Empirical Phenomenological Approach Research Articles

Assessing the integration of skin screening into a mass drug administration campaign against neglected tropical diseases: A cross-sectional observational study from two districts in Côte d'Ivoire, 2023

BackgroundThe World Health Organization advocates integrating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) into common delivery platforms to combat them in resource-constrained settings. However, limited literature exists on the benefits of integration. This study examines the feasibility and impact of adding skin screening to a mass drug administration (MDA) campaign in Côte d'Ivoire. MethodsIn June 2023, the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene of Côte d'Ivoire piloted screening for skin-related NTDs alongside a national MDA campaign targeting soil-transmitted helminthiases and schistosomiasis. Two districts, Fresco and Koro, were selected for the pilot. The study applied both quantitative and qualitative assessments. The quantitative aspect focused on campaign costs and outputs, using an ingredient approach for costing. The qualitative evaluation employed an empirical phenomenological approach to analyze the campaign's operational feasibility and appreciation by stakeholders. FindingsMDA activities cost $0·66 per treated child and skin screening $0·62 per screened person, including medical products. The MDA campaign exceeded coverage targets in both districts, whereas skin screening coverage varied by locality and age group. Both the service delivery team and the beneficiaries expressed appreciation for the integrated campaign. However, opportunities for improvement were identified. ConclusionIntegrating MDA and skin NTD screening proved operationally feasible in this context but had not recorded cost-saving effects. The performance of the MDA campaign was not negatively affected by additional skin screening activities, but effective integration requires thorough joint planning, strengthened training, and proper supervision.

Phenomenology of Educational Exclusion at Secondary School Level in India

Secondary education redefines the academic foundation of the child and serves as a link between the elementary and higher education, which in turns help in developing a reservoir of intellectual human resource. India envisioned having universalization of secondary education and substantial progress has been made in achieving the goal. Many of the children entering the schools are unable to complete education and multiple factors are responsible for their dropping out. It necessitates to a deeper probe into the problem of exclusion of children from secondary education. Present study provides an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon of educational exclusion at secondary school level in India. Empirical Phenomenological approach was adopted to carry out this study. The study was delimited to one state of India i.e. Punjab. A sample of 72 dropped-out adolescents (54 boys and 18 girls), their parents (61) was drawn from the selected areas of Punjab using ppurposive sampling technique. Open-ended questions were asked to generate data that led to a textural description. Data analysis revealed nine composite textural theme swhich included (i) Gender Bias (in case of girls), (ii) Finnacial Constraints (iii) School Distance (iv) Family responsibilities (v) Physical disability (vi) Demotivating and Hostile teachers (vii) Learning Difficulties (viii) Failure (ix) Early marriage in case of girls.

Work Experience of Intensive Care Nurses during the Period of the Pandemic: A Qualitative Study.

This study was conducted to describe the working experiences, feelings, and thoughts of nurses working in the intensive care unit (ICU) during the COVID-19 pandemic from their perspective. Empirical phenomenological approach, one of the qualitative study methods, was used to obtain detailed descriptions of the experiences of nurses working in the ICU during the COVID-19 outbreak in providing patient care. The research design is an in-depth interview technique. The Colaizzi method was used in the analysis of the interviews. The data obtained from the research were categorized in six main themes. These themes are as follows: backbone of the health system-nursing, professional achievements, difficulties encountered, support needs and expectations, changes in emotions, and private life. In the process of fighting the pandemic, ICU nurses undertook important responsibilities, quickly adapted to the crisis, and displayed a strong stance, thus carrying a huge burden within the healthcare system.

SARS-CoV-2 transmission among healthcare workers and related potential stigma during COVID-19 pandemic

A limited number of studies are available on COVID-19 patients by disease cluster. We aimed to evaluate the healthcare cluster and stigmatization during the COVID-19 outbreak in Batam, Indonesia. A qualitative study using an empirical phenomenological approach and in-depth interviews with content and thematic analysis was conducted. The informants admitted that they were infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SAR-CoV-2) virus due to non-compliance to COVID-19 protocols, such as removing masks and talking face to face during breaks in meetings held in poor-ventilated rooms. A social stigma was experienced by these healthcare workers because people tended to keep their distance and ostracized them because they were afraid of COVID-19. Healthcare workers tend to be stigmatized and ostracized by the community. A clinical guideline and public health policy should be established by involving community leaders to minimize the psychological pressure experienced by healthcare workers. The results of this study can help policy makers to improve risk management standards in controlling the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in health center to create publich health trust in eliminating COVID-19.

