tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
PLoS One
. 2022 Jun 2;17(6):e0269338.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269338. eCollection 2022.
Experiences of COVID-19 infection in North Carolina: A qualitative analysis
Justine Seidenfeld[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Anna Tupetz[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Cassandra Fiorino[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Alexander Limkakeng[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Lincoln Silva[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Catherine Staton[SUP] 1 4 [/SUP], Joao R N Vissoci[SUP] 1 4 [/SUP], John Purakal[SUP] 1 5 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Background and aim: It has been demonstrated that marginalized populations across the U.S. have suffered a disproportionate burden of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, illustrating the role that social determinants of health play in health outcomes. To better understand how these vulnerable and high-risk populations have experienced the pandemic, we conducted a qualitative study to better understand their experiences from diagnosis through recovery.
Methods: We conducted a qualitative study of patients in a North Carolina healthcare system's registry who tested positive for COVID-19 from March 2020 through February 2021, identified from population-dense outbreaks of COVID-19 (hotspots). We conducted semi-structured phone interviews in English or Spanish, based on patient preference, with trained bilingual study personnel. Each interview was evaluated using a combination of deductive and inductive content analysis to determine prevalent themes related to COVID-19 knowledge, diagnosis, disease experience, and long-term impacts.
Findings: The 10 patients interviewed from our COVID-19 hotspot clusters were of equal distribution by sex, predominantly Black (70%), aged 22-70 years (IQR 45-62 years), and more frequently publicly insured (50% Medicaid/Medicare, vs 30% uninsured, vs 20% private insurance). Major themes identified included prior knowledge of COVID-19 and patient perceptions of their personal risk, the testing process in numerous settings, the process of quarantining at home after a positive diagnosis, the experience of receiving medical care during their illness, and difficulties with long-term recovery.
Discussion: Our findings suggest areas for targeted interventions to reduce COVID-19 transmission in these high-risk communities, as well as improve the patient experience throughout the COVID-19 illness course.
. 2022 Jun 2;17(6):e0269338.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269338. eCollection 2022.
Experiences of COVID-19 infection in North Carolina: A qualitative analysis
Justine Seidenfeld[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Anna Tupetz[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Cassandra Fiorino[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Alexander Limkakeng[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Lincoln Silva[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Catherine Staton[SUP] 1 4 [/SUP], Joao R N Vissoci[SUP] 1 4 [/SUP], John Purakal[SUP] 1 5 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 35653407
- DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269338
Abstract
Background and aim: It has been demonstrated that marginalized populations across the U.S. have suffered a disproportionate burden of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, illustrating the role that social determinants of health play in health outcomes. To better understand how these vulnerable and high-risk populations have experienced the pandemic, we conducted a qualitative study to better understand their experiences from diagnosis through recovery.
Methods: We conducted a qualitative study of patients in a North Carolina healthcare system's registry who tested positive for COVID-19 from March 2020 through February 2021, identified from population-dense outbreaks of COVID-19 (hotspots). We conducted semi-structured phone interviews in English or Spanish, based on patient preference, with trained bilingual study personnel. Each interview was evaluated using a combination of deductive and inductive content analysis to determine prevalent themes related to COVID-19 knowledge, diagnosis, disease experience, and long-term impacts.
Findings: The 10 patients interviewed from our COVID-19 hotspot clusters were of equal distribution by sex, predominantly Black (70%), aged 22-70 years (IQR 45-62 years), and more frequently publicly insured (50% Medicaid/Medicare, vs 30% uninsured, vs 20% private insurance). Major themes identified included prior knowledge of COVID-19 and patient perceptions of their personal risk, the testing process in numerous settings, the process of quarantining at home after a positive diagnosis, the experience of receiving medical care during their illness, and difficulties with long-term recovery.
Discussion: Our findings suggest areas for targeted interventions to reduce COVID-19 transmission in these high-risk communities, as well as improve the patient experience throughout the COVID-19 illness course.