[Fear of Coronavirus, Intention to Follow the AHA Rules and Risk Perception Regarding Visits to the Doctor: Cross-sectional Study with Patients suffering from Pre-existing Mental Illness]

Alina Dahmen, Franziska Keller, Lukas Kötting, Christina Derksen, Sonia Lippke, Alina Dahmen, Franziska Keller, Lukas Kötting, Christina Derksen, Sonia Lippke

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic requires containment measures such as contact restrictions and hygiene requirements. It is accompanied by psychological problems and the fear of infection or of a severe course of the disease. This paper examines the relationship between fear of infection and adherence to rules of hygiene as well as the utilization of medical services.

Methods: 1005 patients (20-79 years, 626=62.4% female) were interviewed by online questionnaire before starting a psychosomatic rehabilitation program. Data are presented descriptively and analysed by variance analyses.

Results: 68.6% were rarely/sometimes afraid and 17.9% were always afraid of contracting coronavirus or of a severe course of the disease. Those who were afraid intended to wash their hands more frequently (97.2%) than those who were not afraid. Regardless of any change in their physical and mental health status, participants felt it to be risky to seek medical care.

Conclusion: The intention to follow hygiene rules in people with pre-existing mental illness depends on a fear of infecting oneself or others with the coronavirus or of contracting a severe form of the disease. Especially mentally or psychosomatically affected individuals need to be informed adequately about the coronavirus and the necessary individual protective measures in order to reduce resistance and to increase willingness to seek medical help.

Conflict of interest statement

Die Autorinnen/Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht.

Thieme. All rights reserved.

