While the operational and funding structures of hospice care vary significantly across the globe, volunteers remain an indispensable component of hospice care teams. Existing research has examined volunteers’ working experiences and training models; however, less is known about incentive strategies to promote sustained engagement. To explore the incentive strategies for hospice care volunteers through this qualitative case study in China and thus provide evidence to enhance global volunteer retention. A descriptive qualitative case study was conducted using participant observation and semi-structured interviews to explore hospice care volunteers’ expectations for incentives, as well as administrators’ perspectives on strategies to motivate and retain volunteers. Data were analyzed through conventional content analysis. Analysis yielded four themes and twelve sub-themes. (1) Material incentives, encompassing: Basic Subsidy Relief, Tangible Resources Empowerment, and Health and Welfare Support; (2) Organizational incentives, including: Engraving Volunteer Business Cards, Fostering Cohesive Teams, and Flexible Adaptive Management. (3) Spiritual incentives, encompassing: Multi-dimensional Value Recognition, Nourishing the Soul, and Intrinsic Motivation Enhancement. (4) Growth-oriented incentives, including: Knowledge and Skill Enhancement, Experience Sharing and Reflection, and Character Progression and Development. Organizational managers should develop incentive strategies for hospice care volunteers that align with their varied motivations for service. Given that hospice care volunteers generally prioritize spiritual fulfillment and personal growth, these strategies should focus on strengthening spiritual and growth-oriented incentives. Furthermore, incentive approaches should evolve to address the volunteers’ changing needs at different stages, providing support for those with developmental aspirations to facilitate progressive growth in their roles.

Personality plays a crucial role in shaping the motivation of palliative care volunteers, a key factor in sustaining high-quality end-of-life care. However, previous studies have paid limited attention to whether factors associated with service motivation vary across different personality profiles. This study aimed to examine the associations between personality traits and service motivation and to identify factors associated with service motivation among palliative care volunteers in China. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between April and November 2025 among 326 palliative care volunteers providing companionship, emotional support, and other non-clinical supportive services for patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families in Zhejiang Province, Jiangsu Province, and Shanghai, China. Volunteers were selected using convenience sampling. Service motivation was measured with the Chinese version of the Volunteer Functions Inventory (VFI), while social support was assessed using the Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS). Group comparisons were conducted using nonparametric tests, and stratified multiple linear regression analyses were performed in SPSS version 24.0 to identify factors associated with service motivation within each personality group. The median VFI score was 150.00 (interquartile range: 132.00–173.00). Volunteers who identified as extraverted had significantly higher motivation levels than those who were introverted. Age ≥ 60 years and urban residence were consistently associated with higher service motivation in both personality groups (P < 0.05). For extraverted volunteers, having an average monthly income > RMB 8,000 was associated with lower motivation (P < 0.05). Conversely, among volunteers with self-reported introverted personality traits, having an educational level of associate degree/bachelor’s degree or above and having > 3 years of volunteering experience were associated with lower levels of service motivation, whereas greater social support was significantly associated with higher motivation (P < 0.05). Service motivation among Chinese palliative care volunteers varied with self-reported personality traits, and several factors were associated with motivation within each personality group. These findings highlight the importance of considering individual differences, including demographic and social variables, in volunteer recruitment and management. Tailored volunteer management strategies that account for individual differences could help enhance engagement and sustained participation among Chinese palliative care volunteers.

China is experiencing rapid population ageing and increasing demand for palliative care. However, development remains uneven because of fragmented policies, workforce shortages, limited public understanding, and sociocultural barriers. Existing studies have typically described these factors separately, offering limited insight into how they interact within complex health systems. This study aimed to examine the dynamic interactions among facilitators and barriers shaping palliative care development in China, informed by Wu-Xing theory. We conducted a multi-method qualitative study across hospitals, palliative care institutions, and community settings in multiple regions of China between January 2024 and November 2025. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 49 stakeholders. Focus group discussions involved 38 stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, policymakers, researchers, volunteers, and service-sector representatives, while field observations captured the experiences of 6 patients and 5 family members in palliative care settings. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, with Wu-Xing theory used as an interpretive framework to examine relationships among themes. Five interdependent factors shaped palliative care development in China: policy standards, professional development, promotion and outreach, public awareness, and ethical culture. Analysis suggested two linked cycles. The Generating Cycle described how policy standards supported professional development, professional development enabled promotion and outreach, promotion and outreach improved public awareness, public awareness nurtured ethical culture, and ethical culture in turn updated policy standards. The Controlling Cycle described how policy standards regulated promotion and outreach, promotion and outreach reshaped ethical culture, ethical culture rectified professional development, professional development recalibrated public awareness, and public awareness in turn updated policy standards, contributing to mutual adjustment across the system. Palliative care development in China may be better understood as a dynamic health-system process rather than as a linear effort to address isolated barriers. The Wu-Xing framework provides a culturally grounded lens for examining how policy, workforce capacity, communication, public attitudes, and ethical norms interact. These findings highlight the need for more integrated and context-sensitive strategies to strengthen palliative care in China. Not applicable.

