Determining the Effect of COVID-19 Anxiety and Awareness Levels of the Elderly on Fear of Coronavirus

Year 2024, Volume: 26 Issue: 1, 35 - 48, 29.04.2024

Reha Karakaya , Tuba Özaydın

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to investigate the effect of coronavirus anxiety and awareness levels of elderly individuals on their fear of coronavirus during the pandemic. Methods: The study consists of 227 individuals over the age of 65 who visited the emergency department of a hospital in Turkey between April and December 2021. Data were collected through face-to-face questionnaire administration using the COVID-19 Fear, Anxiety and Awareness Scale. Number, percentage, mean and standard deviation values were calculated for statistical analyses. Since the data showed normal distribution, t-tests and One-Way ANOVA were performed in the analysis for independent groups. In addition, multiple linear regression analysis was performed. Results: A statistically significant difference was found between the level of coronavirus fear and marital status, with whom the elderly live, the number of children, having a chronic disease, and the status of continuous medicine use (p<0.05). It was revealed that the determinants of the level of coronavirus fear are continuous medicine use, the number of children, marital status, coronavirus anxiety score, and infection prevention awareness and awareness of hygiene measures scores (p<0.05). Conclusion: The elderly in this study were found to have moderate levels of coronavirus fear. Home visits regarding anxiety and awareness, monitoring the COVID-19 fear level of the elderly and taking precautions against this fear can reduce the effects of the pandemic on the elderly.

Keywords

Anxiety, Awareness, Covid-19, Elderly, Fear

Yaşlıların COVID-19 Anksiyete ve Farkındalık Düzeylerinin Koronavirüs Korkusuna Etkisinin Belirlenmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışma, pandemi sırasında yaşlı bireylerin koronavirüs kaygı ve farkındalık düzeylerinin koronavirüs korkularına etkisini araştırmayı amaçlamaktadır.
Yöntem: Araştırma, Nisan-Aralık 2021 tarihleri arasında Türkiye'de bir hastanenin acil servisine başvuran 65 yaş üstü 227 bireyden oluşmaktadır. Veriler COVID-19 Korku, Kaygı ve Farkındalık Ölçeği kullanılarak yüzyüze anket uygulama yolu ile toplanmıştır. İstatistiksel analizler için sayı, yüzde, ortalama ve standart sapma değerleri hesaplanmıştır. Veriler normal dağılım gösterdiğinden analizlerde bağımsız gruplarda t testi ve One Way Anova kullanılmıştır. Ayrıca çoklu doğrusal regresyon analizi yapılmıştır. Bulgular: Koronavirüs korku düzeyi ile medeni durum, yaşlıların birlikte yaşadığı kişiler, çocuk sayısı, kronik hastalığı olma ve sürekli ilaç kullanma durumu arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark bulundu (p<0.05). Koronavirüs korku düzeyinin belirleyicilerinin sürekli ilaç kullanımı, çocuk sayısı, medeni durum, koronavirüs kaygı puanı, enfeksiyon önlem farkındalığı ve hijyen önlemleri farkındalığı puanları olduğu ortaya çıktı (p<0.05).
Sonuç: Bu çalışmadaki yaşlıların orta düzeyde koronavirüs korkusuna sahip oldukları belirlendi. Kaygı ve farkındalık konusunda yapılacak ev ziyaretleri, yaşlıların COVID-19 korku düzeyinin izlenmesi ve bu korkuya karşı önlem alınması, pandeminin yaşlılar üzerindeki etkilerini azaltabilir.

Keywords

Anksiyete, Farkındalık, Covid-19, Yaşlı, Korku

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