Purpose: To examine patients' experiences of receiving care on an ICU for COVID-19 and the subsequent rehabilitation process.
Methods: An explorative and inductive design was used. Participants were recruited from two university hospitals in Sweden. Patients admitted to the ICU due to COVID-19 from March 2020 to April 2021, who enrolled in the ICU follow-up, and understood and spoke Swedish were invited to participate. In total, 20 participants completed a semi-structured interview, of whom 18 were included in the thematic analysis.
Results: The analysis resulted in two themes: "An isolated world with silver linings" and "Recovery in the wake of the pandemic". Findings show that patients cared for on an ICU for COVID-19 during the pandemic felt safe but experienced a sense of vulnerability. After discharge, physical rehabilitation was a slow process with frustrating day-to-day fluctuations. Mentally, participants felt isolated, fatigued, and emotionally sensitive. Patients reported that love and support from family and friends were crucial for the recovery process.
Conclusions: This study highlights the challenges of recovering from COVID-19, emphasizing the importance of continued support from health care, public services, family and friends. It provides important insights into patients' experiences and can inform future healthcare strategies and policies.
Keywords: COVID-19; intensive care; psychosocial support; psychosocial well-being; recovery; rehabilitation.