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Perceived stress among suspected patients during the COVID-19 outbreak in Tunisia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 August 2021

A. Zouari ,
J. Ben Thabet ,
A. Guermazi ,
J. Aloulou ,
R. Hammami ,
H. Ben Ayed ,
A. Sallemi ,
C. Marrekchi ,
S. Hdiji  and
I. Gargouri
...Show all authors
A. Zouari*
Affiliation:
Department Of Paychiatry C, Hedi chaker hospital, Sfax, Tunisia
J. Ben Thabet
Affiliation:
Psychiatry C Department, Hedi chaker University hospital, sfax, Tunisia
A. Guermazi
Affiliation:
Psychiatry C Department, Hedi chaker University hospital, sfax, Tunisia
J. Aloulou
Affiliation:
Psychiatry (b), Hedi Chaker University hospital, sfax, Tunisia
R. Hammami
Affiliation:
Cardiology Department, Hedi chaker University hospital, sfax, Tunisia
H. Ben Ayed
Affiliation:
Community Health And Epidemiology Department, HediChaker Hospital, sfax, Tunisia
A. Sallemi
Affiliation:
Histology Department, Hedi chaker University hospital, sfax, Tunisia
C. Marrekchi
Affiliation:
Infectiology Department, Hedi chaker University hospital, sfax, Tunisia
S. Hdiji
Affiliation:
Hematology Department, Hedi chaker University hospital, sfax, Tunisia
I. Gargouri
Affiliation:
Occuaptional Department, HediChaker Hospital, sfax, Tunisia
M. Kassis
Affiliation:
Community Health And Epidemiology Department, HediChaker Hospital, sfax, Tunisia
M. Turki
Affiliation:
Pharmacy, HediChaker Hospital, tunis, Tunisia
S. Kammoun
Affiliation:
Pneumology, HediChaker Hospital, sfax, Tunisia
M.L. Masmoudi
Affiliation:
Occuaptional Department, HediChaker Hospital, sfax, Tunisia
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Widespread outbreaks of infectious disease, such as COVID-19, are associated with psychological distress and symptoms of mental illness especially for patients with suggestive symptoms.

Objectives

Predict the prevalence of perceived stress and study associated factors among patients with suspected COVID-19 infection.

Methods

A cross sectional study was conducted between April and May 2020. Patients consulting the sorting box at the Hedi Chaker Hospital of Sfax and declared suspect to be infected by COVID-19 were invited to participate in our study after given their cosent. Perceived Stress Scale-10 was used to evaluate prevalence of perceived stress.

Results

In total, 149 participants participated. The mean age was 38.8±15.39 years. Medical or surgical history and psychiatric history were identified respectively in 30,2% and 12.1% of participants. Among all respondents, 74.5% took a nasopharyngeal swab to look for COVID-19 and only 6.4% had a positive test. Close contact with someone with a positive COVID-19 infection was found in 8.05%. Several participants (79,2%) expressed fear of transmitting the disease to their family members. The mean of the PSS-10 score was 11.97±9.83. Moderate to severe perceived stress was found in 44.3% of patients. Significantly higher scores were observed among participants with a positive pharyngeal swab for COVID-19 as well as those who perceived worry of transmetting the disease. No significant differences in perceived stress’ scores according to socio-demographic data.

Conclusions

Perceived stress was high among patients with suspected COVID-19 infection. Perceiving worry of transmetting the disease and having a positive pharyngeal swab for COVID-19 were the principal risk factors.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Keywords

perceived stresssuspected patientsCOVID-19
Type
Abstract
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 64 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 29th European Congress of Psychiatry , April 2021 , pp. S656 - S657
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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