Dissertation
The lived experience of surviving a COVID-19 hospitalization for older adults in Iowa: an interpretative phenomenological analysis
University of Iowa
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Iowa
Spring 2023
DOI: 10.25820/etd.007183
Abstract
This Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) study aims to understand the lived experience of older adults who survived a COVID-19 hospitalization during the first year of the pandemic. COVID-19 is a topic of great concern and relevance for older adults. The COVID-19 experiences of older adults are particularly valuable as older adults have been extremely disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. This study recruited older adults living in Iowa who were English speaking, age 50 and older, having at least one overnight stay in a hospital due to COVID-19 during the first year of the pandemic. In-depth, semi- structured interviews were conducted via Zoom. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded according to IPA methodological standards. Case and cross-case IPA data analysis informed three major group experiential themes (GETs). Participants describe navigating the ever-changing landscape of the American healthcare system during the global health crisis. Through their experiences readers get an understanding of the severity of the situation, the perceptions of the healthcare received, and the short and long-term impacts on the older adults’ personal identity. These overarching themes significantly add to our understanding of older adults’ lived experience of a COVID-19 hospitalization and surviving a major health crisis. Implications for social work practice and future research are discussed.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The lived experience of surviving a COVID-19 hospitalization for older adults in Iowa: an interpretative phenomenological analysis
- Creators
- Kara Ann Carter
- Contributors
- Mercedes Bern-Klug (Advisor)Sara Sanders (Committee Member)Amy Butler (Committee Member)Sarah Harkness (Committee Member)Nicole Novak (Committee Member)
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Social Work
- Date degree season
- Spring 2023
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- DOI
- 10.25820/etd.007183
- Number of pages
- xi, 121 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright 2023 Kara Ann Carter
- Language
- English
- Date submitted
- 04/18/2023
- Date approved
- 04/20/2023
- Description illustrations
- Illustrations, tables
- Description bibliographic
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 112-121).
- Public Abstract (ETD)
This study aims to understand the lived experience of surviving a COVID-19 hospitalization for older adults in Iowa during the first year of the pandemic. COVID-19 is a topic of great concern and relevance for older adults. The COVID-19 experiences of older adults are particularly valuable as older adults have been extremely disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 illness and death. Older adults, age 50 and above, were interviewed online to discuss their experiences leading up to the COVID-19 diagnosis, their time in the hospital, as well as their experiences following hospital discharge. Three primary themes emerged from the data which detail the seriousness of the situation, the perception of healthcare received and the short- and long-term impacts on personal identity. These themes help inform future social work practice and research, particularly related to the identification and appropriate care for long COVID patients as well ICU survivors and their families.
- Academic Unit
- School of Social Work
- Record Identifier
- 9984437259302771
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