LIVED EXPERIENCES OF HOSPITALIZED COVID-19 SURVIVORS: CHALLENGES AND COPING MECHANISM

COVID-19 had a devastating impact on the world in a wide variety of ways, including on people's health, the economy, and their social lives, amongst a great many other things. This study aimed to determine the challenges that hospitalized COVID-19 survivors face, how the effects of these concerns manifest in their daily lives, and how they cope with these challenges. Using a developed interview guide following a qualitative research methodology, interviews were conducted with participants who were selected for this study based on their ability to satisfy the specified criteria. Colaizzi's methodology was utilized to analyze the results of the conducted interviews. Results show that the major themes are as the survivors of COVID-19, challenges, and coping. Moreover, the findings show that some problems and challenges hospitalized COVID-19 survivors faced during their isolation. These challenges include financial concerns, trauma, and communication. Thus, the study also revealed that there are coping mechanisms that the patients had utilized such as: having faith in God and support. Furthermore, the researchers recommended that it be beneficial to take into consideration the experiences of those who were confined at home and to compare the findings with the experiences of the Covid-19 survivors who were hospitalized. Aside from that, the hospitals must provide virtual counseling for COVID-19 patients as this could ease the negative thoughts or overthinking of the patients inside COVID-19 isolation. The student nurses and nursing educators may also use the relevant data provided in this research in their educational pursuits. Lastly, future researchers may conduct a qualitative study to explore further other themes regarding the lived experiences of hospitalized COVID-19 survivors.