Lessons learned from the anti-SARS quarantine experience in a hospital-based fever screening station in Taiwan
Received 19 July 2009; received in revised form 5 September 2009; accepted 8 September 2009. published online 18 January 2010. Corrected Proof
Background
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was the first major novel infectious disease to hit the international community in the 21st century. While SARS was sweeping over almost 30 countries, most hospitals in Taiwan instituted mandatory quarantine measures, one of the most effective public health strategies for preventing disease transmission. We explored the anti-SARS quarantine experience of patients in a hospital-based fever screening station.
Methods
We conducted a phenomenologic, qualitative study using semistructured telephone interviews during the SARS outbreak in Taiwan. Seventeen patients with fever who were quarantined in the fever screening station of a hospital emergency department for at least 2hours were recruited into this study.
Results
Data analysis using Collaizi's 9 steps revealed 2 categories—external burden and internal struggle—and 6 themes regarding patients' quarantine experience. External burden included 3 themes: (1) bearing the uncomfortable surroundings, (2) facing discrimination, and (3) lacking in-person family support. Internal struggle consisted of 3 themes: (1) struggle with being quarantined, (2) struggle with emotional turmoil, and (3) struggle with possible SARS diagnosis.
Conclusion
These results will contribute to sensitizing health care professionals to empathize with quarantined persons while providing quality quarantine care and other infection control measures.
aDepartment of Nursing, HungKuang University, Taichung, Taiwan
bthe Department of Nursing, Tzu Chi University, Hwalien, Taiwan
cthe Department of Nursing, Hsin Sheng College of Medical Care and Management, Taipei, Taiwan.
Address correspondence to Esther C. L. Lin, RN, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Nursing, HungKuang University, No. 34, Chung-Chie Rd, Shalu, Taichung County, Taiwan 43302, R. O.C.
Presented in part at the 7th East Asian Forum of Nursing Scholars Conference; March 19-20, 2004; Hong Kong, China.
ABSTRACT
hours were recruited into this study.