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 (x̅=2.63±0.6734). Meanwhile, depression (x̅=2.51±0.7070), worry (x̅=2.23±0.8811), and anxiety (x̅=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.
Significance for public health
The need to offer suggestions for stress management and effective coping by linking patients to different social and mental health services, patient counselling, open discussion with support system, seeking for professional mental health assistance, psychosocial assessment and evaluation, wellness promotion, and psychoeducation. It is imperative that assessment and interventions for psychosocial concerns, integration of mental health considerations, consultation with specialists, and treatment for severe psychosocial consequences should all be administered in COVID-19 care facilities.