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Facing death alone and in isolation: A phenomenological study with survivors of COVID-19.

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Title: Facing death alone and in isolation: A phenomenological study with survivors of COVID-19.
Authors: Rodríguez-Prat, Andrea (AUTHOR), García-Salanova, Aina (AUTHOR), Julià-Torras, Joaquim (AUTHOR), Monforte-Royo, Cristina (AUTHOR)
Source: Death Studies. 2026, Vol. 50 Issue 4, p554-564. 11p.
Subjects: Fear, Health literacy, Death, Optimism, Sadness, Research funding, Statistical sampling, Interviewing, Hospitals, Uncertainty, Loneliness, Psychological adaptation, Families, Reflection (Philosophy), Sound recordings, Medical records, Research methodology, Patient-professional relations, Distraction, Convalescence, Phenomenology, Data analysis software, Human comfort, Telecommunication, Social support, Individual development, Patients' attitudes, COVID-19, Social isolation, COVID-19 pandemic, Video recording
Geographic Terms: Spain
Abstract: During the early waves of COVID-19, many patients had to be isolated, with some dying alone in hospitals. Understanding the psychological impact of isolation during a potentially life-threatening disease and identifying coping mechanisms can inform future care protocols. This qualitative study aimed to explore the experiences of COVID-19 survivors isolated in hospitals. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 individuals who experienced hospital isolation. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using the interpretative phenomenological method. We identified three main themes: (a) the experience of isolation and proximity to death, leading to suffering, loneliness, or sometimes a positive sense of solitude; (b) coping strategies, with some being ineffective (e.g., distraction) and others effective (e.g., acceptance, family contact); and (c) isolation as a catalyst for change, resulting in either lasting sadness or personal growth and reappraisal of life priorities. Health professionals play a crucial role in helping isolated patients manage their experience, minimizing negative effects, and fostering personal growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Death Studies is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: Facing death alone and in isolation: A phenomenological study with survivors of COVID-19.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rodríguez-Prat%2C+Andrea%22">Rodríguez-Prat, Andrea</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22García-Salanova%2C+Aina%22">García-Salanova, Aina</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Julià-Torras%2C+Joaquim%22">Julià-Torras, Joaquim</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Monforte-Royo%2C+Cristina%22">Monforte-Royo, Cristina</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Death+Studies%22">Death Studies</searchLink>. 2026, Vol. 50 Issue 4, p554-564. 11p.
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  Data: During the early waves of COVID-19, many patients had to be isolated, with some dying alone in hospitals. Understanding the psychological impact of isolation during a potentially life-threatening disease and identifying coping mechanisms can inform future care protocols. This qualitative study aimed to explore the experiences of COVID-19 survivors isolated in hospitals. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 individuals who experienced hospital isolation. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using the interpretative phenomenological method. We identified three main themes: (a) the experience of isolation and proximity to death, leading to suffering, loneliness, or sometimes a positive sense of solitude; (b) coping strategies, with some being ineffective (e.g., distraction) and others effective (e.g., acceptance, family contact); and (c) isolation as a catalyst for change, resulting in either lasting sadness or personal growth and reappraisal of life priorities. Health professionals play a crucial role in helping isolated patients manage their experience, minimizing negative effects, and fostering personal growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Death Studies is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/07481187.2024.2437474
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 11
        StartPage: 554
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Fear
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Health literacy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Death
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Optimism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sadness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research funding
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Statistical sampling
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interviewing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Hospitals
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Uncertainty
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Loneliness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological adaptation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Families
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Reflection (Philosophy)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sound recordings
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Medical records
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research methodology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Patient-professional relations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Distraction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Convalescence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Phenomenology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data analysis software
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      – SubjectFull: Human comfort
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Telecommunication
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      – SubjectFull: Social support
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      – SubjectFull: Individual development
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      – SubjectFull: Patients' attitudes
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      – SubjectFull: COVID-19
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      – SubjectFull: Social isolation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: COVID-19 pandemic
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Video recording
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Spain
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Facing death alone and in isolation: A phenomenological study with survivors of COVID-19.
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              Text: 2026
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