Fear of COVID-19 Infection and its Relationship with Health-Related Preventive Practices among Patients Having Chronic Ailments

Abstract

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) is clinical threat to healthy individuals around the world. Risk of disease and related complications are high among immunocompromised individuals and those with pre-existing chronic diseases. Aim: To assess the fear of Covid-19 among patients having chronic diseases and to determine its relationship with preventive practices among them. Study Design: Cross-sectional study Place and Duration of Study: Department of Community Medicine, HITEC Hospital Taxila from 1st September2020 to 31st March 2021. Methodology: Three hundred and seventeen patients having chronic diseases were included. Fear of Covid-19 scale used to assess the fear level and questions related to preventive practices. Results: Fear of Covid-19 was high among females, hypertensive, diabetics and those having cardiovascular disease. Fear was found among 133 (42%) participants. Regarding Covid-19 preventive practices, 8(2.5%) had unsatisfactory, 115 (36.3%) had satisfactory and 194(61.2%) had good preventive practices. Covid precautions were significantly practiced among those having fear. Statistically significant positive correlation was found between mean Covid fear and practices scores (r=.30, p=.001) Conclusion: Fear of Covid is a recognized risk factor for anxiety and depression among people. However, fear is found to promote risk perception and health related preventive behaviors among chronic patients that can positively ensure safety, decrease the risk of infection and serious complications among chronic patients. Keywords: SARS-CoV-19, Fear for Covid-19, Preventive Practices, Chronic diseases.