The experience of individuals placed in quarantine: A systematic review, meta-summary, and meta-synthesis.
Martina Basso, Erica Visintini, Illarj Achil and 4 others
PMID 33942378WHAT IT FOUND
Quarantined adults described fear, stigma and confusion, then relief at release but continued stigma.
They wanted consistent information, contact with loved ones, and to be treated as people, not just risks.
Key findings
01Quarantined adults described fear, anger, isolation, stigma and guilt, with relief at release but continued stigma.
02Thinking about quarantine was the most common reported experience across studies (80%), followed by stigma, fear of getting sick and dealing with rules (60%).
03Participants wanted to be treated as people, with clear next steps and support after release because stigma could continue.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only five qualitative studies were included, so the range of experiences is narrow. The studies covered different diseases, quarantine durations and cultures, and the review did not analyse them separately. Children, health care workers and community-level studies were excluded, so it does not speak to those groups. Some primary studies did not report quarantine duration or interview timing and location clearly. Some relevant studies may have been missed despite systematic searching. The review synthesised patients' experiences, not the impact of a nursing intervention.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these themes as proof that a particular nursing intervention works. They describe what adults reported during quarantine in five qualitative studies, not outcomes of a tested care programme.