A study of perception of stress in COVID-19 suspected and confirmed patients during the process of screening, diagnosing, and treatment in a tertiary care center during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Importance: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a disease caused by the novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Research has shown that pandemics tend to have an impact on the mental health of the community. Objective: As the COVID-19 disease continues to spread, anxieties and stress related to it continue to increase exponentially. The present study has been conducted to assess the perception of stress in COVID-19 suspected or confirmed positive patients. Design, setting, and participants: This was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted on 1000 COVID-19 suspected and confirmed patients to assess their levels of stress during the screening, diagnosis, and treatment processes. The duration of the study was 3 months. The perceived stress scale (PSS) was used to assess the participant’s levels of stress since the previous month. Results: Out of the total number of patients, 63.80% were males and 36.20% were females. Nearly half of the participants, that is, 52.60% were between 18 and 30 years of age and 42.50% of the surveyed participants had stress levels in the high perceived stress category. We concluded that there is a prevalence of perceived stress associated with COVID-19 at high levels. Conclusion and relevance: These results therefore necessitate the need for stress management and counseling therapy to cope with the psychologic distress caused due to COVID-19. Future research and surveys must be conducted to assess the psychologic impact caused in individuals due to pandemics.