Study of knowledge, attitude, anxiety & perceived mental healthcare need in Indian population during COVID-19 pandemic

Deblina Roy, Sarvodaya Tripathy, Sujita Kumar Kar, Nivedita Sharma, Sudhir Kumar Verma, Vikas Kaushal, Deblina Roy, Sarvodaya Tripathy, Sujita Kumar Kar, Nivedita Sharma, Sudhir Kumar Verma, Vikas Kaushal

Abstract

Novel Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) originating from China has rapidly crossed borders, infecting people throughout the whole world. This phenomenon has led to a massive public reaction; the media has been reporting continuously across borders to keep all informed about the pandemic situation. All these things are creating a lot of concern for people leading to heightened levels of anxiety. Pandemics can lead to heightened levels of stress; Anxiety is a common response to any stressful situation. This study attempted to assess the knowledge, attitude, anxiety experience, and perceived mental healthcare need among adult Indian population during the COVID-19 pandemic. An online survey was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire using a non-probability snowball sampling technique. A total of 662 responses were received. The responders had a moderate level of knowledge about the COVID-19 infection and adequate knowledge about its preventive aspects. The attitude towards COVID-19 showed peoples' willingness to follow government guidelines on quarantine and social distancing. The anxiety levels identified in the study were high. More than 80 % of the people were preoccupied with the thoughts of COVID-19 and 72 % reported the need to use gloves, and sanitizers. In this study, sleep difficulties, paranoia about acquiring COVID-19 infection and distress related social media were reported in 12.5 %, 37.8 %, and 36.4 % participants respectively. The perceived mental healthcare need was seen in more than 80 % of participants. There is a need to intensify the awareness and address the mental health issues of people during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: Anxiety; Attitude; Awareness; COVID-19 pandemic; Mental healthcare.

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest None.

Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Distribution of study sample across various states of India].
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Awareness of participants about COVID-19 pandemic].
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Attitude of participants towards COVID-19 pandemic].

References

    1. Abebe T.B., Bhagavathula A.S., Tefera Y.G., Ahmad A., Khan M.U., Belachew S.A., Brown B., Abegaz T.M. Healthcare professionals’ awareness, knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and beliefs about Ebola at Gondar University Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. J. Public Health Afr. 2016;7:570. doi: 10.4081/jphia.2016.570.
    1. Banerjee D. The COVID-19 outbreak: crucial role the psychiatrists can play. Asian J. Psychiatry. 2020 doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102014. 102014.
    1. Baud D., Qi X., Nielsen-Saines K., Musso D., Pomar L., Favre G. Real estimates of mortality following COVID-19 infection. Lancet Infect. Dis. 2020 doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30195-X.
    1. Brooks S.K., Webster R.K., Smith L.E., Woodland L., Wessely S., Greenberg N., Rubin G.J. The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: rapid review of the evidence. Lancet. 2020
    1. Burrell C.J., Howard C.R., Murphy F.A. In: Fenner and White’s Medical Virology (Fifth Edition) Burrell C.J., Howard C.R., Murphy F.A., editors. Academic Press; London: 2017. Chapter 31 - coronaviruses; pp. 437–446.
    1. Ebrahim S.H., Ahmed Q.A., Gozzer E., Schlagenhauf P., Memish Z.A. Covid-19 and community mitigation strategies in a pandemic. BMJ. 2020;368 doi: 10.1136/bmj.m1066.
    1. Everts J. Announcing swine flu and the interpretation of pandemic anxiety. Antipode. 2013;45:809–825. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8330.2012.01021.x.
    1. Feng S., Shen C., Xia N., Song W., Fan M., Cowling B.J. Rational use of face masks in the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet Respir. Med. 2020
    1. Holshue M.L., DeBolt C., Lindquist S., Lofy K.H., Wiesman J., Bruce H., Spitters C., Ericson K., Wilkerson S., Tural A., Diaz G., Cohn A., Fox L., Patel A., Gerber S.I., Kim L., Tong S., Lu X., Lindstrom S., Pallansch M.A., Weldon W.C., Biggs H.M., Uyeki T.M., Pillai S.K. First case of 2019 Novel Coronavirus in the United States. N. Engl. J. Med. 2020;382:929–936. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2001191.
    1. Ilesanmi O., Alele F.O. Knowledge, attitude and perception of Ebola virus disease among Secondary School Students in Ondo State, Nigeria, October, 2014. PLoS Curr. 2016;8 doi: 10.1371/currents.outbreaks.c04b88cd5cd03cccb99e125657eecd76. ecurrents.outbreaks.c04b88cd5cd03cccb99e125657eecd76.
    1. Johnson E.J., Hariharan S. Public health awareness: knowledge, attitude and behaviour of the general public on health risks during the H1N1 influenza pandemic. J. Public Health. 2017;25:333–337.
    1. McCloskey B., Zumla A., Ippolito G., Blumberg L., Arbon P., Cicero A., Endericks T., Lim P.L., Borodina M. Mass gathering events and reducing further global spread of COVID-19: a political and public health dilemma. The Lancet. 2020
    1. Mishra P., Bhadauria U.S., Dasar P.L., Kumar S., Lalani A., Sarkar P., Chauhan A., Godha S., Vyas S. Knowledge, attitude and anxiety towards pandemic flu a potential bio weapon among health professionals in Indore City. Przegl. Epidemiol. 2016;70:125–127. 41–5.
    1. MoHFW . Governemt of India; 2020. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: Home Page. URL (Accessed 3.31.20)
    1. Rubin G.J., Amlôt R., Page L., Wessely S. Public perceptions, anxiety, and behaviour change in relation to the swine flu outbreak: cross sectional telephone survey. BMJ. 2009
    1. WHO . 2020. Pneumonia of Unknown Cause – China. URL (Accessed 3.31.20)
    1. WHO . 2020. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report – 46. URL (Accessed 3.31.20)
    1. WHO . 2020. Rolling Updates on Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) URL (Accessed 3.31.20)
    1. WHO . 2020. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report – 70.
    1. Yao H., Chen J.-H., Xu Y.-F. Rethinking online mental health services in China during the COVID-19 epidemic. Asian J. Psychiatry. 2020 doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102015. 102015.

Source: PubMed

スポンサーと協力者

医学的状態

薬物療法

3
購読する