Impact of COVID-19 on the capacity to self-manage health and chronic conditions.

Abstract

To investigate well-being, lifestyle behaviors, self-management capacity and healthcare utilization among adults with chronic conditions at the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data was collected from two interviewer-administered telephone surveys conducted between March 27 - May 22, 2020. Participants were patients at Chicago-area clinics. Self-report and validated measures were used for study-related outcomes. A total of 553 participants (age range 23-88) completed data collection at both timepoints. One in five (20.7%) participants experienced stress due to the coronavirus most or all the time and rates of negative well-being were high (WHO-5 Index mean=58.7%). Almost a quarter (22.3%) engaged in hazardous drinking and 79.7% reported insufficient physical activity. Nearly one in four participants (23.7%) avoided seeking medical care due to worry about COVID-19. In multivariable analyses, greater COVID-19 related stress was associated with less physical activity, lower self-efficacy, greater difficulty managing health and medications, and delays in seeking medical care due to the coronavirus. Mental well-being, lifestyle behaviors, self-management capacity, and healthcare utilization were impacted in the months following the COVID outbreak. These findings suggest health systems should implement proactive measures for detecting and treating emotional and behavioral COVID-related concerns.