1. The Psychological and Emotional Impact of Coronavirus Disease on COVID-19 Patients in Najran Province, Saudi Arabia: An Exploratory Study
- Author
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Mohammed Ansar Qureshi, Awad Mohammed Al-Qahtani, Sherif Mohamed Khorshid, Ahmad Abdullah Alshehri, Yahya Hussein Ahmed Abdulla, Mosleh Hamad Almas, Mohammed Saeed Zayed Al-Ayed, Mugahed Ali Al-Khadher, Sadeq Abdo Alwesabi, and Eisa Yazeed Ghazwani
- Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty ,business.industry ,pandemic ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Exploratory research ,Psychological intervention ,Mental health ,coronavirus infection ,Family medicine ,Pandemic ,medicine ,Anxiety ,Public aspects of medicine ,RA1-1270 ,medicine.symptom ,Worry ,business ,psychological stress ,Psychosocial ,Depression (differential diagnoses) ,media_common - Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a significant mental health crisis and caused a widening economic crisis, growing financial loss, and numerous uncertainties. This pandemic brought alarming implications and overall increased risk for psychiatric illness. This study explores the psychological impact experienced by patients who tested positive from coronavirus in the Najran region, Saudi Arabia. Design and methods This exploratory analysis included 210 COVID-19 positive patients. The study was conducted during a six-month period starting from March to September 2020, in two tertiary government hospitals in Najran, Saudi Arabia. Samples were selected using purposive sampling; survey questionnaire and face-to-face interview to collect the data. Statistical data were calculated using IBM SPSS v. 2.0 to compute the following statistical formulas: percentage distribution, mean, standard deviation, and Chi-square test of independence. Results The findings of this study revealed that the majority of COVID-19 positive patients were middle-aged adults (n=98 or 46.7%), male (n=178 or 84.8%), and were non-Saudi nationals (n=132 or 62.9%). It was found out that COVID-19 patients experienced bothersome behaviour at a very high level ([Formula: see text]=2.63±0.6734). Meanwhile, depression ([Formula: see text]=2.51±0.7070), worry ([Formula: see text]=2.23±0.8811), and anxiety ([Formula: see text]=2.21±0.8719) was only at a high level. Conclusions The study revealed that the majority of participants had high levels of depression, anxiety and bothersome behaviours. However, demographic characteristics like age, sex, and nationality were not significantly related to coronavirus patients’ psychological health problems. Assessments and interventions for psychosocial concerns, integration of mental health considerations, and treatment for severe psychosocial consequences must be administered in COVID-19 care facilities.
- Published
- 2022