Background:The number of older adults living with dementia is increasing in China and worldwide. Three-level prevention is vital to delay the occurrence and development of dementia. However, the current state of these services remains suboptimal. This study aimed to explore the programs and challenges in providing dementia prevention services. Methods:A one-year ethnographic study, including semi-participatory observations and in-depth interviews, was conducted in nine settings in China from July 2022 to June 2023. Twenty-four service providers and 26 residents or family members were observed, and seventeen of these 50 participants were interviewed. Data collection was guided by the Rainbow Model. A combination of deductive and inductive content analysis was applied to identify the challenges. Results:Dementia-friendly communities, Dementia Screening Program, Medical Consortia, and Long-term care services were the main programs in dementia three-level prevention services. This study identified 32 challenges, including four at system level, ten at organizational level, seven each at professional and clinical levels, and four additional challenges. Conclusions:Enriching the diversity of programs and strengthening primary prevention services will be beneficial for improving the dementia three-level services. The challenges identified in this study can provide valuable insights to guide targeted interventions, inform policy, and optimize service delivery for relevant stakeholders.

ObjectiveTo explore the experience of thirst and needs in stroke patients with nasal feeding,and to provide reference for the construction of thirst management program for stroke patients with nasal feeding.MethodsA descriptive qualitative research method was used to select 16 stroke patients with thirst after nasal feeding in the Department of Neurology of a tertiary grade A hospital in Suzhou city from August to October 2024.The purposive sampling method was used to conduct semi⁃structured interviews.Based on the theory of unpleasant symptoms,the data were analyzed by directional content analysis combined with traditional content analysis.ResultsA total of five themes were extracted:the characteristics of thirst symptoms(the nature of thirst was burning and knife⁃like,the time and intensity of occurrence had individual differences,and the degree of distress to patients),the attribution of thirst(physiological factors,psychological factors,environmental factors),the impact of thirst(physical pain,psychological suffering,irrational behavior),the coping of thirst(various coping styles,limitations of coping effects,and concerns about the safety of coping),and unmet needs(emotional and social needs,information needs).ConclusionsThe problem of thirst in stroke patients with nasal feeding is prominent.It is suggested that nursing staff should strengthen the understanding of thirst symptoms and carry out multi⁃dimensional evaluation,identify multiple influencing factors of thirst in the early stage,pay attention to the negative impact of thirst on patients,and develop a thirst management model of nursing staff as the leading factor and family as the unit and co⁃participation.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a degenerative condition of the nervous system that causes severe damage to patients' daily activities and quality of life. Amyloid beta 1-40 protein (Aβ40), which is involved in the formation of cerebral plaques, is one of the crucial biomarkers related to AD. Herein, a novel and highly sensitive immunosensor for the detection of Aβ40 is developed. Using a reinforced indium tin oxide-coated glass with a nanocomposite of gold nanoparticle-enhanced CoSn(OH)6 (AuNPs@CoSn(OH)6) to trigger the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of luminol as the sensing signal, the immunosensor is fabricated by immobilizing the Aβ40 antibody onto it. By integrating the high immune specificity, excellent conductivity and catalytic activity of the nanocomposite, the resultant immunosensor can be successfully employed to detect the target in real samples. The formation of the immune complex leads to increased steric hindrance and electron transfer resistance, which in turn causes a declined ECL output when the target Aβ40 binds to the antibody on the sensor surface. Under optimized conditions, the developed ECL immunosensor exhibits a linear response for Aβ40 ranging from 1 to 800 pg mL-1 and a low detection limit of 0.47 pg mL-1. Experimentally, it is demonstrated to be highly sensitive, specific, reproducible and stable. This work extends the application of the perovskite CoSn(OH)6 and AuNPs in the field of ECL immunosensing and provides a novel strategy for clinical research on Alzheimer's disease.

