The Experience of Living with Multiple Sclerosis during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Background: Many studies have shown that psychological distress such as worries and anxiety is one of the causes of the development, recurrence, or exacerbation of multiple sclerosis (MS). This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of patients with MS during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: Thi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Kerman University of Medical Sciences
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Qualitative Research in Health Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://jqr1.kmu.ac.ir/article_92403_de187674631a5d1cb4749d067ec4facf.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797202644074233856 |
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| author | Roozbeh Shirooyeh Anahita Khodabakhshi-Koolaee Leila Jouybari |
| author_facet | Roozbeh Shirooyeh Anahita Khodabakhshi-Koolaee Leila Jouybari |
| author_sort | Roozbeh Shirooyeh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Many studies have shown that psychological distress such as worries and anxiety is one of the causes of the development, recurrence, or exacerbation of multiple sclerosis (MS). This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of patients with MS during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using an interpretive phenomenological approach. The participants were selected from patients with MS in Tehran, Iran who were members of the Iranian MS Society in 2021. The research sample included 19 patients with MS who were selected using purposive sampling. The data were collected using semi-structured interviews until the data were saturated. The collected data were analyzed using Van Manen’s phenomenological approach, and the validity and truthfulness of the data were confirmed using the four criteria proposed by Lincoln and Guba.Results: Explication of the data revealed 22 subthemes and 5 main themes. The main themes identified were: Feeling of helplessness and fear of inadequacy in self-care, Economic concerns and financial problems, Ineffective interaction with family members, preoccupations and obsessions with the pandemic, and ambivalent and conflicting beliefs about others.Conclusion: The experiences of those affected by the pandemic were linked to personal and familial concerns, health issues, feelings of inadequacy in self-care, and economic difficulties. Additionally, participants were preoccupied with the pandemic and the social problems they faced. Gaining an understanding of these experiences can offer valuable insights to medical professionals, families of patients, and relevant organizations regarding the lived experiences of individuals with MS. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T08:06:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fe995f68abeb43018a2d4fc8e4d4c484 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2645-6109 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T08:06:43Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Kerman University of Medical Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Qualitative Research in Health Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-fe995f68abeb43018a2d4fc8e4d4c4842024-04-17T10:50:50ZengKerman University of Medical SciencesJournal of Qualitative Research in Health Sciences2645-61092024-03-01131141910.34172/jqr.2024.0392403The Experience of Living with Multiple Sclerosis during the COVID-19 PandemicRoozbeh Shirooyeh0Anahita Khodabakhshi-Koolaee1Leila Jouybari2Department of Psychology and Education, Faculty of Humanities, Khatam University, Tehran, IranDepartment of Psychology and Education, Faculty of Humanities, Khatam University, Tehran, IranFaculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, IranBackground: Many studies have shown that psychological distress such as worries and anxiety is one of the causes of the development, recurrence, or exacerbation of multiple sclerosis (MS). This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of patients with MS during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using an interpretive phenomenological approach. The participants were selected from patients with MS in Tehran, Iran who were members of the Iranian MS Society in 2021. The research sample included 19 patients with MS who were selected using purposive sampling. The data were collected using semi-structured interviews until the data were saturated. The collected data were analyzed using Van Manen’s phenomenological approach, and the validity and truthfulness of the data were confirmed using the four criteria proposed by Lincoln and Guba.Results: Explication of the data revealed 22 subthemes and 5 main themes. The main themes identified were: Feeling of helplessness and fear of inadequacy in self-care, Economic concerns and financial problems, Ineffective interaction with family members, preoccupations and obsessions with the pandemic, and ambivalent and conflicting beliefs about others.Conclusion: The experiences of those affected by the pandemic were linked to personal and familial concerns, health issues, feelings of inadequacy in self-care, and economic difficulties. Additionally, participants were preoccupied with the pandemic and the social problems they faced. Gaining an understanding of these experiences can offer valuable insights to medical professionals, families of patients, and relevant organizations regarding the lived experiences of individuals with MS.https://jqr1.kmu.ac.ir/article_92403_de187674631a5d1cb4749d067ec4facf.pdfmultiple sclerosiscovid-19 pandemiclived experiencephenomenological approach |
| spellingShingle | Roozbeh Shirooyeh Anahita Khodabakhshi-Koolaee Leila Jouybari The Experience of Living with Multiple Sclerosis during the COVID-19 Pandemic Journal of Qualitative Research in Health Sciences multiple sclerosis covid-19 pandemic lived experience phenomenological approach |
| title | The Experience of Living with Multiple Sclerosis during the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_full | The Experience of Living with Multiple Sclerosis during the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_fullStr | The Experience of Living with Multiple Sclerosis during the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Experience of Living with Multiple Sclerosis during the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_short | The Experience of Living with Multiple Sclerosis during the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_sort | experience of living with multiple sclerosis during the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | multiple sclerosis covid-19 pandemic lived experience phenomenological approach |
| url | https://jqr1.kmu.ac.ir/article_92403_de187674631a5d1cb4749d067ec4facf.pdf |
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