Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms, Fear, and Health-Related Quality of Life among Community Dwelling Older Adults during COVID-19 Pandemic in Alexandria, Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assist. Prof. of Psychiatric Nursing, and Mental Health, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Egypt.

2 Assist. Prof. of Gerontological Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Egypt.

3 Lecturer of Gerontological Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Alexandria University, Egypt.

Abstract

Background: The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic is a public health crisis that largely has affected people worldwide. Since older adults are universally perceived as the most vulnerable group, post-traumatic symptoms and fear produced by this pandemic could have devastating effects on their quality of life. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and levels of post-traumatic stress symptoms and fear during COVID-19 pandemic and determine the impact of these psychological symptoms on health-related quality of life among community dwelling older adults. Methodology: A descriptive correlational research design was utilized. Participants included a representative sample of 190 community dwelling older adults registered in El-Wafaa club. Online web-based electronic questionnaires were used including Older Adults Socio-Demographic and Clinical Data Questionnaire, PCL-C, FCQ, and SF-12. Results:  The results of this study revealed that during COVID-19 pandemic 76.9% and 97.4 % of the studied older adults had medium to severe stress and fear levels, respectively. These levels of PTSD symptoms significantly affect their physical and mental health-related quality of life (P≤ 0.01). While fear levels affected mental components only (P≤ 0.01). Conclusion: It can be concluded from this study that more than three-quarters of the studied Egyptian community dwelling older-adults suffered from PTSD symptoms levels ranged from medium to severe post-COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. The majority of them suffered from fear of COVID-19 pandemic with the same levels. The PTSD symptoms and fear levels were the best predictors of the mental components of health-related quality of life. Recommendations: Nursing interventions with emotional, spiritual, social, and physical components through online videos and Apps platform for phones and tablets should be made available for elderly people were recommended

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