References

    1. Robert-Koch-Institut: COVID-19 (Coronavirus SARS-Cov2): Fallzahlen in Deutschland und weltweit. Im Internet:
    1. Worldometer: COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic. Im Internet:
    1. Pozo-Martin F, Weishaar H, Cristea F Auswirkungen der Maßnahmen zum Infektionsschutz auf das Wachstum der COVID-19-Epidemie. Mitgliedsstaaten der Organisation für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (OECD), Januar-Juli 2020.
    1. Leopoldina: 2. Stellungnahme vom 03.04.2020: Coronavirus-Pandemie – Gesundheitsrelevante Maßnahmen. Im Internet:
    1. Marais B, Sorrell T. Pathways to COVID-19 ‘community protection’. International Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2020;96:496–499.
    1. Betsch C, Korn L, Sprengholz P et al.Social and behavioral consequences of mask policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. P Natl Acad Sci USA. 2020;117:21851–21853.
    1. Leffler C T, Ing E B, Lykins J D.Association of country-wide coronavirus mortality with demographics, testing, lockdowns, and public wearing of masks. Update August 4. medRxiv 2020. 2020.05.22.20109231
    1. Hossain M M, Sultana A, Purohit N. Mental health outcomes of quarantine and isolation for infection prevention: a systematic umbrella review if the global evidence. Epidemiol Health. 2020;42:e12020038.
    1. Purssell E, Gould D, Chudleigh J. Impact of isolation on hospitalised patients who are infectious: systematic review with meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 2020;10:e030371.
    1. Sprang G, Silman M. Posttraumatic stress disorder in parents and youth after health-related disasters. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2013;7:105–110.
    1. Qiu J, Shen B, Zhao M et al.A nationwide survey of psychological distress among Chinese people in the COVID-19 epidemic: Implications and policy recommendations. Gen. Psychiatry. 2020;33:19–21.
    1. Wang C, Pan R, Wan X et al.Immediate psychological responses and associated factors during the initial stage of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic among the general population in China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020;17:17–29.
    1. Höglinger M. Substantieller Einbruch bei medizinischen Behandlungen im Lockdown: Ergebnisse aus COVID-19 Social Monitor. Zürcher Ärztezeitung. 2020;2:10–12.
    1. Lippke S.Protection motivation theory. Encyclopedia of sport and exercise psychologyIn: Eklund R, Tenenbaum G (Eds.)Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc; 15557–559.
    1. Jacobi F, Höfler M, Strehle J. Psychische Störungen in der Allgemeinbevölkerung. Nervenarzt. 2014;85:77–87.
    1. Jacobi F, Höfler M, Strehle J. Erratum zu: Psychische Störungen in der Allgemeinbevölkerung. Studie zur Gesundheit Erwachsener in Deutschland und ihr Zusatzmodul „Psychische Gesundheit“ (DEGS1-MH) Nervenarzt. 2016;87:88–90.
    1. Derksen C, Keller F M, Lippke S.Obstetric Healthcare Workers’ Adherence to Hand Hygiene Recommendations during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Observations and Social-Cognitive Determinants. Appl Psychol Health and Well-Being 2020. Online ahead of print
    1. Keller F, Derksen C, Schmiedhofer M et al.Patientensicherheit und wahrgenommene Risiken für Vermeidbare Unerwünschte Ereignisse aus Sicht von Patienten und Beschäftigten im Gesundheitswesen. MVF. 2020;05:83–89.
    1. Lippke S, Ziegelmann J P, Schwarzer R et al.Validity of stage assessment in the adoption and maintenance of physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption. Health Psychol. 2009;28:183–193.
    1. Rubin G, Potts H, Michie S. The impact of communications about swine flu (influenza A H1N1v) on public responses to the outbreak: Results from 36 national telephone surveys in the UK. Health Technol Assess. 2010;14:183–266.
    1. Reintjes R, Das E, Klemm C et al.Pandemic public health paradox: time series anlysis of the 2009/2010 Influenza A H1/N1 epidemiology, media attention, risk perception and public reactions in 5 European countries. PLoS One. 2016;11:e0151258.
    1. WHOCommunicating risk in public health emergencies: a who guideline for emergency risk communication (ERC) policy and practice (10.01.2018)
    1. Glik D C. Risk communication for public health emergencies. Research gate. 2007;28:33–54.
    1. Leopoldina Nationale Akademie der Wissenschaften. 6. Ad-Hoc-Stellungnahme: Coronavirus-Pandemie: Wirksame Regeln für Herbst und Winter aufstellen. Im Internet:
    1. Otchwemah R, Duman D, Neuwirth M et al.Einsatz von Community-Masken in der Bevölkerung: Praxis und Anwendungsfehler während der COVID-19-Pandemie in Deutschland. Gesundheitswesen. 2020;82:821–828.
    1. Gilan D, Röthke N, Blessin M et al.Psychomorbidity, resilience, and exacerbating and protective factros during the SARS-CoV2-pandemic – a systematic literature review and results from the German COSMO-PANEL. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2020;117:625–632.
    1. Rees J, Papendick M, Rees Y . Bielefeld: Institut für interdisziplinäre Konflikt- und Gewaltforschung (IKG); 2020. Erste Ergebnisse einer Online-Umfrage zur gesellschaftlichen Wahrnehmung des Umgangs mit der Corona-Pandemie in Deutschland.
    1. Van der Pligt J. Risk perception and self-protective behaviour. Euro Psychol. 1996;1:34–43.
    1. Leopoldina: Dritte Ad-Hoc-Stellungnahme: Coronavirus-Pandemie- Die Krise nachhaltig überwinden (2020). Im Internet:
    1. Ganson K T, Weiser S D, Tsai A C et al.Associations between anxiety and Depression Symptoms and Medical Care Avoidance during COVID-19. J Gen Inter Med. 2020;35:3406–3408. doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-06156-8.
    1. Metzler B, Siostrzonek P, Binder R K et al.Decline of acute coronary syndrome admissions in Austria since the outbreak of COVID-19: the pandemic response causes cardiac collateral damage. Eur Heart J 2020. 41:1852–1853.
    1. Kansagra A P, Goyal M S, Hamilton S et al.Collateral Effect of Covid-19 on Stroke Evaluation in the United States. N Engl J Med. 2020;383:4: 400–401. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc2014816.
    1. Ramshorn-Zimmer A, Schröder R, Fakler J et al.Notaufnahme während der Coronapandemie: Weniger Non-COVID-19-Notfälle. Dtsch Arztebl. 2020;117:1201–1205.
    1. Stock L. First Do No Harm With COVID-19: Corona Collateral Damage Syndrome. West J Emerg. 2020;21:746–747.
    1. Ramshorn-Zimmer A, Pin M, Hartwig T.Coronapandemie: Rolle der Zentralen Notaufnahme Dtsch Arztebl 2020117A–1040./B-880
    1. BundesärztekammerCorona-Pandemie: Analyse und versorgungsrelevante Handlungsnotwendigkeiten. Aus der Krise lernen – zehn Punkte für ein effektives Krisenmanagement. Bundesärztekammer 2020
    1. Kassenärztliche BundesvereinigungDiskussionsgrundlage – White Paper – Management des Pandemiegeschehens 2020

Source: PubMed

Sponsorer og samarbeidspartnere

Medisinsk tilstand

Legemiddelintervensjoner

3
Abonnere