The Needs of Individuals with Chronic Mental Disorders in the COVID-19 Pandemic Process: A Descriptive Study

Abstract

Background: While the COVID-19 pandemic causes significant mental health problems in individuals with chronic mental disorders, it has become an important risk factor for exacerbation of disease symptoms. Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the needs of individuals with chronic mental disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The study was done descriptively. The study was completed with 107 individuals with chronic mental disorders in a community mental health center between July 2021 and June 2022. Data were collected with the descriptive information form and the Camberwell Requirements Assessment (CGD) Short Form. Independent two-sample t test analysis for normally distributed variables; Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal Wallis test analyzes were used for variables that did not show normal distribution. Chi-square test was used in comparisons of categorical variables. The p<0.05 value was considered statistically significant in the study. Ethics committee permission, institutional permission from the institution where the study was conducted, and consent from the individuals within the scope of the study were obtained in order to conduct the study. Results: It was found that the mean age of the individuals was 45.19±11.77, 58.9% of them were male, the mean duration of illness was 17.67±9.77/year, 65.4% were single and 80.4% were unemployed. According to the Camberwell Needs Evaluation scale of individuals, the three need areas with the highest average; social relations, sexual life and financial/material areas. Individuals with schizophrenia, male, illiterate, unemployed and living with their parents had higher needs scores. Conclusion: During the COVID-19 Pandemic period, individuals with chronic mental disorders have higher needs in social relations, sexual life and financial/material areas. It has been observed that the needs scores of individuals with chronic mental illness differ according to their gender, educational and working status, and family structure. It is recommended to plan the rehabilitation and follow-up process focused on the needs of individuals with chronic mental disorders who receive service from community mental health centers.

Keywords

• Chronic Mental Disorder
• COVID-19 Pandemic
• Need
• Community Mental Health

Kronik Ruhsal Bozukluğu Olan Bireylerin COVID-19 Pandemi Sürecindeki Gereksinimleri: Tanımlayıcı Bir Çalışma

Abstract

Giriş: COVID-19 pandemisi kronik ruhsal bozukluğu olan bireyler üzerinde önemli ruh sağlığı sorunlarına neden olurken bi̇reyleri̇n hastalık semptomlarının alevlenmesi için önemli bir risk unsuru olmuştur. Amaç: Bu çalışma kronik ruhsal bozukluğu olan bireylerin COVID-19 pandemi sürecindeki gereksinimlerini belirlemek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Yöntem: Çalışma tanımlayıcı olarak yapılmıştır. Çalışma Temmuz 2021- Haziran 2022 tarihleri arasında, Türkiye’nin İzmir ilindeki bir toplum ruh sağlığı merkezinde kronik ruhsal bozukluğu olan 107 birey ile tamamlanmıştır. Veriler tanıtıcı bilgi formu ve Camberwell Gereksinim Değerlendirme (CGD) Kısa Formu ile toplanmıştır. Normal dağılım gösteren değişkenler için bağımsız iki örneklem t testi analizi; normal dağılım göstermeyen değişkenler için Mann-Whitney U testi ve Kruskal Wallis testi analizleri kullanılmıştır. Kategorik değişkenlerin karşılaştırmalarında Ki-kare testinden yararlanılmıştır. Çalışmada p<0.05 değeri istatistiksel olarak anlamlı kabul edilmiştir. Araştırmanın uygulanabilmesi için etik kurul izni, çalışmanın yapıldığı kurumdan kurum izni ve çalışma kapsamındaki bireylerden onam alınmıştır. Bulgular: Bireylerin yaş ortalamasının 45.19±11.77 olduğu, %58.9’unun erkek olduğu, hastalık süreleri ortalamasının 17.67±9.77 yıl olduğu, %65.4’ünün bekar ve %80.4’ünün çalışmadığı bulunmuştur. Bireylerin Camberwell Gereksinim Değerlendirme ölçeğine göre en yüksek ortalaması olan üç gereksinim alanının; sosyal ilişkiler, cinsel yaşam ve mali/maddi alanında olduğu bulunmuştur. Şizofreni tanısı olan, erkek olan, okur yazar olmayan, çalışmayan ve ebeveynleri ile yaşayan bireylerin gereksinim puanlarının daha yüksek olduğu bulunmuştur. Sonuç: COVID-19 Pandemi döneminde kronik ruhsal bozukluğu olan bireylerin sosyal ilişkiler, cinsel yaşam ve mali/maddi alanında gereksinimleri daha yüksektir. Kronik ruhsal hastalığı olan bireylerin cinsiyetlerine, öğrenim ve çalışma durumlarına, aile yapısına göre gereksinim puanlarının farklılaştığı görülmüştür. Toplum ruh sağlığı merkezlerinden hizmet alan kronik ruhsal bozukluğu olan bireylerin gereksinimleri odaklı rehabilitasyon ve izlem sürecinin planlanması önerilir.

Keywords

• Kronik Ruhsal Bozukluk
• COVID-19 Pandemisi
• Gereksinim
• Toplum Ruh Sağlığı

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