Covid-19-related knowledge influences mental health, self-care behaviors, and quality of life among elderly with non-communicable diseases in Northern Thailand

Bibliographic Data

ID22089787
AuthorsPattareeya Napalai (University of Phayao), Katekaew Seangpraw (0000-0002-7184-381X, University of Phayao, corresponding author), Sorawit Boonyathee (0000-0001-8056-5359, University of Phayao), Parichat Ong-Artborirak (0000-0003-0884-9466, Chiang Mai University)
Year2022
Volume10
Pages993531-993531
Publication date2022-10-28
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2022.993531
PMID36388338
OpenAlexW4307703254
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited43

Background A growing body of research shows that individuals with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and heart disease, are more likely to suffer from severe COVID-19 and, subsequently, death. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of COVID-19-related knowledge on mental health, healthcare behaviors, and quality of life among the elderly with NCDs in Northern Thailand. Methods In this cross-sectional study, the participants were 450 elderly people with NCDs, living in the Chiang Rai province, Northern Thailand. Random sampling was applied to select the subjects. Data collection included demographic information, COVID-19-related knowledge, healthcare behaviors, the Suanprung Stress Test-20, the Thai General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) for the assessment of mental health, and the Thai version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF. Results Almost half of the participants (45.6%) had poor knowledge about COVID-19. More than half of the sample had high stress (52.0%) and a low score in healthcare behaviors (64.9%), while approximately one-third of the participants had mental health problems (34.0%). The overall quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic was moderate (70.7%). The score of COVID-19-related knowledge was significantly correlated with scores of stress ( r = −0.85), mental health ( r = −0.74), healthcare behaviors ( r = 0.50), and quality of life ( r = 0.33). Multiple linear regression found that history of COVID-19 detection and COVID-19-related knowledge were associated with scores of stress and quality of life ( p < 0.05). Multiple logistic regression showed that history of COVID-19 detection (OR = 4.48, 95% CI = 1.45–13.84) and COVID-19-related knowledge (OR = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.17–0.31) were associated with mental health problem ( p < 0.05). Discussion The findings emphasize the importance of COVID-19-related knowledge concerning the improvement of self-care behaviors and quality of life in the elderly population with NCDs during the pandemic, especially due to the high rate of stress and mental health problems documented in our sample. Health education interventions for this vulnerable population should be organized

Cross-sectional study · Disease · Environmental health · General Health Questionnaire · Health care · Mental health · Pandemic · Psychiatry · Chronic Disease Management Strategies · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Health disparities and outcomes · Medicine · Nursing · Gerontology

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