Perception of Frontline Social Workers' Role in Healthcare Sector Combating COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu: A Phenomenological Study.

COVID-19 emerged as a global pandemic of the twenty-first century. It has created a huge burden on society. More specifically, it has turned into one of the health risks that threaten to undermine societal order in general. The global effort to save humanity from this public health crisis is heavily reliant on professional social workers. According to the study's qualitative findings and perspectives on social workers' experiences in the health sector, the COVID-19 response is addressed. This study explores the function and difficulties faced by frontline social workers through an empirical phenomenological approach. Primary data for this study was gathered from 20 social workers from the leading healthcare institutions in Tamil Nadu using purposive and snowball sampling. The study focuses on three key conclusions, including the requirement for interdisciplinary expertise to address the multifaceted effects of pandemics, perceived difficulties in pandemic practice, and obstacles in service provision. The report offers recommendations for advancing social work initiatives as a conclusion. It also explains how modern social work may benefit healthcare facilities better in the fight against the pandemic.

Akparabong and Yalla-Nkum Relations in the Middle Cross River Region, Nigeria

People and cultures migrating from one location to another is thought to be a long-standing historical trend. This is essentially true during the formative stages of nation-states. Internal and external factors more frequently induced the movement of a diverse range of people in groups or trickled them to habitations deemed more favourable, secure, or conducive to farming, settlement, hunting, and so on. Wars, slave raids, hostile neighborhoods, or the search for resources like water, salt ponds, and so on, constituted the push and pull factors of early migrations of populations. This paper considers the migrations and settlement of Yalla-Nkum and Akparabong and their impact on intergroup relations in Ikom, middle Cross River Region, from 1815–2007. The raison d’être and the factors of contacts and relations in determining the politics of Ikom have all been considered. The empirical phenomenological approach used in this study. Checking data is based on information obtained from informed informants. Documented sources also complement the primary data obtained. Findings show that ownership and management of scarce resources attract envy, hostility, and even resource conflicts among pre-colonial groups, thereby setting the pattern of relationships during the colonial era.

Evaluating the effects of an intervention to improve the health environment for mothers and children in health centres (BECEYA) in Mali: a qualitative study.

an intervention aiming to improve the maternal and children environment in healthcare facilities (BECEYA) was launched in three regions of Mali. This study aimed to explore the perceptions and experiences of patients and their companions, community actors, and healthcare facilities staff on the effects of the BECEYA intervention in two regions of Mali. we conducted a qualitative study using an empirical phenomenological approach. Through purposive sampling, women who attended antenatal care in the selected healthcare centres, companions, and health facility staff members were recruited. Data were collected during January and February 2020 through semi-structured individual interviews and focus groups. According to Braun and Clarke's approach, audio recordings were transcribed verbatim, and a thematic analysis was conducted in five main steps. Donabedian conceptual framework of quality of care was used to present the perceived changes following the implementation of the BECEYA project. we recruited 26 participants in individual interviews (20 women attending prenatal care and maternity services, 10 per health centre, four companions, and two healthcare centre managers) and 21 healthcare centre staff members (10 in Babala, 11 in Wayerma 2) in focus groups. Themes that emerged from data analysis are perceived changes in terms of infrastructure (perceived changes in the characteristics of the healthcare facilities setting, including the infrastructure introduced by the BECEYA project), process (changes in the delivery and use of care introduced or resulting from BECEYA activities), and outcome (the direct and indirect effects of these changes on the health status of patients and the population). the study highlighted some positive effects on women users of the services, their companions, and health centre staff following the implementation of the intervention. This study contributes to showing some links between improving the environment of healthcare centres and the quality of care in developing countries.

