Abstract
BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic is having profound psychological impacts on populations globally, with increasing levels of stress, anxiety, and depression being reported, especially in people with pre-existing medical conditions who appear to be particularly vulnerable. There are limited data on the specific concerns people have about COVID-19 and what these are based on.MethodsThe aim of this study was to identify and explore the concerns of people with long-term respiratory conditions in the UK regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and how these concerns were affecting them. We conducted a thematic analysis of free text responses to the question “What are your main concerns about getting coronavirus?”, which was included in the British Lung Foundation/Asthma UK (BLF-AUK) partnership COVID-19 survey, conducted between the 1st and 8th of April 2020. This was during the 3rd week of the UK’s initial ‘social distancing measures’ which included advice to stay at home and only go outside for specific limited reasons.Results7039 responses were analysed, with respondents from a wide range of age groups (under 17 to over 80), gender, and all UK nations. Respondents reported having asthma (85%), COPD (9%), bronchiectasis (4%), interstitial lung disease (2%), or ‘other’ lung diseases (e.g. lung cancer) (1%). Four main themes were identified: (1) vulnerability to COVID-19; (2) anticipated experience of contracting COVID-19; (3) pervasive uncertainty; and (4) inadequate national response.ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic is having profound psychological impacts. The concerns we identified largely reflect contextual factors, as well as their subjective experience of the current situation. Hence, key approaches to reducing these concerns require changes to the reality of their situation, and are likely to include (1) helping people optimise their health, limit risk of infection, and access necessities; (2) minimising the negative experience of disease where possible, (3) providing up-to-date, accurate and consistent information, (4) improving the government and healthcare response.
Highlights
The COVID-19 pandemic is having profound psychological impacts on populations globally, with increasing levels of stress, anxiety, and depression being reported, especially in people with pre-existing medical con‐ ditions who appear to be vulnerable
A growing body of research has identified that mental health is being adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, limited data exist as to what exactly people are concerned about, and what their anxieties are based on. Understanding this is vital to inform our response to this burgeoning psychological crisis, as it is a necessary first step to developing information and other strategies to address and reduce distress. The aim of this project was to identify and explore the concerns of people with long-term respiratory conditions regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and how these concerns were affecting them
The responses suggest that the coronavirus pandemic has created wide ranging and profound concerns for people with long-term respiratory conditions in the United Kingdom (UK), far outreaching becoming personally infected
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic is having profound psychological impacts on populations globally, with increasing levels of stress, anxiety, and depression being reported, especially in people with pre-existing medical con‐ ditions who appear to be vulnerable. In addition to direct health risks from the disease itself, major disruptions to normal life have occurred globally, due to approaches to reduce transmission of the virus These have included large-scale reorganisation of healthcare systems and the introduction of measures to reduce the spread of infection, which may be having negative psychological impacts [14]. In the UK people with severe respiratory conditions were among those defined as “extremely clinically vulnerable” and advised to “socially shield”, avoiding all faceto-face contact for at least 12 weeks in the first instance All those with chronic lung conditions were defined as “clinically vulnerable” and “strongly advised” to socially distance [15]. While the wider public, were “advised” to socially distance, including staying at home and only going outside for specific limited reasons [15,16,17]
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