Document Type : Original Article
Authors
Nursing Care Research Center, Clinical Sciences Institute, Nursing Faculty, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Background: Understanding the experiences of the healthcare staff during the coronavirus pandemic is essential. Accordingly, this study aimed to explore these experiences regarding providing care to COVID-19 patients.
Methods: This qualitative study was conducted from March to July 2020 at a designated COVID-19 referral hospital in Tehran, Iran. Data were collected through individual interviews with ten nurses and physicians selected via purposive sampling. The collected data were analyzed using conventional content analysis.
Results: Data analysis led to the identification of five stages including screening in the convalescent ward, transfer to the hospital, treatment in the hospital, discharge from the hospital and admission to the convalescent ward, and discharge from the convalescent ward and follow-up. The first and fifth stages were positioned at the macro level, forming the outer surface of the model. Besides, admission, treatment, and discharge from the hospital constituted the micro level. The space between these two stages formed the hypothetical meso level, which connected the macro and micro levels. The meso level represented an opportunity for empowerment activities for healthcare centers and staff across various domains.
Conclusion: Comprehensive service delivery for COVID-19 patients requires the effective implementation of multiple stages, from screening and hospital admission to discharge from the convalescent ward and subsequent follow-ups. The preventive role of the convalescent ward, represented at the macro level of the model, is significantly important as it serves as a buffer between the community and the hospital at infection transmission and recurrence stages.
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