The Anxiety Level of Parents of Patients Admitted to Pediatric Emergency Clinic During The COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Aim: The important and long-term effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental state of society is expected. Our aim with this study is to measure the anxiety levels of families of patients who were admitted to our pediatric emergency clinic to determine the effect of the pandemic on the parents' stress level. Additionally, to evaluate the factors that could affect their anxiety level, and to investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the emotional states of the parents. Our long-term goal is to provide support to these parents in the future. Materials and Methods: Patients who admitted the pediatric emergency clinic divided two groups (suspected and non-suspected COVID-19). State Trait Anxiety Inventory questionnaire was applied parents of patients. Results: It was seen that even suspicion of COVID-19 in the patients increased the anxiety level in the parents, especially in mothers rather than fathers. Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic has increased parental anxiety. It is believed that as such a pandemic with great psychological effects on children and parents goes on, it is highly beneficial to continue to conduct various types of studies to detect anxiety, support families in need and provide help through social and medical care services.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• Pandemic
• Anxiety
• Pediatric Emergency
• Parents

COVID-19 Pandemi Döneminde Çocuk Acil Kliniğine Başvuran Hastaların Ebeveyn Anksiyete Düzeyleri

Abstract

Amaç: COVID-19 pandemisinin ruhsal durum üzerinde önemli ve uzun vadeli etkisinin olması beklenmektedir. Bu çalışma ile amacımız, pandeminin ebeveynlerin stres düzeyine etkisini belirlemek için çocuk acil polikliniğimize başvuran hastaların ailelerinin kaygı düzeylerini ölçmektir. Ayrıca, kaygı düzeylerini etkileyebilecek faktörleri değerlendirmek ve COVID-19 pandemisinin ebeveynlerin duygu durumlarına etkisini araştırmaktır. Uzun vadeli hedefimiz, gelecekte bu ebeveynlere destek sağlamaktır. Araç ve Yöntemler: Çocuk acil servisimize başvuran hastalar COVID-19 şüpheli ve şüpheli olmayan şeklinde iki gruba ayrıldı. Hastaların ebeveynlerine Durumluluk Sürekli Kaygı Ölçeği anketi uygulandı. Bulgular: Özellikle annelerde daha fazla olmak üzere, hastalarda COVID-19 şüphesi olmasının bile ebeveynlerin anksiyete seviyesini yükselttiği görüldü. Sonuç: COVID-19 pandemisi ebeveyn anksiyetesini yükseltmiştir. Çocuklar ve ebeveynler üzerinde büyük psikolojik etkileri olan böyle bir pandemi sürerken, kaygıyı tespit etmek, ihtiyaç sahibi ailelere destek olmak, sosyal ve tıbbi bakım hizmetleri aracılığıyla yardım sağlamak için çeşitli şekillerde çalışmaların sürdürülmesinin son derece faydalı olduğuna inanılmaktadır.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• Pandemi
• Anksiyete
• Çocuk Acil
• Ebeveyn

References

1. 1. Li Q, Guan X, Wu P, Wang X, Zhou L, Tong Y, et al. Early Transmission Dynamics in Wuhan, China, of Novel Coronavirus-Infected Pneumonia. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(13):1199-207.
2. 2. Singhal T. A Review of Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19). Indian J Pediatr. 2020;87(4):281-86.
3. 3. Organization WH. Critical preparedness, readiness and response actions for COVID-19: interim guidance, 4 November 2020. World Health Organization; 2020.
4. 4. Huang Y, Zhao N. Generalized anxiety disorder, depressive symptoms and sleep quality during COVID-19 outbreak in China: a web-based cross-sectional survey. Psychiatry Res. 2020 Jun;288:112954.
5. 5. Wang C, Pan R, Wan X, Tan Y, Xu L, Ho CS, et al. Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(5):1729.
6. 6. Michopoulos I, Douzenis A, Kalkavoura C, Christodoulou C, Michalopoulou P, Kalemi G, et al. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS): validation in a Greek general hospital sample. Ann Gen Psychiatry. 2008;(7):4.
7. 7. Wong C-K, Chen Y-M, Yen C-F. Associations of parental bonding and adolescent internet addiction symptoms with depression and anxiety in parents of adolescents with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Arch Clin Psychiatry. 2019;46(2):40-3.
8. 8. Brown SM, Doom JR, Lechuga-Peña S, Watamura SE, Koppels T. Stress and parenting during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Child Abuse Negl. 2020;110(Pt 2):104699.

9. 9. Spielberger CD. State‐Trait anxiety inventory. The Corsini encyclopedia of psychology. 2010:1.
10. 10. Korkmaz MF, Türe E, Dorum BA, Kılıç ZB. The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 81 children with COVID-19 in a pandemic hospital in Turkey: an observational cohort study. J Korean Med Sci. 2020;35(25):e236.
11. 11. Wong LP, Hung C-C, Alias H, Lee TS-H. Anxiety symptoms and preventive measures during the COVID-19 outbreak in Taiwan. BMC Psychiatry. 2020;20(1):376.
12. 12. Brooks SK, Webster RK, Smith LE, Woodland L, Wessely S, Greenberg N, et al. The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: rapid review of the evidence. The Lancet. 2020;395(10227):912-920.
13. 13. Weems CF. Childhood anxiety disorders: An overview of recent guides for professionals and parents. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol. 2005;34(4):772-8.
14. 14. Julian LJ. Measures of anxiety: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety (HADS-A). Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2011;63(11):467-72.
15. 15. Clarke K, Cooper P, Creswell C. The Parental Overprotection Scale: Associations with child and parental anxiety. J Affect Disord. 2013;151(2):618-24.
16. 16. Arshadi Bostanabad M, NamdarArshatnab H, Balila M, Asghari Jafarabadi M, Ravanbakhsh K. Effect of family-centered intervention in neonatal intensive care unit on anxiety of parents. Int J Pediatr. 2017;5(6):5101-11.
17. 17. Akşit S. Çocuğun yoğun bakım ünitesine kabulünde annelere uygulanan hemşirelik bakımının annelerin anksiyete düzeyine etkisi. 2001;5(2):25-36.
18. 18. Hiraoka D, Tomoda A. The relationship between parenting stress and school closures due to the COVID‐19 pandemic. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2020;74(9):497-98.
19. 19. Marchetti D, Fontanesi L, Mazza C, Di Giandomenico S, Roma P, Verrocchio MC. Parenting-Related Exhaustion During the Italian COVID-19 Lockdown. J Pediatr Psychol. 2020;45(10):1114-23.
20. 20. Saddik B, Hussein A, Albanna A, Elbarazi I, Al-Shujairi A, Sharif-Askari FS, et al. Assessing the influence of parental anxiety on childhood anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates. medRxiv. 2020.06.11.20128371
21. 21. Tee ML, Tee CA, Anlacan JP, Aligam KJG, Reyes PWC, Kuruchittham V, et al. Psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. J Affect Disord. 2020;277:379-91.
22. 22. Esra T, KILIÇ AO, Necati U, YAZAR A, Fatih A. Parental Anxiety Levels of Patients Admitted to Pediatric Emergency Clinic Due to Febrile Convulsion. J Contemp Med. 2020; 10(2): 220-23