Objectives: To develop a situation-specific theory of dynamic interactions for multimorbid dyads within the context of Chinese family culture and to propose intervention strategies based on the developed theory. Methods: A four-step integrative approach was used, drawing from multiple sources, including a scoping review, existing theory analysis, and qualitative research. Results: The theory developed in this study comprises four components: risk and protective factor assessment, dyadic appraisal and coping, dyadic care outcomes, and the influence of context and time. Three intervention strategies were proposed based on the developed theory： assess the discrepancies of dyadic appraisal, tailor interventions based on coping patterns, consider the dynamic interactions for the multimorbid dyads. Conclusions: This study presents a situation-specific theory to elucidate the dynamic interactions of multimorbid dyads, grounded in Chinese family culture. Future research should validate and refine this theory while exploring its applicability to diverse populations and cultural contexts.

Hospice nurses may encounter vicarious trauma during the empathy process with patients. However, vicarious trauma is a neglected issue in most hospice clinical nursing settings. The study aims to explore vicarious trauma experience and perspectives among hospice nurses. We conducted participatory observations in three hospitals and held semi-structured in-depth interviews with 16 hospice nurses from 9 cities between May and October 2023. Field notes and interview transcripts were analyzed as one coherent text by using reflexive thematic analysis. Three main themes were identified: (1) “Falling in,” with subthemes of suffering from vicarious trauma and self-perceiving vicarious trauma; (2) “Struggling,” with subthemes of dealing with ambivalence; (3) “Climbing out,” with subthemes of “digesting” vicarious trauma and calling for organizational support. The findings indicated that hospice nurses are deeply affected by vicarious trauma. Nursing managers should pay more attention to the potential impacts of vicarious trauma on hospice nurses, and explore scientifically informed training courses and empowerment strategies to prevent and intervene in the vicarious trauma experiences of hospice nurses. Hospice nurses are deeply affected by vicarious trauma and lack a clear understandings of it. In the absence of organizational support, they rely primarily on personal coping strategies and inner resilience to manage with the negative impacts of vicarious trauma. Nursing managers should be attentive to the risk of vicarious trauma among hospice nurses and actively foster an open and supportive working environment that enables the timely identification of, and intervention for, nurses experiencing such trauma.

Abstract Objective This study aims to explore the cognitive health of older adults exhibiting SCD by using a mixed methods approach to identify the factors and implications of perceived cognitive decline, thereby contributing to early intervention strategies. Methods We employed a convergent parallel mixed-method design. Quantitative data were collected using the Dementia Assessment Sheet for Community-based Integrated Care System 21 items (DASC-21) and the 9-items Subjective Cognitive Decline Questionnaire (SCD-Q9) from 1,458 older adults without clinical dementia in Soochow, China. Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews to capture detailed narratives on cognitive complaints, their perceived causes, and impacts on daily life. Results Quantitative analysis revealed that 48.7% of participants experienced SCD, with significant associations found with advanced age, low education levels, underweight, diabetes, cataract/glaucoma, osteoporosis, hyperlipidemia, and ischemic heart disease. Qualitative thematic analysis identified three primary themes: cognitive complaints, multifactorial attributions of cognitive decline, and the effects on daily life. Conclusion Our findings underscore the importance of recognizing SCD in older adults as a possible precursor to more severe cognitive impairment. The mixed methods approach provided a comprehensive understanding, suggesting that both objective and subjective assessments are critical for early detection and intervention. These insights highlight the need for tailored interventions focusing on modifiable risk factors and enhancing quality of life for older adults with SCD.

