Psychology Research and Behavior Management (Oct 2021)

Fear, Anxiety, Stress, and Depression of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Among Patients and Their Healthcare Workers – A Descriptive Study

  • Parchani A,
  • Vidhya K,
  • Panda PK,
  • Rawat VS,
  • Bahurupi YA,
  • Kalita D,
  • Kumar H,
  • Dr N

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 14
pp. 1737 – 1746

Abstract

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Ashwin Parchani,1 K Vidhya,2 Prasan Kumar Panda,1 Vikram Singh Rawat,3 Yogesh Arvind Bahurupi,4 Deepjyoti Kalita,5 Harsh Kumar,2 Naveen Dr2 1Department of Medicine (Infectious Disease Division), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh, India; 2All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh, India; 3Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh, India; 4Department of Community and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh, India; 5Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh, IndiaCorrespondence: Prasan Kumar PandaDepartment of Medicine (Infectious Disease Division), Sixth Floor, College Block, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh, 249203, IndiaTel +91-9868999488Email [email protected]: Disease pandemics are known to cause psychological distress. The ensuing mental health issues are not only restricted to the patients and their relatives/friends but affect the healthcare workers (HCWs) as well. Our study aims to assess these psychological trends during the COVID-19 pandemic between the two most affected population groups, that is, patients and frontline healthcare workers.Patients and Methods: A survey questionnaire, including scales to assess fear, anxiety, stress, depression – PSS 10, and DASS 21, was distributed and sent to all COVID-19 suspected/confirmed individuals and healthcare workers at a tertiary care center along with a second visit after 14 days of answering the first questionnaire and this continued as follow-up. Data were analyzed with the SPSS version 23 using various tests of significance.Results: In the community, COVID-19 patients in the age group 41– 50 with respiratory tract symptoms and those who were home isolated/quarantined experienced a greater tendency of mental health problems. Healthcare workers posted in COVID-19 designated areas of the hospital displayed higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression.Conclusion: The high degree of uncertainty associated with novel pathogens has a profound effect on the psychological state of suspected/confirmed cases as well as healthcare workers. Within the community, individuals suspected of having COVID-19 display a significant mental health burden, while HCWs also experience an unprecedented amount of stress, anxiety, depression and fear during such enduring situations.Keywords: coronavirus disease 2019, fear, anxiety, depression, stress, survey, healthcare worker

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