Positive Experiences of Nurses Working During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Introduction. The Covid-19 pandemic was a crisis situation that strained the health system. It carried a high risk of negative consequences, but there are also chances that some positive aspects will emerge, known as the post-traumatic growth phenomenon.
 Aim. The main aim of the study was to document and analyse the positive work experience of nursing staff in Poland gained in the period of the Covid-19 pandemic.
 Material and Methods. A qualitative study was conducted using the empirical phenomenological approach. The study involved a group of 215 nurses from different regions of Poland, including 209 women and 6 men aged between 22 and 65 years. They worked in hospital wards and in primary care. The study was carried out using an online survey method with subjects allowed to add comments. The results were subjected to content analysis.
 Results. During the analysis of the material, 10 thematic categories emerged, i.e. remuneration, professional development, team integration, epidemiological principles, adaptation to new conditions, lack of visits, assistance, improvement of work organisation, staff shortages and telemedicine.
 Conclusions. Based on the results of this study, it was indicated that nurses observe some positive experiences in relation to working during the pandemic. The results of this study can provide a starting point for further analyses that may be used to organise the work of nursing staff. (JNNN 2022;11(3):99–104)

Identifikasi Pengalaman Istri Mendapatkan Stigma Negatif dengan Kondisi Infertilitas

This study aims to identify the wife's experience of getting negative stigma with infertility conditions in Palembang. This research method is a qualitative study with an empirical phenomenological approach and uses direct interviews. The number of participants in this study reached 12 people. The study's results show three themes that can describe the experience of a wife getting negative stigma with infertility conditions: the first theme is about deep feelings and loneliness with infertility conditions. This can be done by participants who feel lonely without a child's presence. The second theme concerns the negative stigma of a large family and society. The participants can say that they often get ridiculed by their neighbors and husband's family as barren wives. The third theme is about the wife's high hopes in marriage. This can be done by the participants who want offspring and to have a happy and peaceful life in their household. In conclusion, significant themes describe the wife's experience of getting negative stigma with infertility conditions, psychological problems arising from feelings of deep sadness and infertility, negative or lousy stigma given by society and family, and the wife's high hopes in marriage.
 
 Keywords: Infertility, Wife, Negative Stigma

Experiences and challenges faced by community mental health workers when providing care to people with mental illness: a qualitative study

BackgroundMental illness is a major burden of disease worldwide. Community Mental Health Services (CMHS) are key to achieving community-based recovery for people with mental illness. In China, even though the community management of patients with mental illness is improving, the barriers faced by Community Mental Health Workers (CMHWs) are unclear. This study explores the difficulties and challenges in CMHS from the perspective of CMHWs. The results of this study may provide a practical basis for the training of CMHWs.MethodsWe carried out a qualitative study using an empirical phenomenological approach. Nine CMHWs were recruited from nine communities in Wuhan, Hubei Province, using purposive and snowball sampling. Face to face semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with them from December 27 to 28, 2019. Interview recordings were converted to text content by Nvivo 11.0 software and analyzed using Colaizzi’s phenomenological method.ResultsThree main themes were identified in this study: 1) Lack of role orientation leads to role ambiguity, 2) Failure to establish a therapeutic trust relationship with patients, and 3) Lack of communication and collaboration with various departments and peers. Seven sub themes were also identified. In these themes, CMHWs emphasized the importance of role clarity, therapeutic trusting relationships, and effective communication and coordination mechanisms.ConclusionAlthough China has made great efforts on the road to improving the quality of CMHS, several salient issues regarding CMHWs must be addressed to optimize the quality of services provided by CMHWs. Community mental health institutions should help CMHWs overcome these difficulties, by maximizing its value and promoting the development of CMHS.

Grief Experiences of Families of Individuals Who Died Due to Coronavirus Disease-19: A Qualitative Study.

The fear of contracting the disease, introduction of practices such as quarantine, social isolation, and curfew to prevent its transmission, and effects of experiencing a loss due to this disease are experienced differently by different people. The empirical phenomenological approach will be used to describe, explain, and analyze the experiences of the family members of individuals who lost their lives due to COVID-19. This study was created in accordance with COREQ Statement Checklist. The themes obtained from the interviews are "death in isolation", "changing cultural-religious practices that cannot be performed", "not being able to say goodbye".This transformed grieving process caused by the pandemic may create unique psychosocial needs among family members. To meet these needs, planning and organizing complex grief therapy, speech therapies, expressive supportive counseling, and grief recovery programs is recommended.

Fostering Resilient Health Systems in India: Providing Care for PLHIV Under the Shadow of COVID-19.

