The invisible foe: Lived experiences of frontliners during the COVID-19 pandemic
https://doi.org/10.70228/CBJ2024056
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ABSTRACT
This study explored the lived experiences of frontliners during the COVID-19 pandemic. The researcher made use of phenomenology utilizing qualitative results. There were 10 participants, five medical and five mental health workers, who were purposefully interviewed. In the qualitative data, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to understand how participants personally experience and make sense of specific events in their lives and situations or phenomena. Five themes emerged: Fear of the Unknown, A Call To Serve On the Battlefield, Surviving the War, and Winning the Battle. Findings revealed that most frontliners were scared, worried, anxious, and disturbed when they heard that COVID-19 was already a pandemic. As such, a call of duty prompted frontliners to serve. Hence, frontliners were discriminated against for the reason that they might be the carriers of the virus and were emotionally affected when COVID-19 patients were dying without any family members besides them. Regarding coping, frontliners believed that faith in God gave them excellent lessons from their experiences and were grateful for the opportunity to serve humanity. As such, frontliners are indeed modern-day heroes. Given these situations, frontliners believed that as carers, they also needed care. A wellness program for the frontliners was designed.
Keywords: COVID-19, experiences, frontliners, invisible foe, pandemic
Volume 2, 2021 EDITION
Published 2021
Editor's Note
Research can be a catalyst for change, and this is highlighted in the latest collection of scholarly work in Volume 2 of the Journal of Engineering, Food Science, and Computing Technologies. Studies featured in this volume represent various technological innovations in response to societal problems in education, employment, health, and the environment. To address the challenges of the pandemic, Bunda and his co-authors developed an immersive and interactive educational program that can be used by grade school students, and Dizon and her partners created a mobile and web application for streamlining the hiring process of blue-collar workers. These research endeavors demonstrate that computing technologies are a valuable tool in ensuring the resiliency and efficiency of processes amidst the changing realities of the world. The papers of Tagamolila, Novia, and co-authors showcase the use of emerging technologies to provide solutions to major concerns in our environment, like plastic pollution, solid waste, and water quality degradation. Tagamolila presents an alternative bioplastic from agricultural waste and investigates its properties, while Novia and her team developed an unmanned aerial vehicle for water quality monitoring. Each research study illustrates how novel ideas can help in alleviating environmental problems in our world. Maravilla’s group explored invasive plant species' antioxidant and antiproliferative properties and their potential in combating cancer. Their study provides baseline information on the use of natural products to address current health concerns. This issue is a testament to the commitment and dedication of researchers, editors, and reviewers and it is with great appreciation to these people that we present this volume. This volume shows the great impact of academic research on our society, and we hope that this will serve as an inspiration for further academic pursuits and significant transformations on the local, national, and global stage. Mary Ann T. Pandan Editor-in-Chief