THE INVESTIGATION OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL BURDEN OF PATIENTS AFTER HOSPITALIZATION FOR COVID 19

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim: The current Cross-Sectional study investigated the psychosocial effects on recovered Covid 19 patients in a General Hospital in Greece. It was investigated the impact of Covid 19 on levels of social support, loneliness, resilience & PTSD. Furthermore, the correlation between all the above factors was studied. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: 107 adult patients participated. The questionnaire was fulfilled after signature of consensus form. This happened after their discharge from the hospital, without exclusion of infected on previous time. The questionnaire included 5 particular sections: a) Socio-demographic characteristics, b) social support scale, c) IES Covid 19 scale, d) UCLA scale e) CD-Risc scale. In terms of statistical analysis, the comparison between two groups of quantitative variables was conducted through Student's t-test. Related to examination of relationship between two quantitative variables was used Pearson's correlation coefficient (r). The Statistical analysis package used was SPSS 22. RESULTS: Results: The 55,1% of sample were women, married (57,9 %) and (39,3%) university graduates. Moreover, the rate of overweight was significant (39,3%). Related to psychosocial factors, observed high level of resilience (70,6), moderate level of loneliness (39,1) and 57,9% of participants showed moderate social support. At last, PTSD level as a result of Covid 19 was moderate (33,5). A strong correlation was observed between higher mental resilience and lower feelings of loneliness. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The levels of determining factors of negative psychological effects, reveal the need for a preparation of political improvement policies in relation to mental health of rehabilitated persons, as well as the promotion of actions that would contribute to the development of a more effective supportive framework.