IntroductionThe novel coronavirus or COVID-19 has resulted in major human casualties, and extreme socio-economic crises causing catastrophic disturbances to health systems and communities alike. This study qualitatively explores the challenges experienced by healthcare providers while providing services to people living with HIV (PLHIV) during the pandemic outbreak and subsequent lockdown in India. The paper also explores strategies developed and adopted to provide continued care for PLHIV.MethodsUsing an empirical phenomenological approach, qualitative in-depth telephonic interviews were conducted with 19 HIV care providers from five states in India. The recorded interviews were transcribed and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis with the help of Dedoose software.ResultsFrom the analysis of participants' narratives, three main themes emerged: (1) Challenges of working during a pandemic; (2) Remodeling care delivery to ensure continuity of services; (3) Resilience.DiscussionOur findings highlight the challenges that providers faced, despite which, adaptive efforts were made to continue providing quality care for PLHIV through ingenious and innovative strategies. To foster resilient health systems, health workers are the primary stakeholders. We recommend formal social protection, comprehensive primary healthcare support, and sufficient capacity building for health workers for their self-care and pandemic preparedness.

Healthcare Frontliners Experiences during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Phenomenological Study

Healthcare personnel are working in the higher-risk department as they are in primary contact with Covid-19 patients. In the Philippines, 2,315 Filipino healthcare workers have been infected by the corona virus as of May 2020, with death toll at 35 (DOH, 2020). A qualitative study using empirical phenomenological approach was used to examine the lived experiences of healthcare frontliners. Participants are healthcare frontliners, specifically nurses who are providing direct care and treatment for patients with Covid-19. Participants were recruited through purposive and snowballing sampling. Data was saturated on the 15th informants. Result showed that Healthcare frontliners face a challenging situation in this time of pandemic. Challenges of the healthcare frontliners includes physical challenges, emotional challenges, psychological challenges, financial challenges and organizational challenges. Despite the overwhelming challenges they are facing, still they have ways to cope up with these challenges. Their coping strategies includes strengthening mental health, strong spiritual health, support system and strengthening physical health. The importance of recognizing the experiences of health workers and understanding them is deemed significantly necessary as these accounts will help influence the policy making of future governmental programs for health workers.

“Could You Work in My Team?”: Exploring How Professional Clinical Role Expectations Influence Decision-Making of Assessors During Exit-Level Medical School OSCEs

Decision-making in clinical assessment, such as exit-level medical school Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs), is complex. This study utilized an empirical phenomenological qualitative approach with thematic analysis to explore OSCE assessors' perceptions of the concept of a “prototypical intern” expressed during focus group discussions. Topics discussed included the concept of a prototypical intern, qualities to be assessed, and approaches to clinical assessment decision-making. The thematic analysis was then applied to a theoretical framework (Cultural Historical Activity Theory—CHAT) that explored the complexity of making assessment decisions amidst potentially contradicting pressures from academic and clinical perspectives. Ten Australasian medical schools were involved with 15 experienced and five less experienced assessors participating. Thematic analysis of the data revealed four major themes in relation to how the prototypical intern concept influences clinical assessors' judgements: (a) Suitability of marking rubric based on assessor characteristics and expectations; (b) Competence as final year student vs. performance as a prototypical intern; (c) Safety, trustworthiness and reliability as constructs requiring assessment and (d) Contradictions in decision making process due to assessor differences. These themes mapped well within the interaction between two proposed activity systems in the CHAT model: academic and clinical. More clinically engaged and more experienced assessors tend to fall back on a heuristic, mental construct of a “prototypical intern,” to calibrate judgements, particularly, in difficult situations. Further research is needed to explore whether consensus on desirable intern qualities and their inclusion into OSCE marksheets decreases the cognitive load and increases the validity of assessor decision making.

