Abstract

Objective: In this study, we aimed to explore the hospitalization experience of older patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a Fangcang shelter hospital (FSH).

Method: The study followed standards and completed the checklist for reporting qualitative study as outlined in the "COREQ". A descriptive qualitative research was utilized. The data were analyzed using content analysis. Fifteen COVID-19 patients who were 60 years of age or older were selected using the purposive sample method from the FSH converted from the National Exhibition and Convention Centre in Shanghai, China. The data were collected via face-to-face semistructured interviews between April 9 and 30, 2022.

Results: The hospitalization experiences of older COVID-19 patients in the FSHwere classified into three themes: physical experience, life experience, and mental experience. These themes included seven subthemes: physical symptoms, physical discomfort due to environmental factors, inconvenience, differential resilience, boredom, longing for face-to-face communication, and gratitude to healthcare workers and volunteers.

Conclusions: COVID-19 patients lived multifaceted, multilevel lives in the shelter hospital. To improve the hospitalization experience of older adults, several factors should be considered, such as facilities that arewell suited for them, better symptom management, an emphasis on life adaptation, and appropriate
psychological support.