The Experiences of Individuals Experiencing Pain During COVID-19 Infection: A Phenomenological Study.

ABSTRACT

AIM: This research was conducted to determine the pain experience of individuals who experience pain during COVID-19 infection. METHOD: The research was carried out with the phenomenological qualitative design, and was completed with 15 participants. The data of the study were collected with the descriptive characteristics form, a semi-structured interview form about pain experienced during COVID-19 infection and Numeric Rating Scale. Descriptive and content analysis methods were used in the evaluation of qualitative data. RESULTS: The data of the research were examined in 6 themes 1) "pain from the perspective of participants"; 2) "characteristics of pain experienced during COVID-19 infection"; 3) "the effect of pain experienced during COVID-19 infection on daily life"; 4) "management of pain experienced during COVID-19 infection"; 5) "fear of re-experiencing the pain experienced during COVID-19 infection"; and 6) "metaphors for pain experienced during COVID-19 infection". CONCLUSIONS: Participants generally defined pain as a feeling that hurts and causes people to suffer. The participants used many methods to relieve the intense pain they experienced. However, nearly half of the participants stated that their pain did not completely disappear despite the many methods they used. The approximately two-thirds of the participants were afraid of re-experiencing this pain. For effective pain management, it is important to define the pain behaviors of the patients correctly, to determine the opinions of the patients about the pain, and to evaluate the effects of the pain experienced.