• Mao-Mao Zhang, Niu Niu, Xiao-Xu Zhi, Ping Zhu, Bing Wu, Bai-Nv Wu, Ai-Feng Meng, and Yun Zhao.
• Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Nanjing, China.
• J Adv Nurs. 2021 Jan 1; 77 (1): 308-317.

AimsTo explore the psychological changes of nurses during home isolation, the factors that related with these changes, and coping strategies in home isolation during the epidemic of COVID-19 in China.DesignA qualitative study based on grounded theory.MethodsIndividual semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted from January 2020-February 2020 with 10 nurses who were isolated at home sharing the experiences of the epidemic of COVID-19. All interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analysed using constant comparative data analysis.ResultsAnalyses of the collected data reveal that the psychological changes of nurses during home isolation reflect a complex, dynamic, and gradually adaptive process that was affected by many factors. Nurses had many negative emotional reactions in the early stages of isolation and positive emotions gradually increased during home isolation. After release from home isolation, they become more confident and calm after. Six categories of coping strategies were identified, including reasoned cognition; autosuggestion; develop healthy protective behaviours; shifting attention; social support; and the power of a role model.ConclusionsThe study provides a better understanding of the psychological changes and the coping strategies used among nurses isolated at home. It is necessary to pay more attention to negative emotions in the early stages of home isolation to help nurses adjust quickly. The coping strategies used by nurses are likely to help those in home isolation reduce negative psychological changes and experience more optimal self-adjustment.ImpactThis study explored the psychological changes and coping strategies of home isolation among nurses, providing useful advice for psychologists to develop psychological crisis interventions to help individuals reduce negative psychological and have more actively coping strategies when faced sudden stressful infectious diseases.© 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

28 keywords...

hide…