Chinese infection-control strategies for COVID-19 prevention: A qualitative study with confirmed cases.

Abstract

We aimed to describe how the prevention and controlling strategies have been experienced by COVID-19 patients in China, especially those who had passed through the suspected, diagnosed, hospitalized, and recovery stages of the disease. A descriptive qualitative study followed the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines. COVID-19 patients were recruited from a COVID-19-designated facility in Shanghai, China, from April to June 2020, by the purposive sampling method. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews by cell phone were used and transcriptions were analyzed using inductive qualitative content analysis method. We recruited 26 COVID-19 patients. Three theme categories emerged from the data analysis. The first was "Consciously adhere to COVID-19-related controlling strategies." The second category was "Positive experiences of the COVID-19-related controlling strategies." These patients experienced a quick and adequate medical response, confident in the medical system, or received help from community workers. The third category was "Negative experiences of the COVID-19-related controlling strategies." These patients experienced psychological distress, stigma, privacy exposures, and inconveniences from the controlling strategies. It is urgent to develop a culturally sensitive intervention to eliminate the psychological distress and stigma of patients with COVID-19 and to protect their privacy during and after the pandemic.