Background: The number of older adults living with dementia is increasing in China and worldwide. There is limited attention paid to dementia care in nursing homes, and this study aimed to explore the current situation and challenges of providing integrated care services in nursing home settings. Methods: A 3-month focused ethnographic study, including semi-participatory observations and in-depth interviews, was conducted in a nursing home in Suzhou, China, from June to August 2022. Twelve residents and sixteen caregivers were observed, and sixteen observed caregivers were interviewed. The Rainbow Model guided data collection. Deductive analysis was used to examine the integrated care services, and a combination of deductive and inductive analysis was applied to explore the challenges. Results: The Combination of Medical and Elderly care and Medical Consortia were two main integrated care services. Eighteen challenges that threatened integrated care were identified. The nursing homes mainly faced professional and clinical challenges, while Medical Consortia encountered challenges at all levels, especially the organizational level. Conclusions: The integrated care services of residents living with dementia should be further strengthened. Policymakers, caregivers, and researchers should make more precise efforts to address the challenges that threaten integrated care services, thereby promoting better services for residents.

Empathy is important in hospice nursing clinics and may influence nurses’ professional quality of life (ProQOL). However, present studies ignoring each empathic dimension, and few researches have explored the correlation between empathy and ProQOL in hospice nurses in Asia. To better understand hospice nurses’ empathy abilities in China and its relationship with ProQOL, the aim of this study was to identify the latent profiles and its influencing factors of hospice nurses’ empathy ability, as well as differences in ProQOL across each latent profile. A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2021 to September 2022, and a total of 725 hospice nurses were recruited from different geographic regions in China. Participants completed the Empathy Ability Scale for Hospice Nurses and the Brief Professional Quality of Life Scale. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was employed to identify latent profiles of empathy ability among hospice nurses in China. The predictors of hospice nurses’ empathy ability in different latent profiles were assessed using multinomial logistic regression analysis. One-way ANOVA test and the Kruskal–Wallis test were used to compare the ProQOL scores in each latent profile of nurses’ empathy ability. This study identified three latent profiles of hospice nurses’ empathy ability, and those profiles labelled “poor empathy ability-high surface empathy expression” (n = 216, 29.8

A signal-on solid-state electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor based on luminol@carbon nanotubes (luminol@CNTs) and CdTe-ZnS@hydroxyapatite (CdTe-ZnS@HAP) was constructed for the detection of paclitaxel (PTX). In this sensing platform, luminol was used as the main luminophore and CdTe-ZnS was used as a coreaction accelerator. CNTs and HAP were acted as carriers to adsorb more luminophores and co-reaction promoters. In addition, due to the enhanced effect of PTX on the ECL intensity of the luminol-O2 system, PTX was introduced as the final detection target. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the ECL intensity change values (Delta I) of the sensor showed a good linear relationship with the logarithm of PTX concentration in the range of 3 x 10-12 - 3 x 10-7 molL-1, and the limit of detection was 1 x 10-12 mol L-1(S/N = 3). This method was successfully applied to the determination of trace PTX concentration in serum.

ObjectiveTo explore the meteorological-based influencing factors and coping strategies for the prevention and management of high-risk stroke populations through the cognition and experience of nursing staff in different regions on meteorological factors at high risk of stroke.MethodsFrom February to April 2023，15 nursing staff from tertiary hospitals in Lanzhou， Xi'an， Shenyang， Jinzhou， Changchun，Nanjing，Suzhou， Guangzhou， Dongguan were selected using purposive sampling. In-depth interviews were conducted using the thematic analysis method of qualitative research， and the Colaizzi 7⁃step method was used to analyze the interview data.ResultsTwo major themes were extracted： 1）cognition and experience of the impact of meteorological factors on stroke onset， including cognition of the impact of temperature， season， air pressure， and humidity on stroke onset； and 2） management strategies for stroke onset based on meteorological factors， including management strategies related to home life， family support， information support， health education， and medication guidance.ConclusionMeteorological factors are closely related to stroke. Changes in meteorological factors can cause subtle changes in the body and induce stroke. To prevent the onset of stroke， attention should be paid to the relationship between stroke onset and meteorological factors and a health management plan for high-risk stroke populations based on meteorological factors should be developed.

