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