Anxiety Profile of PWD and Caregiver During COVID-19 Pandemic in ALZI Surabaya Community, Indonesia

Putu Astiswari Permata Kurniawan,Erikavitri Yulianti,Novira Widajanti

doi:10.32996/jmhs.2022.3.1.1

Putu Astiswari Permata Kurniawan, Erikavitri Yulianti + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.32996/jmhs.2022.3.1.1

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Abstract

The consequence of COVID-19 pandemic conditions in vulnerable groups such as Patients with Dementia (PWD) and their caregivers are required to be urgently addressed. This study was conducted to collect data on PWD and caregiver characteristics, also concluding the profile of anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in Alzi Surabaya Community. This research is an observational descriptive cross-sectional study using the Beck Anxiety Inventory and Rating Anxiety in Dementia questionnaire to apprehend the profile of anxiety in PWD and caregivers in the Alzi Surabaya Community during the COVID-19 pandemic. PWD in this community experience significant anxiety (82.35%) with symptoms such as sleep disturbance (100%) worry over trifles (92.85%), complaints of headache and body aches or pains (92.85%) also sweating, flushes or chills, tingling or numbness of extremities (42.85%) and insignificant anxiety (17.65%) with symptoms such as fatigue and tiredness (100%), worry about physical health (66.57%), irritability (66.57%), heart racing or thumping (33.33%). Caregivers of PWD in this community all experience low anxiety with symptoms such as fear of something worst happening (80%), unable to relax (65%), indigestion and dizziness or lightheadedness (55%). Intervention, in order to reduce anxiety in PWD and caregiver during and post-pandemic, is substantial as establishing a good quality of life is important for PWD to increase fulfilment in life and also important for caregivers in order to maintain quality of care.

Highlights

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic raised awareness and questions around its effects on mental health, especially in psychological and socio-economical retrospect (Kola et al, 2021)
Patients with Dementia (PWD) in this community experience significant anxiety (82.35%) with symptoms such as sleep disturbance (100%) worry over trifles (92.85%), complaints of headache and body aches or pains (92.85%) sweating, flushes or chills, tingling or numbness of extremities (42.85%) and insignificant anxiety (17.65%) with symptoms such as fatigue and tiredness (100%), worry about physical health (66.57%), irritability (66.57%), heart racing or thumping (33.33%)
The consequence of increased social isolation and loneliness during COVID-19 have a strong correlation with mental health; one of them is anxiety (Holmes et al, 2020)

Summary

Introduction

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic raised awareness and questions around its effects on mental health, especially in psychological and socio-economical retrospect (Kola et al, 2021). The consequence of increased social isolation and loneliness during COVID-19 have a strong correlation with mental health; one of them is anxiety (Holmes et al, 2020). The global prevalence of anxiety disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 was equivalent to 374 million people (Santomauro et al, 2021). Some groups are more susceptible than others to the psychosocial effects of pandemics. Those at heightened risk for infection, such as the elderly, especially with pre-existing psychiatric problems, are considered as vulnerable (Pfefferbaum et al, 2020), such as dementia. Dementia is one of many psychiatric problems in the elderly. 1.2 million people in Indonesia was diagnosed with dementia in 2016 (Alzheimer's Indonesia, 2019)

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Discussion

Conclusion