BACKGROUND:Children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) experience multiple symptoms during chemotherapy. Assessing how symptoms cluster together and how these symptom clusters (SCs) change over time may lay a foundation for future research in SC management and the pathophysiological mechanisms of SCs. OBJECTIVES:This study aimed to assess the stability of SCs in children with ALL during chemotherapy. METHODS:A longitudinal investigation was carried out. The Chinese version of the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale 10 to 18 was used to assess the occurrence, severity, and distress of symptoms in 134 children with ALL (8-16 years old) at the following 4 separate points: before chemotherapy (T1), start of post-induction therapy (T2), 4 months post-induction therapy (T3), and start of maintenance therapy (T4). Exploratory factor analyses were used to extract SCs. RESULTS:Six SCs were identified. Emotional and somatic clusters were identified across all dimensions and time points. Gastrointestinal cluster was all identified except for occurrence at T1. Neurological cluster was identified at T2 and T3 for all dimensions and at T4 for severity and distress. Self-image disorder cluster was all identified except at T1. Skin mucosa cluster was identified at T2 and T3 for all dimensions. Emotional cluster exhibited common symptoms across dimensions and time points. CONCLUSION:The number and types of SCs determined by scoring the occurrence, severity, and distress are different, but some SCs are relatively stable. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:Clinicians should not only focus on the common trajectory of symptoms and SCs, but also assess each child individually.

Background Persistent pain is the most reported symptom in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); however, effective and brief assessment tools are lacking. We validated the Chinese version of the Global Pain Scale (C-GPS) in Chinese patients with RA and proposed a short version of the C-GPS (s-C-GPS). Method The study was conducted using a face-to-face questionnaire survey with a multicenter cross-sectional design from March to December 2019. Patients aged > 18 years who met the RA diagnostic criteria were included. Based on the classical test theory (CTT) and the item response theory (IRT), we assessed the validity and reliability of the C-GPS and the adaptability of each item. An s-C-GPS was developed using IRT-based computerized adaptive testing (CAT) analytics. Results In total, 580 patients with RA (mean age, 51.04 ± 24.65 years; mean BMI, 22.36 ± 4.07 kg/m 2 ), including 513 (88.4%) women, were included. Most participants lived in a suburb (49.3%), were employed (72.2%) and married (91.2%), reported 9–12 years of education (66.9%), and had partial medical insurance (57.8%). Approximately 88.1% smoked and 84.5% drank alcohol. Analysis of the CTT demonstrated that all items in the C-GPS were positively correlated with the total scale score, and the factor loadings of all these items were > 0.870. A significant positive relationship was found between the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the C-GPS. IRT analysis showed that discrimination of the C-GPS was between 2.271 and 3.312, and items 6, 8, 13, 14, and 16 provided a large amount of information. Based on the CAT and clinical practice, six items covering four dimensions were included to form the s-C-GPS, all of which had very high discrimination. The s-C-GPS positively correlated with the VAS. Conclusion The C-GPS has good reliability and validity and can be used to evaluate pain in RA patients from a Chinese cultural background. The s-C-GPS, which contains six items, has good criterion validity and may be suitable for pain assessment in busy clinical practice. Trial registration This cross-sectional study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1800020343), granted on December 25, 2018.

A highly sensitive molecularly imprinted electrochemiluminescence (MIECL) sensor was developed for detecting rifampicin (RIF) based on luminol@Co-MOF. Co-MOF had a significant enhancement of ECL signaling in the luminol-O2 system. Molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs) with the introduction of RIF provide new properties for the specific recognition of RIF. A noteworthy decrease in ECL intensity was observed with higher concentrations of RIF. Consequently, the ECL signal was controlled by RIF elution from and adsorption by the MIP, thus establishing a new method for RIF detection. Under optimal conditions, this sensor exhibited linear detection ranges of RIF between 1.0 × 10−11 mol L−1 and 1.0 × 10−6 mol L−1, with a detection limit of 3.3 × 10−12 mol L−1 (S/N = 3). The recoveries ranged between 98.1 and 106.0

BACKGROUND:Leukemia represents the most prevalent childhood malignancy. Understanding the symptom clusters (SCs) associated with leukemia may help develop an effective care plan for affected children. OBJECTIVES:The aims of this study were to summarize the methods of identifying SCs; ascertain the types, attributes, and changing patterns of SCs during different chemotherapy phases; and provide a point of reference for the subsequent improvement of symptom management in pediatric leukemia. METHODS:The methodological framework employed was the Joanna Briggs Institute Scoping Review Guide. A comprehensive search was conducted across various databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, MEDLINE, Scopus, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure from inception until July 15, 2023. RESULTS:A total of 14 articles were included in this review, 6 in English and 8 in Chinese. The Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale 10-18 is the most commonly used instrument, whereas factor analysis is the most common statistical method for SC identification. The SCs were classified into 12 categories. The most severe SCs varied across different phases. Specifically, the emotional cluster dominated the prechemotherapy phase, the gastrointestinal cluster surfaced during postinduction therapy, and the consolidation and maintenance therapy phases revealed the self-image disorder cluster. CONCLUSION:Various consistent and dynamic SCs manifest among pediatric patients with leukemia undergoing chemotherapy. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE:Future research endeavors should formulate clear criteria to determine the stability and consistency of SCs, validate SC composition and characteristics, and devise precise symptom management protocols based on SC characteristics in the distinct chemotherapy phases.

