Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic, first reported in Wuhan, China, has significantly impacted global public health, research, and medical communities. Surviving COVID-19 is a new phenomenon, and existing literature lacks insight into patients' emotional responses. AIM: This pilot study aimed to explore the lived experiences of COVID-19 survivors using a descriptive phenomenological approach. METHODS: The study followed the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines. A semi-structured interview guide was used to conduct in-depth interviews to extract the participants' diverse emotional and cognitive experiences, covering topics such as overall experiences, coping strategies, medical care, quarantine experience, social, spiritual, and work-related dimensions, and post-COVID-19 concerns. ANALYSIS: The researcher transcribed audio recordings and analyzed them using Colaizzi's descriptive phenomenological analysis method. RESULTS: The study involved two consenting adults with COVID-19, with a mean age of 39 ± 1 years. The participants' experiences were categorized into "immediate crisis," diagnosis, hospital services, transmission, life transition, physical symptoms, rehabilitation, relationship with healthcare personnel, social relationship, and treatment. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 survivors faced a multitude of symptoms while enduring the illness and thereafter.