Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to spread globally. This infectious disease affects people not only physically but also psychologically. Therefore, an effective psychological intervention program needs to be developed to improve the psychological condition of patients screened for fever during this period. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a brief mindfulness intervention on patients with suspected fever in a screening isolation ward awaiting results of the COVID-19 test. The Faces Scale and the Emotional Thermometer Tool were used to investigate 51 patients who were randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group. All patients completed self-rating questionnaires online at the time they entered the isolation ward and before they were informed of the results. The intervention group listened to the mindfulness audios through hospital broadcasts in the isolation ward before their lunch break and while they slept. Compared with the control group, the intervention group’s life satisfaction score increased (F = 4.02, p = 0.051) and the emotional thermometer score decreased (F = 8.89, p = 0.005). The anxiety scores (F = 9.63, p = 0.003) and the needing help scores decreased significantly (F = 4.95, p = 0.031). Distress (F = 1.41, p = 0.241), depression (F = 1.93, p = 0.171), and anger (F = 3.14, p = 0.083) also decreased, but did not reach significance. Brief mindfulness interventions can alleviate negative emotions and improve the life satisfaction of patients in the isolation ward who were screened for COVID-19 during the waiting period.
Highlights
From December 2019, the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a massive impact on both physical and psychological well-being
There were no significant differences between the intervention and control groups in terms of age, education level, marriage, and living situation (Table 1)
Our study focused on whether the psychological states of patients entering the isolation ward were improved after a brief mindfulness intervention
Summary
From December 2019, the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a massive impact on both physical and psychological well-being. The National Health Commission of China (NHC) responded swiftly and included COVID-19 in Category B of notifiable diseases, defined by the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Revised; CDC, 2020) on January 20th, 2020. The NHC announced that the country would implement preventive and control measures for Category A of infectious diseases to effectively fight against pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus. The government has taken several efficient measures to curb the spread of the epidemic, such as halting most businesses and social activities, quarantining measures, assigning designated hospitals for COVID-19 treatment, and building cabin hospitals
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