Objective:To investigate the current situation and influencing factors of patients′ satisfaction with nursing humanistic care, and to provide reference for improving the quality of such care provided by hospitals.Methods:From July to August 2022, outpatients and inpatients in 30 provinces were selected by multi-stage stratified sampling as the survey objects. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on an online platform, using the general information questionnaire and Chinese version of methodist health care system nurse caring instrument revised by the research group. The latter instrument consists of 12 dimensions. namely care coordination, competence, teaching/learning, emotional support, respect for individuality, physical comfort, availability, helping/trusting relationship, patient/family engagement, physical environment, spiritual environment and outcomes. Descriptive analysis was performed on the data collected by the questionnaires, and independent sample t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to analyze the influencing factors of patient satisfaction. Results:A total of 107 hospitals were selected for questionnaire survey, including 86 tertiary hospitals and 21 secondary hospitals, and 29 108 valid questionnaires were recovered. The patient satisfaction with nursing humanistic care scored (5.40±0.86); the top three dimensions were competence (5.50±0.89), emotional support (5.47±0.88) and helping/trusting relationship (5.46±0.86); the lowest scoring dimensions were teaching/learning (5.38±1.01), spiritual environment (5.36±1.04) and patient/family engagement (5.11±1.28). Differences with gender, age, marital status, child status, educational level, occupation, place of residence, economic region, per capita monthly income of the family, type of medical insurance, medical department visited and surgery or not presented significant differences on the patient satisfaction with nursing humanistic care scores ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The satisfaction of patients with hospital′s nursing humanistic care in China was at the middle to upper level. In the future, health education for patients should be strengthened, and a mode of family-engaged nursing humanistic care should be constructed in line with the Chinese cultural background. In the process of nursing services, the particularity of patient groups should be considered to better meet their needs.

Objective: This study aims to explore the application effect of Child Life intervention on pain, anxiety, fatigue, and sleep disturbance in children with acute leukemia.Methods: In a single-blinded, parallel-group randomized controlled trial, 96 children with acute leukemia were randomized to either the intervention group, which received Child Life intervention twice a week for 8 weeks, or the control group, which received routine care. Outcomes were evaluated at baseline and day 3 postintervention.Results: All of the participants completed the study. Compared with the control group, the intervention group showed a significant reduction in pain, anxiety, fatigue, and sleep disturbance (P < 0.001). However, no significant differences were observed in the disorders of excessive somnolence.Conclusions: Child Life intervention can effectively improve pain, anxiety, fatigue, and sleep disturbance in children with acute leukemia undergoing chemotherapy. The results suggest that symptom cluster management intervention based on Child Life provided a promising approach for simultaneously treating multiple symptoms within a cluster.

Background This study investigated the experiences of front-line healthcare workers who had been in close contact with COVID-19 patients and had been quarantined in order to provide guidance on quarantine measures with more humanistic care when dealing with future public health emergencies.Methods We conducted a qualitative study using semistructured, qualitative, in-depth interviews between April and June 2022. The interviews were recorded and transcribed, followed by a thematic analysis. The study followed the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research.Results This study identified the following four themes: (1) personal psychological changes, (2) increased reflection on life and work during quarantine, (3) the important role of others’ support and (4) different types of demands during quarantine and isolation. Each theme is supported by several subthemes that further illustrate the participants’ experiences.Conclusions Quarantine of close contacts is necessary to prevent outbreaks. Front-line doctors and nurses are at a greater risk of COVID-19 infection than others. The results showed the psychological reactions of ordinary close contacts, and the unique feelings and experiences of doctors and nurses during the epidemic. Therefore, future research should cooperate with multiple departments to assess their needs, provide them with individualised care and love and give them incentives in order to reduce their psychological burden, improve their quality of life and allow them to engage in healthcare with a healthy mind.