Impact of Certain Socio-clinical Factors on COVID-19 Preventive Measures among Patients with Chronic Respiratory Diseases: A Cross-sectional Study at a Tertiary Care Centre in Southern India
Published: December 1, 2023 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2023/63806.18867
Anil Kumar Kodavala, Surekha Tadisetti
1. Professor, Department of Respiratory Medicine, GITAM Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
2. Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tagore Medical College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Correspondence
Anil Kumar Kodavala,
31-56-7/1, Simon Nagar, Kurmannapalem, Visakhapatnam-530046, Andhra Pradesh, India.
E-mail: anil.kodavala@gmail.com
Introduction: Chronic respiratory diseases are known risk factors for Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) associated morbidity and mortality. With the fourth wave of COVID-19 looming in India, it is crucial to prioritise preventive measures at both individual and community levels. However, following the third wave of COVID-19, adherence to preventive measures has declined.
Aim: To assess the socio-clinical factors affecting COVID-19 preventive behaviour among patients with chronic respiratory diseases.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the outpatient department of Respiratory Medicine, Narayana Medical College Hospital, Nellore, a tertiary care centre in Andhra Pradesh, India from March to April 2022. The estimated sample size was 600 patients. Data was collected using a validated questionnaire, and analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 28.1 {International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation}. The association between independent and dependent variables was assessed using binary logistic regression.
Results: A total of 671 patients’ data were analysed. The mean age was 51.45 (±14.397) years, with 390 (58.1%) being male. Among the participants, the prevalence of wearing face masks in workplaces was 47.8%, wearing face masks in public places was 43.6%, frequent hand sanitisation was 39.9%, and maintaining physical distance in public areas was 35.2%. The main factors associated with non adherence were women, rural dwellers, non smokers, patients with co-morbidities, those who had not experienced a detrimental impact of COVID-19 on themselves, and the perception that COVID-19 was a mild disease.
Conclusion: Among patients with chronic respiratory diseases, the practice of COVID-19 preventive measures was inadequate. Factors that positively influenced COVID-19 behaviour were being married, having a high school education level or above, and being a smoker. The impact of age varied depending on the type of preventive measure. Socio-economic status had no significant impact.
[
FULL TEXT ] | [ PDF]