A Qualitative Study on the Centralized Quarantine Experiences of COVID‐19 Patients With No or Mild Symptoms in South Korea

To mitigate the COVID‐19 epidemic, the South Korean government implemented institutional quarantine in centralized facilities from March 2020 to November 2022. Patients who tested positive were required to stay in these facilities for up to 2 weeks to meet the minimum 7‐day isolation. During that period, evidence shows that COVID‐19 patients experienced intense psychological and mental health challenges and physical suffering. Using a descriptive phenomenological research design with thematic analysis, this qualitative study sought to understand the mental health and psychological experiences of COVID‐19 patients with no or mild symptoms quarantined in institutional facilities in Korea. This study used semistructured phone interviews with 15 COVID‐19 patients recruited through social media using purposive and snowball sampling between February 2020 and April 2021. Thirteen subthemes were identified in four overarching themes: (a) anxiety and guilt after infection; (b) questioning the cause and impact of infection; (c) finding relief and comfort; and (d) navigating mental struggles in isolation. The findings show that patients quarantined in an institutional facility experienced mental health challenges and a rollercoaster of emotions, attempted to find resources to manage these challenges, and wanted to get back to normal. The pandemic may have an enduring effect on psychological and mental health, particularly among those quarantined in these facilities. Practitioners could play an important role in monitoring psychological and mental health needs and delivering support to individuals in need.