\u201cLike before, but not exactly\u201d: the Qualy-REACT qualitative inquiry into the lived experience of long COVID

BackgroundPost-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) affect millions of individuals worldwide. Rehabilitation interventions could support individuals during the recovery phase of COVID-19, but a comprehensive understanding of this new disease and its associated needs is crucial. This qualitative study investigated the experience of individuals who had been hospitalized for COVID-19, focusing on those needs and difficulties they perceived as most urgent.MethodsThis naturalistic qualitative study was part of a single-center mix-method cross-sectional study (REACT) conducted in Italy during the first peak of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The qualitative data collection took place through a telephone interview conducted 3 months after hospital discharge. The experience of individuals discharged after hospitalization for COVID-19 was investigated through the main research question – “Tell me, how has it been going since you were discharged?”. Two secondary questions investigated symptoms, activities, and participation. Data were recorded and transcribed verbatim within 48 h. An empirical phenomenological approach was used by the researchers, who independently analyzed the data and, through consensus, developed an interpretative model to answer the research question. Translation occurred after data was analyzed.ResultsDuring the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, 784 individuals with COVID-19 were discharged from the hospitals of the Local Health Authority of the Province of Reggio Emilia (Italy); 446 were excluded due to the presence of acute or chronic conditions causing disability other than COVID-19 (n. 339), inability to participate in the study procedures (n. 56), insufficient medical documentation to allow for screening (n. 21), discharge to residential facilities (n. 25), and pregnancy (n. 5). Overall, 150 individuals consented to participate in the REACT study, and 56 individuals (60.7% male, average age 62.8 years ±11.8) were interviewed in June–July 2020, up to data saturation.Persistent symptoms, feelings of isolation, fear and stigma, emotional distress, a fatalistic attitude, and return to (adapted) life course were the key themes that characterized the participants’ experience after hospital discharge.ConclusionsThe experience as narrated by the participants in this study confirms the persistence of symptoms described in PASC and highlights the sense of isolation and psychological distress. These phenomena may trigger a vicious circle, but the participants also reported adaptation processes that allowed them to gradually return to their life course. Whether all individuals are able to rapidly activate these mechanisms and whether rehabilitation can help to break this vicious circle by improving residual symptoms remain to be seen.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.com NCT04438239.

Expectations and Experiences of Spanish Primiparous Women Who Decide to Breastfeed Their Infants and Strategies for Change in 2020-A Qualitative Study.

To describe the experiences and expectations of Spanish women regarding breastfeeding and the support they receive from healthcare professionals, family, and friends during the breastfeeding journey, A qualitative study using an empirical-phenomenological approach was conducted. Primiparous women that had already given birth were interviewed using a purposive and snowball sampling. In-depth interviews were conducted between 1 January and 30 April 2020. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using Haase’s adaptation of Colaizzi’s phenomenological method. We recruited 14 women who had recently become mothers. Three major themes describing experiences of infant feeding by maternal lactation were identified—institutional influences, establishing breastfeeding, and cessation of breastfeeding—as well as the following 10 categories: hospital routines, lactation concerns (amount and infant nutrition), antenatal breastfeeding decision, embarrassment to breastfeed, and normalisation of breastfeeding. Prior education and support were identified as key elements in possible breastfeeding support strategies.

Emotions, care difficulties and ethical problems experienced by nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study

Protecting the health and safety of nurses and other health professionals taking an active role during the COVID-19 pandemic is important. Risks not understood by health professionals and inadequate working conditions cause concern and lead to ethical problems. This qualitative research study was conducted to gain an understanding of the difficulties and emotions nurses experience, and their awareness of the ethical problems experienced while providing nursing care in the COVID-19 clinic. Data was collected by two different methods; deep conversation and semi-structured interview and evaluated by content analysis. Using an empirical phenomenological approach, data analysis concluded with two main themes and eight sub-themes. The average age of the nurses is 32.8±6.7, 91.1% are female, 73.3% have a bachelor's degree. Average weekly work hours before COVID-19 pandemic was 43.3± 4.6, after the pandemic 37.8± 5.5, 86.7% expressed that the care patients with COVID-19 received was adequate. The emotions experienced by the participants are positive, negative and ambivalent. During the COVID-19 outbreak, nurses were dominated by negative emotions intensified with the ethical issues surrounding the safety of patients, colleagues, families and themselves. Nurses primarily experience ethical problems related to their, patients’, colleagues’ and families’ safety. Positive emotions expressed by nurses; hopefulness, heroism, joy and success because of the patients' recovery, respect and emotions of gratitude. Some of the difficulties experienced by the participants are difficulties in care due to protective gear worn, difficulty reaching the physician and communication problems. Different studies can be planned regarding the factors affecting healthcare professional-patient communication during the COVID-19 care and treatment process.

When health care workers became patients with COVID-19: A qualitative study.

