The relationship between COVID-19 fear, health perceptions, routine health checks, and safety behaviors in participants with chronic illnesses

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted individuals with chronic illnesses, leading to increased fear of contracting the virus, delays in routine health follow-ups, and notable behavioral changes. This study aimed to determine the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and health perceptions, routine health checks, and safety behaviors among participants with chronic illnesses during the pandemic. An online survey was conducted between February and July 2021 to collect data from 288 patients in Istanbul who had been diagnosed with chronic illnesses persisting for six months or longer. Data were collected using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S), the Perception of Health Scale (PHS), and a descriptive information form. Of the participants, 38.2% had diabetes mellitus, with an average diagnosis duration of 44.5 +/- 15.64 months. Due to the fear of contracting the virus, 30.2% reported avoiding regular health follow-ups during the pandemic. The participants were found to have a high level of adherence to safety behaviors. Fear of COVID-19 negatively predicted the certainty subdimension of health perception, while the fear of COVID-19 positively predicted the importance of health subdimension. Fear of COVID-19 was linked to increased safety behaviors but had a negative impact on routine health follow-ups and health perceptions in participants with chronic illnesses. Thus, during pandemics, it is essential to plan interventions that improve awareness and promote self-management in individuals with chronic illnesses.