BMJ Open (May 2021)

International survey for assessing COVID-19’s impact on fear and health: study protocol

  • ,
  • Patricia M Davidson,
  • Fabio Efficace,
  • Kathrin Sommer,
  • Jung Jae Lee,
  • Chia-Chin Lin,
  • Mandy Ho,
  • Vinciya Pandian,
  • Emery Manirambona,
  • Wenjie Duan,
  • RIYAZ AHMED,
  • Daniel Yee Tak Fong,
  • Kris Yuet-Wan Lok,
  • Janet Y.H. Wong,
  • Edmond PH Choi,
  • Marie Tarrant,
  • Khalid M Alabdulwahhab,
  • Mohammad Shakil Ahmad,
  • Nagla Abdelrahim Mohamed Ahmed,
  • Mohamed Alboraie,
  • Meshari A Alzahrani,
  • Anil Bilimale,
  • Sawitree Boonpatcharanon,
  • Samuel Byiringiro,
  • Muhammad Kamil Che Hasan,
  • Luisa Clausi,
  • Walter Corzo,
  • Faruk Adamu Dantsoho,
  • Josephine M. De Leon,
  • Anjanette S. De Leon,
  • Hiba Deek,
  • Mayssah A ElNayal,
  • Eduardo Ensaldo-Carrasco,
  • Pilar Escotorin,
  • Oluwadamilola Agnes Fadodun,
  • Israel Opeyemi Fawole,
  • Yong-Shian Shawn Goh,
  • Devi Irawan,
  • Naimah Ebrahim Khan,
  • Binu Koirala,
  • Ashish Krishna,
  • Cannas Kwok,
  • Tung Thanh Le,
  • Daniela Giambruno Leal,
  • Miguel Ángel Lezana-Fernández,
  • Leandro Cruz Mantoani,
  • Omar Mbakeh,
  • Fernando Meneses-González,
  • Iman Elmahdi Mohamed,
  • Madeleine Mukeshimana,
  • Chinh Thi Minh Nguyen,
  • Huong Thi Thanh Nguyen,
  • Khanh Thi Nguyen,
  • Son Truong Nguyen,
  • Mohammad Said Nurumal,
  • Bunmi Ogungbe,
  • Akingbade Oluwadamilare,
  • Angela CY Poon,
  • Busayasachee Puang-Ngern,
  • Areli Reséndiz-Rodriguez,
  • Ceryl G Sagun,
  • Nikhil Gauri Shankar,
  • Edgardo Toro,
  • Hanh Thi Hong Tran,
  • Elvira L Urgel,
  • Emmanuel Uwiringiyimana,
  • Oscar Chavez Valdez,
  • Tita Vanichbuncha,
  • Naglaa Youssef

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-048720
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 5

Abstract

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Introduction COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2, has been one of the most highly contagious and rapidly spreading virus outbreak. The pandemic not only has catastrophic impacts on physical health and economy around the world, but also the psychological well-being of individuals, communities and society. The psychological and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic internationally have not been well described. There is a lack of international study assessing health-related impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially on the degree to which individuals are fearful of the pandemic. Therefore, this study aims to (1) assess the health-related impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in community-dwelling individuals around the world; (2) determine the extent various communities are fearful of COVID-19 and (3) identify perceived needs of the population to prepare for potential future pandemics.Methods and analysis This global study involves 30 countries. For each country, we target at least 500 subjects aged 18 years or above. The questionnaires will be available online and in local languages. The questionnaires include assessment of the health impacts of COVID-19, perceived importance of future preparation for the pandemic, fear, lifestyles, sociodemographics, COVID-19-related knowledge, e-health literacy, out-of-control scale and the Patient Health Questionnaire-4. Descriptive statistics will be used to describe participants’ characteristics, perceptions on the health-related impacts of COVID-19, fear, anxiety and depression, lifestyles, COVID-19 knowledge, e-health literacy and other measures. Univariable and multivariable regression models will be used to assess the associations of covariates on the outcomes.Ethics and dissemination The study has been reviewed and approved by the local ethics committees in participating countries, where local ethics approval is needed. The results will be actively disseminated. This study aims to map an international perspective and comparison for future preparation in a pandemic.