STUDY OF DEPRESSION, ANXIETY & STRESS AMONG FAMILY MEMBERS OF HOSPITALIZED COVID-19 PATIENTS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF CENTRAL GUJARAT.

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has caused mental health issues along with physical, social, and economic issues in both patients and their relatives.COVID-19-positive patients were hospitalized in isolation with no or limited access to relatives. These conditions may have contributed to signicant psychological distress in relatives and this study was designed to assess the same. Objectives: To nd the prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress among Relatives of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative tertiary care hospital-based study was conducted after approval from Institutional Human Ethics Committee. Relatives of hospitalized COVID-19 patients were assessed by purposive sampling method using Semi-Structured Performa including socio-demographic details, illnessrelated details, and DASS-21 (Depression, Anxiety, and Stress scale-21) via a telephonic mode of interview. Results: A total of 200 relatives of COVID-19 positive turned negative patients were interviewed on the rst day of the COVID 19 negative report. Majority of participants were male,mean age 41 years,literate,married & having rst degree relation with the patient. The prevalence of Depression, Anxiety and Stress was 12%. On individual parameters, Depression, Anxiety and Stress was found 25%,21%,and 20% respectively. Female relatives were signicantly associated with depression (χ2= 8.689,P=.003) & anxiety(χ2= 5.790,P=.016) where as longer hospitalization was signicantly associated with anxiety(χ2= 10.216,P=.006) and stress(χ2= 8.936,P=.011). Conclusions: Relatives of COVID-19 patients had a signicant amount of psychological stress. Female gender of relatives and longer duration of hospitalization of patients were important predictors