Symptom experiences and symptom management in patients with COVID 19

Abstract

This cross-sectional descriptive research aimed 1) to survey the symptom perception: frequency, severity, suffering, or daily life disturbance of symptoms of each stage of illness and 2) to survey the COVID-19 patients’ strategies to cope with the symptoms and the result of the strategies. The representative sample was 30 post-COVID-19 patients who got treatment, recovered from COVID-19 not more than 3 months ago, and lived in a district of Ubon Ratchathani from October 2022 to March 2023. The number of the sample was proportional to the population. The representative sample was questioned through phone calls using a structured interview. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and content analysis.

The result of the research revealed that the first symptom perception of abnormalities would mostly worsen in the first week. The severity would decrease in the second week and gradually recover in the consecutive weeks as follows: Coughing was the most common in the first week, with the highest frequency (M = 3.60, SD = 1.50). The severity of symptoms was moderate (M = 6.40, SD = 3.21). And the daily life disturbance was highest (M = 3.72, SD = 1.51). Coughing was the most common in the second week, while the frequency of the olfactory loss was the highest. The severity of symptoms was moderate (M = 5.69 SD = 2.89). In addition, the daily life disturbance was the highest (M=3.12 SD=1.73). In 14 days after the treatment, coughing, and fatigue were the most common, and the frequency of coughing was the highest. However, the severity was low (M= 3.69, SD = 2.59). It was found that dyspnea disturbed daily life the most (M = 2.67, SD = 1.63). Three strategies to cope with the symptoms were:  Self-monitoring and letting the symptoms naturally disappear, Self-care, and Hospitalization. The result of the symptom management showed that almost all of the symptoms disappeared. However, some symptoms, especially fatigue, persisted.

The results of this survey can support nurses appropriately and efficiently planning nursing care for patients with each stage of illness. Nurses should encourage patients to self-care and do proper symptom management.