Levels and predictors of fear and health anxiety during the current outbreak of COVID-19 in immunocompromised and chronic disease patients in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional correlational study

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection has become a clinical threat to healthy people as well as immunocompromised patients and those with pre-existing chronic diseases around the world. This study, which used a cross-sectional correlational design, aimed to assess the levels of fear and health anxiety and to investigate their predictors during the current outbreak of COVID-19 in immunocompromised and chronic disease patients in Saudi Arabia. Sociodemographic and clinical data, fear of COVID-19, and health anxiety measurements were collected by online surveys from June 15 to July 15, 2020. Univariate and multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify predictors. A total of 1,030 patients in 13 provinces in Saudi Arabia completed the questionnaire. A significant number of patients with chronic diseases experienced considerable levels of fear and anxiety during the COVID-19 outbreak. It was found that 21.44% of participants met the criteria for anxiety cases, and 19.4% were considered borderline anxiety cases. In regression analysis, significant predictors of fear and health anxiety were female gender, lower education, middle-aged, divorced or widowed, receiving immunosuppressants, type of chronic disease (Crohn’s disease, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases), and media use as a source of knowledge about COVID-19. Immunocompromised and chronic disease patients are vulnerable to fear and anxiety during epidemic infectious diseases such as COVID-19. Optimizing this population’s compliance with appropriate infection prevention and control strategies is crucial during the infectious outbreaks to ensure their safety, to decrease the risk of infection and serious complications, and reduce their fear and health anxiety. Effective positive psychological interventions and support strategies also need to be immediately implemented to increase psychological resilience and improve the mental health of these patients. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, chronic disease patients in Saudi Arabia need special attention from health authorities, policymakers, and healthcare professionals to manage maladaptive forms of health anxiety and fear.

Compliance Indicators of COVID-19 Prevention and Vaccines Hesitancy in Kenya: A Random-Effects Endogenous Probit Model

“…This finding is contrary to the one that was reported by Padidar et al [85] but in agreement with that of Valenti and Faraci [46]. In accordance with some previous studies [82][83][84]86,87], willingness to take COVID-19 vaccines increased with educational levels. Additionally, male respondents had lower compliance indicators.…”

“…The results further showed that anxiety and days with feelings of depression increased the two compliance indicators. The feelings of anxiety can be related to expression of fear in the context of unfolding events during the COVID-19 pandemic [86,87]. Additionally, the number of days with nervous feelings decreased the probability of willingness to take COVID-19 vaccines.…”

Psychological Distress Among Ethiopian Pregnant Women During COVID-19: Negative Correlation with Self-Efficacy

“…This finding appeared higher than the previous result among nonpregnant subjects during this pandemic. 44 Primiparous women had significantly higher mean scores than multiparous mothers. There was a previous supportive finding in which primiparous mothers had reported higher worries than their counterparts.…”

Fear of COVID-19 and the Media Influence on Herbal Medication Use in Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…4,14 However, the majority of participants in our study reported that they would hold information from the Ministry of Health and WHO with high regard a finding consistent with that of Kwok et al 29 and Alotiby et al 14 In this respect, policymakers and health workers could use this opportunity to disseminate the right information to the public regarding the safe use of herbal remedies. 30 The current study revealed a mean FCV-19S score of 21.7 (SD=5.9, median=21). This was higher than reported in similar studies done in Eastern Europe (mean=17.2, median=17) and Japan (median=16.67) as well as in other countries like New Zealand, Spain, Russia, Israel, and Pakistan, where the mean scores were distributed between 15 and 19 points.…”

“… 4 , 14 However, the majority of participants in our study reported that they would hold information from the Ministry of Health and WHO with high regard a finding consistent with that of Kwok et al 29 and Alotiby et al 14 In this respect, policymakers and health workers could use this opportunity to disseminate the right information to the public regarding the safe use of herbal remedies. 30 …”