Exit interviews (cross-sectional study)
Cough, fatigue, anxiety, fever, shivering, diarrhea, chest pain, vomiting, Loss of smell or taste, cough, congestion, nasal congestion, headache, Fatigue, shortness of breath
CONGESTION, DISEASE, COLD, FLU
In exit interviews, participants reported a broad range of signs and symptoms of COVID-19; they did not describe a single, consistent constellation of symptoms. The top 7 symptoms reported among the 20 patients were fatigue (80.0%), cough and shortness of breath (both 65.0%), decreased sense of smell and taste (both 60.0%), headache (55.0%), and nasal congestion (50.0%). Loss of smell or taste prompted some participants to believe they had COVID-19 instead of a cold or flu. The progression and ultimate resolution of symptoms varied among patients and by the symptom in question. The most bothersome symptoms (identified as the greatest barriers preventing a return to usual activities) were shortness of breath (25.0%), fatigue (20.0%), and headache (15.0%). Most participants (85.0%) reported being negatively affected by needing to self-isolate from family and other people, and that they experienced anxiety regarding what would happen to them and family members. Participants seemed hesitant to label their COVID-19 experience as severe disease if they were not hospitalized or receiving supplemental oxygen, even though almost half (45.0%) reported symptoms consistent with severe disease. Table S7 presents representative quotations from the exit interviews.Participants provided insight into meaningful change and recovery by describing which COVID-19 symptoms required complete resolution before resuming normal activities versus those that only required some improvement. Fatigue, shortness of breath, and vomiting were the top 3 symptoms participants described as needing to be resolved before they could resume activities. Other symptoms frequently cited as needing to be completely resolved were physical weakness, fever, chest pain, uncontrollable shivering, feeling generally unwell, diarrhea, and headache. Cough and congestion would need improvement, but not necessarily resolution, before resuming activities. Estimates of the degree of symptom improvement that could enable participants to return to everyday activities varied by symptom.Respondents also answered 4 questions about health care access for their COVID-19 symptoms. Most respondents considered it “very easy” to access care (49.0%) and to get their most recent COVID-19 test (46.0%). More than half cited no barriers to receiving care (57.0%), although most did not seek medical care beyond COVID-19 testing (60.0%).