Dataset Information

Women's Experiences of Symptoms of Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 Illness During the Pandemic.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To explore experiences of symptoms of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 illness among women using the CovidWatcher mobile citizen science app.

Design

Convergent parallel mixed-methods design.

Participants

Twenty-eight self-identified women consented for follow-up after using CovidWatcher. Participants' ages ranged from 18 to 83 years old.

Methods

We collected data via semistructured, virtual interviews and surveys: the COVID-19 Exposure and Family Impact Survey and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System measures. We used directed content analysis to develop codes, categories, themes, and subthemes from the qualitative data and summarized survey data with descriptive statistics.

Results

We derived five themes related to symptom experiences: (a) Physical Symptoms, (b) Mental Health Symptoms, (c) Symptom Intensity, (d) Symptom Burden, and (e) Symptom Trajectories. Subthemes reflected more nuanced experiences of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 disease. For those without COVID-19, anxiety and mental health symptoms were still present. Of those who attested to one of the PROMIS-measured symptoms, all but one had at least mild severity in one of their reported symptoms.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the cross-cutting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals who identify as women. Future research and clinical practice guidelines should focus on alleviating physical and mental health symptoms related to the ongoing pandemic, regardless of COVID-19 diagnosis. Furthermore, clinicians should consider how patients can use symptom reconciliation apps and tracking systems.

SUBMITTER: South K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9575040 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Women's Experiences of Symptoms of Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 Illness During the Pandemic.

South Katherine K Bakken Suzanne S Koleck Theresa T Barcelona Veronica V Elhadad Noemie N Dreisbach Caitlin C

Nursing for women's health 20221017 6

<h4>Objective</h4>To explore experiences of symptoms of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 illness among women using the CovidWatcher mobile citizen science app.<h4>Design</h4>Convergent parallel mixed-methods design.<h4>Participants</h4>Twenty-eight self-identified women consented for follow-up after using CovidWatcher. Participants' ages ranged from 18 to 83 years old.<h4>Methods</h4>We collected data via semistructured, virtual interviews and surveys: the COVID-19 Exposure and Family Impact Surv ...[more]

PMID: 36265561

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundEndometriosis is a chronic, estrogen-dependent, inflammatory condition which affects women of reproductive age physically and psychologically in their everyday life. The most common symptom is chronic lower abdominal pain. Apart from physical pain, endometriosis often also leads to an unfulfilled desire to give birth. In general, these two main aspects alone lead to emotional stress for patients and often initiate depressive symptoms. To what extent endometriosis patients are additionally affected by the COVID pandemic and its effects is to be determined in this study.MethodsPatients who presented at our endometriosis center and met the study criteria were offered participation in the study. A link to an online questionnaire (SoSci-Survey) was sent by email. The online questionnaire evaluated depressive symptoms before and during the pandemic as well as the pain perception and perceived support during the pandemic. The data of 167 fully completed questionnaires were evaluated and analyzed using SPSS.ResultsThe analysis of the questionnaires revealed a significant association between pain levels and depressive symptomatology in endometriosis patients during the pandemic. Patients with more severe pain showed significantly higher depressive symptoms than patients with little or no pain. During the pandemic, patients showed higher depressive symptoms than before. In addition, it was found that those endometriosis patients who felt left alone with their pain due to the consequences of the COVID pandemic, or who felt they had to endure the pain alone, also had higher depressive symptoms.ConclusionIn summary, it can be observed that endometriosis patients with a high pain burden had significantly higher depressive symptoms during the COVID pandemic. The consequences of the pandemic often led to the feeling of having to cope with the symptoms alone or having to endure pain alone, which in turn increased the depressive symptoms. As treating physicians, we should be aware of these connections and try to counteract them with targeted offers and support.

Project description:BackgroundCOVID-19 has placed additional stressors on mothers during an already vulnerable lifecourse transition. Initial social distancing restrictions (Timepoint 1; T1) and initial changes to those social distancing restrictions (Timepoint 2; T2) have disrupted postpartum access to practical and emotional support. This qualitative study explores the postpartum psychological experiences of UK women during different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated 'lockdowns'.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 women, approximately 30 days after initial social distancing guidelines were imposed in the UK (22 April 2020). A separate 12 women were interviewed approximately 30 days after the initial easing of social distancing restrictions (10 June 2020). Data were transcribed verbatim, uploaded into NVivo for management and analysis, which followed a recurrent cross-sectional approach to thematic analysis.ResultsTwo main themes were identified for T1: 'Motherhood is Much Like Lockdown' and 'A Self-Contained Family Unit'. Each main T1 theme contained two sub-themes. Two main themes were also identified for T2: 'Incongruously Held Views of COVID-19' and 'Mothering Amidst the Pandemic'. Each main T2 theme contained three sub-themes. Comparisons between data gathered at each timepoint identified increased emotional distress over time. Current findings call for the improvement of postpartum care by improving accessibility to social support, and prioritising the re-opening of schools, and face-to-face healthcare appointments and visitation.ConclusionSocial distancing restrictions associated with COVID-19 have had a cumulative, negative effect on postpartum mental health. Recommendations such as: Allowing mothers to 'bubble' with a primary support provider even at their healthcare appointments; allowing one support partner to attend all necessary healthcare appointments; and providing tailored informational resources, may help to support postpartum emotional wellbeing during this, and similar health crises in the future.

Dataset Information

Women's Experiences of Symptoms of Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 Illness During the Pandemic.

Objective

Design

Participants

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Women's Experiences of Symptoms of Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 Illness During the Pandemic.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets