Exploring the lived experience of secure patients during COVID-19
The Journal of Forensic Practice
ISSN: 2050-8794
Article publication date: 4 July 2023
Issue publication date: 11 July 2023
Abstract
Purpose
In 2019, the world was hit by a life threatening severe acute respiratory syndrome causing a global pandemic; Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In the UK, a nationwide “lockdown” of public isolation and reduced social contact followed. The experience of COVID-19 and the lockdown for forensic secure mental health patients is yet to be understood. This study aims to explore this phenomenon from the patients’ perspective.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative approach was taken. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with six patients from a low secure unit in the UK, between November 2020 and March 2021.
Findings
Interpretive phenomenological analysis generated three superordinate themes from the data, providing insight into patients’ experience: “treading water”; how they managed: “learning to swim”; and what was helpful during this time: “in the same boat”.
Practical implications
Further consideration should be given to creating a sense of safety in wards, along with ways to continue to address the power imbalance. Interestingly, social connection may be cultivated from within the hospital setting and would benefit from further research.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to explore secure patients’ experience of COVID-19 from the patients’ perspective, within a population often neglected within recovery research.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the service users who gave their time to share their stories.
Funding: University of Southampton.
Citation
Humphries, K., Clarke, C., Willoughby, K. and Collingwood, S. (2023), "Exploring the lived experience of secure patients during COVID-19", The Journal of Forensic Practice, Vol. 25 No. 3, pp. 229-242. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-09-2022-0049
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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