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| LETTER TO EDITOR |
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| Year : 2021 | Volume
: 26
| Issue : 2 | Page : 188 |
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Management of patients experiencing anxiety during the coronavirus disease: The main role of healthcare providers in a special crisis
Nader Aghakhani1, Violeta Lopez2
1 Patient Safety Research Center, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
2 Professor, Department of Nursing, School of Nursing, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, China
| Date of Submission | 20-Sep-2020 |
| Date of Decision | 21-Nov-2020 |
| Date of Acceptance | 14-Dec-2020 |
| Date of Web Publication | 05-Mar-2021 |
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Nader Aghakhani
Patient Safety Research Center, Department of Nursing, Clinical Research Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia
Iran
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ijnmr.IJNMR_306_20
How to cite this article:
Aghakhani N, Lopez V. Management of patients experiencing anxiety during the coronavirus disease: The main role of healthcare providers in a special crisis. Iranian J Nursing Midwifery Res 2021;26:188 |
How to cite this URL:
Aghakhani N, Lopez V. Management of patients experiencing anxiety during the coronavirus disease: The main role of healthcare providers in a special crisis. Iranian J Nursing Midwifery Res [serial online] 2021 [cited 2022 Aug 12];26:188. Available from: https://www.ijnmrjournal.net/text.asp?2021/26/2/188/310829 |
Dear Editor,
As the coronavirus disease spreads across the world, the rate of psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, somatic symptoms, panic disorder, self-blame, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), feeling guilty, psychosis delirium, and even suicide have been increased in healthcare providers, quarantined family members, and the patients. Inadequate knowledge regarding the route of transmission, incubation period of the virus, being sick or dying, helplessness, isolation because of lockdown states, treatment and safety measures, financial crisis and insecurity regarding the future may cause anxiety.[1],[2]Therefore, psychological intervention, supportive care, and symptomatic treatment are needed as adjuvant therapy methods to help the patients. Psychological intervention can integrate the patients into society and reduce their psychological disorders.[3]
A variety of psychosocial preventive strategies such as effective communication and client education should be carried out while discrimination or stigma need to be recognized as major problems. Effective and early management of health emergency should be implemented while healthcare providers need to be guided by evidence-based hospital protocols about adequate protective measures.[4]
Scientists should identify unmet needs and provide appropriate information to reduce the impact of frustration, anxiety, and all the negative emotions and pre-existing psychological distress as main barriers to manage psychological consequences and social crisis related to the pandemic. Furthermore, internet access, telephones helplines, active social networks, forums and dedicated blogs should be implemented to reduce loneliness and isolation to allow affected individuals to have a good communication with their loved ones.[5]
In conclusion, implementing community-based strategies to support psychologically vulnerable individuals during the coronavirus disease is important. Scientific work flow, careful psychological and medical cares are recommendable as a part of the global preparedness efforts.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
Nothing to declare.
| References | |  |
| 1. | Shailendra SK. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Springer Science and Business Media LLC; 2020.  |
| 2. | Luo M, Guo L, Yu M, Wang H. The psychological and mental impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on medical staff and general public – A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychiatry Res 2020;291:113190. |
| 3. | Rubin GJ, Wessely S. The psychological effects of quarantining a city. BMJ 2020;368:m313. |
| 4. | Wang J, Wang JX, Yang GS. The psychological impact of COVID-19 on Chinese individuals. Yonsei Med J 2020;61:438-40. |
| 5. | Xiang YT, Yang Y, Li W, Zhang L, Zhang Q, Cheung T, et al. Timely mental health care for the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak is urgently needed. Lancet Psychiatry 2020;7:228-9. |
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