This study aimed to describe the experiences of nurses and other health care workers who were infected with coronavirus disease 2019. An empirical phenomenological approach was used. Sixteen participants were recruited in Wuhan using purposive and snowball sampling. Semistructured, in-depth interviews were conducted by telephone in February 2020. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed following Colaizzi's method. Two themes emerged: (1) Intense emotional distress since becoming infected. Participants were fearful of spreading the virus to family and overwhelmed by a lack of information, experienced uncertainty and worried about treatment, felt lonely during isolation and reported moral distress about inadequate health care staffing. (2) Coping strategies were needed. They tried their best to address negative psychological reactions using their professional knowledge and gaining support from others and community resources. Preparedness for catastrophic events and providing timely and accurate information are major considerations in government policy development, related to pandemics and adequacy of health care personnel. Mental health resources and support, both short- and long-term should be anticipated for health care providers to alleviate their fear and anxiety.

Experiences and Perceptions of Nursing Students during the COVID-19 Crisis in Spain.

In the early stages of the 2019 coronavirus pandemic in Spain, the Spanish health system was overwhelmed, mainly due to a lack of personnel, and many hospital centers collapsed by following avalanche of patients with COVID-19; this meant that the National System of Health called for fourth-year nursing students to come to the hospital as health care personnel. Our aim was to describe the perceptions and experiences of a sample of nursing students during the early stages of the outbreak. We conducted a qualitative study with an empirical-phenomenological approach. Twenty nursing students in their final year of study in Spain were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling. They participated in in-depth interviews between 20 April and 10 May 2020. The interviews were transcribed and then analyzed using Haase’s adaptation of Colaizzi’s phenomenological method. Four main themes emerged from data analysis: “social responsibility and pride as a health worker”, “pressure caused by working with COVID-19 patients”, “feeling defenseless and let down”, and “personal growth as a health worker”. These main themes were further divided into 11 theme categories. Due to an intense work day for several days in a row, the students were tired and mentally exhausted. Even so, they managed to overcome any difficulties, demonstrating their professional dedication and resilience. Greater preparatory support should be provided to safeguard the well-being of these future healthcare providers. More intensive preparatory training is necessary for health sciences students to facilitate crisis preparedness and effective crisis management. It is necessary to implement support from healthcare systems, including sufficient personal protective equipment, as well as contracts that accurately reflect the work they do. It is necessary for nursing supervisors to have effective communication in the performance of their functions with nursing students; this dialogue helps to clearly explain which are the functions that students must perform when they are carrying out their internships. There is also a need for preparatory training in managing infectious diseases such as COVID-19.

The Experiences of Community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 Lockdown in Wuhan: A qualitative study.

AimsTo explore the experiences of community‐dwelling older adults in Wuhan during the coronavirus disease 2019 lockdown.DesignAn empirical phenomenological approach was used to conduct a qualitative study.MethodsWe performed semi‐structured, in‐depth telephone interviews between July 24 and August 2, 2020. A purposive sample of 18 participants (≥65 years old) who lived in Wuhan during the lockdown was recruited, including both infected and uninfected people. Data summarization and theme categories refinement were performed following Colaizzi's phenomenological approach.ResultsFour main theme categories emerged. First, the ‘Challenges’ posed by the epidemic. Older adults were challenged with barriers in seeing a doctor and daily life inconveniences. And they experienced negative emotions, whether infected or not. The second domain was ‘multi‐dimensional support’, which helped older people went through the difficult period. The third domain was ‘resilience amid challenges’. Although they experienced physical and psychological distress, most of them could self‐adjust and achieve transcendence from the unique experience. Lastly, the remaining impact after the epidemic affected older adults. Some still had mental burdens, while others thought they have benefited from the quarantine time (e.g. regular diet, learning new skills).ConclusionThe epidemic and lockdown of the city brought significant physical and mental challenges to community‐dwelling older adults. Active adaptation and multifaceted support helped them through this period. However, the mental burdens after the epidemic still require attention. These experiences would provide guidelines for the protection of vulnerable populations during public health emergencies.ImpactThe results of the study suggested that certain social dynamics and individual behaviours helped the elderly to better cope with the stressful lockdown period. The findings in this study provided guidelines on how to reduce the negative effects on older adults during the pandemic and enlighten studies concerning the well‐being of older adults or other vulnerable people in future crises.