The Psychological Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 on Patients Attending a Tertiary Healthcare Facility in Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Ali, Umar Abdul; Iftikhar, Nadia; Amat-Ur-rasool, Hafsa; Ahmed, Mehboob; Hafeez, Javeria; Carter, Wayne G.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a damaging impact on global health. Post-infection, patients may experience mental health difficulties and therefore require suitable psychological treatment and support. The objective of this study was to identify the psychological impact of COVID-19 on patients who were recovering from the physical effects of the disease, and to examine socio-demographic correlates within one month of treatment at a tertiary healthcare facility in Pakistan. A cross-sectional study was employed that utilized the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Checklist for DSM-5. A questionnaire was administered to 250 patients, with data collected over three months. Mild to extremely severe scores of depression, anxiety and stress were reported by approximately 43%, 52% and 42% of participants, respectively, and 8% developed PTSD. The incidence of depression, anxiety, stress or PTSD was not significantly associated with gender, age or previous interaction with COVID-19 patients. Depression was significantly associated with levels of education, severity of COVID-19 disease and a patient’s current condition. Anxiety was associated with healthcare worker status. The severity of disease and a patient’s current condition were also linked to the levels of anxiety, stress and the presence of PTSD. Collectively, these results indicate that a high percentage of patients recovering from COVID-19 experience psychological distress.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 2, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Jun 5, 2022
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2022
• Deposit Date: Jun 6, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 6, 2022
• Journal: Healthcare (Switzerland)
• Electronic ISSN: 2227-9032
• Publisher: MDPI AG
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 6
• Article Number: 1049
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10061049
• Keywords: Health Information Management; Health Informatics; Health Policy; Leadership and Management
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/8391511
• Publisher URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/6/1049