Nurses’ psychological changes and coping strategies during home isolation for the 2019 novel coronavirus in China: A qualitative study

Abstract

Aims To explore the psychological changes of nurses during home isolation, the factors that related with these changes, and coping strategies in home isolation during the epidemic of COVID‐19 in China. Design A qualitative study based on grounded theory. Methods Individual semi‐structured telephone interviews were conducted from January 2020‐February 2020 with 10 nurses who were isolated at home sharing the experiences of the epidemic of COVID‐19. All interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analysed using constant comparative data analysis. Results Analyses of the collected data reveal that the psychological changes of nurses during home isolation reflect a complex, dynamic, and gradually adaptive process that was affected by many factors. Nurses had many negative emotional reactions in the early stages of isolation and positive emotions gradually increased during home isolation. After release from home isolation, they become more confident and calm after. Six categories of coping strategies were identified, including reasoned cognition; autosuggestion; develop healthy protective behaviours; shifting attention; social support; and the power of a role model. Conclusions The study provides a better understanding of the psychological changes and the coping strategies used among nurses isolated at home. It is necessary to pay more attention to negative emotions in the early stages of home isolation to help nurses adjust quickly. The coping strategies used by nurses are likely to help those in home isolation reduce negative psychological changes and experience more optimal self‐adjustment. Impact This study explored the psychological changes and coping strategies of home isolation among nurses, providing useful advice for psychologists to develop psychological crisis interventions to help individuals reduce negative psychological and have more actively coping strategies when faced sudden stressful infectious diseases.

A scoping review of COVID-19-related stress coping resources among nurses

“…In the 13 research studies included in the scoping review ( Table 3 ), 3,613 nurses expressed their thoughts and praised coping techniques. The papers included 7 cross-sectional studies [ [52] , [53] , [54] , [55] , [56] , 58 , 61 ], 2 qualitative study [ 57 , 59 ], 2 mixed-method studies [ 60 , 62 ], 1 comparative study [ 64 ], and 1 pilot-based study [ 63 ]. Of these, 4 studies are from China [ 53 , [57] , [58] , [59] , 64 ], and 3 from America [ 55 , 60 , 61 ].…”

“…The papers included 7 cross-sectional studies [ [52] , [53] , [54] , [55] , [56] , 58 , 61 ], 2 qualitative study [ 57 , 59 ], 2 mixed-method studies [ 60 , 62 ], 1 comparative study [ 64 ], and 1 pilot-based study [ 63 ]. Of these, 4 studies are from China [ 53 , [57] , [58] , [59] , 64 ], and 3 from America [ 55 , 60 , 61 ]. The research covered both males and females.…”

Emotional Experience and Feelings during First COVID-19 Outbreak Perceived by Physical Therapists: A Qualitative Study in Madrid, Spain

“…In fact, anger, fear, sadness, disgust, and uncertainty were emotions reported by Spanish citizens during their lockdown at the first COVID-19 outbreak [ 34 ]. Zhang et al [ 35 ] also reported that health professionals (nurses) had several negative emotional reactions in the early stages of home isolation. Therefore, it seems that healthcare professionals, independent of the profession, experienced a double stress situation, professional overload and personal/familiar lockdown, during the first COVID-19 outbreak.…”

“Novice nurse and novel coronavirus”—experiences of novice nurses caring for patients diagnosed with COVID‐19 in Thailand

“…In addition, when working during the COVID‐19 pandemic, healthcare providers find it difficult to work with heavy protective equipment, as it makes it difficult for them to move their body and conduct various procedures, which is the same as professional nurses who experience difficulties in performing their tasks during the COVID‐19 pandemic as well (Galehdar et al., 2020 ; Thobaity & Alshammari, 2020 ). However, even though the pandemic causes stressfulness and difficulty, it makes the novice nurses feel proud of being on the frontline taking care of COVID‐19 patients and being part of the team that is tasked with caring for patients during the COVID‐19 pandemic, equal to nurses and healthcare providers who provide care for COVID‐19 patients all across the world (Hu et al., 2020 ; LoGuidice & Bartos, 2021 ; Zhang et al., 2020 ).…”