Consultations with health care providers and use of self-management strategies for prevention and treatment of COVID-19 related symptoms. A population based cross-sectional study in Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands

Agnete E Kristoffersen,Esther T Van Der Werf,Trine Stub,Frauke Musial,Barbara Wider,Miek C Jong,Kathrin Wode,Jenny-Ann B Danell,Martine Busch,H.J Rogier Hoenders,Johanna H Nordberg

doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2021.102792

Abstract

ObjectivesThe present study was initiated to determine consultations with health care providers and use of self-management strategies for prevention or treatment of COVID-19 related symptoms in countries with a full lockdown (Norway), a partial lockdown (the Netherlands) and no lockdown (Sweden) during the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic, and if such use correlates with worries of being infected by COVID-19 disease. DesignData were collected in collaboration with Ipsos A/S in April-June 2020. An adapted version of the International Questionnaire to measure use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (I-CAM-Q) was used with the categories “for prevention of COVID-19” and “to treat COVID-19-related symptoms” added. Data were collected among a representative sample in Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands using data assisted telephone interviews (Norway, n=990 and Sweden, n=500), and an online survey (the Netherlands, n=1004). Total response rate was 30%. ResultsVery few consulted a health care provider with the intention to treat or prevent COVID-19 (1.2% and 1.0% respectively) with medical doctors mostly visited (1.0% and 0.9% respectively). Similarly, the use of self-management strategies to prevent or treat COVID-19 was low (3.4% and 0.2% respectively); most commonly used for prevention of COVID-19 were vitamins and minerals (2.8%). Consultations with health care providers and use of self-management strategies for prevention of COVID-19 were positively associated with worries of being infected with COVID-19. ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic does not seem to have evoked a large-scale difference in behavior related to consultations with health care providers or the use of self-management strategies in any of the three countries.

Highlights

The present study was initiated to determine consultations with health care providers and use of selfmanagement strategies such as herbal remedies, dietary supplements and self-help techniques for prevention and treatment of COVID-19 related symptoms in countries with a full lockdown (Norway), a partial (’intelligent’) lockdown and no lockdown (Sweden) during the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic, and if such use correlates with worries of being infected by COVID-19 disease
Consultations with health care providers and use of self-management strategies for prevention of COVID-19 were positively associated with worries of being infected with COVID-19
No such associations were found for worries about loved ones or the perception that COVID-19 is more dangerous than ordinary influenza

Summary

Methods

Data were collected in collaboration with the global marketing company Ipsos A/S in April-June 2020 during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. An adapted version of the I-CAM-Q was used and the categories “for prevention of COVID-19” and “to treat COVID-19-related symptoms” added to the original “reasons for use” options. Data were collected among a representative sample in Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands using data assisted telephone interviews (Norway, n=990 and Sweden, n=500), and an online survey (the Netherlands, n=1004).

Results

Discussion

Conclusion