsession, emotional suffering, and financial worries), sacrifice in care with two subcategories (suffering care and multiplicity of roles), resilience in the path of care with three subcategories (supportive aspects, reduction of caregiving stress and obtaining information about the disease), Change and evolution in the course of life with two subcategories (individual growth and getting the meaning of life).Conclusions: According to the present study, after one of the family members gets infected with Corona, the other members have a crisis.The individual, psychological, social, and economic dimensions of the family foundation are facing challenges.It needs the comprehensive support of the family as the first and most important institution of society.Although facing this crisis and accompanying challenges leads to the experience of special suffering, it lays the foundation for personal growth and a better understanding of the meaning of life.Therefore, it can be said that the experience of this crisis is not only from the social aspect but also from the individual aspect, along with tremendous positive and negative developments.