The Lived Experiences of COVID-19 Quarantined Omani Adults: A Phenomenological Study

This study aimed to promote an in-depth understanding of lived experiences of Omani adults who were quarantined with COVID-19. Giorgi's descriptive phenomenological qualitative method was used to collect and analyze data from twelve eligible participants, who were selected through purposive snowball sampling. Data were collected from eligible participants using interrogatory statements during semi-structured audio-recording individualized phone interviews. Five general structural descriptions (GSDs) reflected the essence of the lived experiences of Omani adults who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 and experienced home quarantine. The GSDs of their lived experiences represented five phases: (1) before catching the infection (“No way I will get infected”), (2) between catching the infection and the quarantine (“I may be infected”), (3) early in the quarantine (“Oh my God, I am infected”), (4) in the middle and end of the quarantine (“So what? Yes, I am infected”), and (5) after the quarantine (“Praising God because I was infected”). The findings show that they experienced the quarantine period positively, as a time of self-growth and empowerment, highlighting the need to look at the brighter side of life. This qualitative study highlights that a positive outlook will help people regain their balance in any negative situation. It is the mindset that matters, not the situation.