BACK TO LIFE: IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE MYSELF AGAIN? A QUALITATIVE STUDY WITH PERSONS INITIALLY HOSPITALIZED DUE TO COVID-19

OBJECTIVE: To gain a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of patients with COVID-19, regarding rehabilitation, work and social life 6 months after hospital discharge. DESIGN: An explorative qualitative study with individual interviews. SUBJECTS: Patients of working age with persistent self-reported symptoms at a 3-month follow-up who had received inpatient hospital care with discharge approximately 6 months previously were purposively sampled. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were performed with 10 men and 5 women. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed with inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Four themes were identified: “Social support – crucial, but decreased over time”, “Varying needs of, and access to, rehabilitation”, “Returning to work after COVID-19 – crucial for future prospects” and “An overwhelming experience that essentially changed one’s personality”. CONCLUSION: Rehabilitation provided participants with the valuable tools for recovery, giving them hope for future recovery. Support from next of kin was highly valued, creating stronger family bonds. A new meaning and greater appreciation of life was expressed. LAY ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of COVID-19 patients regarding rehabilitation, work and social life 6 months after hospital discharge. Patients of working age with persistent self-reported symptoms at a 3-month follow-up, who had received inpatient care at hospital with discharge approximately 6 months previously, were recruited. Individual interviews were performed with 10 men and 5 women, and the interviews were analysed according to thematic analysis. The study found that the rehabilitation team provided participants with valuable tools for recovery, which made them feel they were improving and gave them hope of future recovery. Support from next of kin was highly valued, and this created stronger family bonds. Participants also expressed a new meaning to, and greater appreciation for, life.