Unit:
Faculty of MedicineLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Author:
Smyrnioti Maria-Eleni
Dissertation committee:
Νικόλαος Αρκαδόπουλος, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Παρασκευή Ματσώτα, Ομότιμη Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Χρυσούλα Στάικου, Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Θεοδόσιος Σαραντέας, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Τατιανή Σιδηροπούλου, Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Παναγιώτης Μπριασούλης, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Βασιλική Γιωτσίδη, Επίκουρη Καθηγήτρια, Πάντειο Πανεπιστήμιο Κοινωνικών και Πολιτικών Επιστημών
Original Title:
Επίδραση της πανδημίας της νόσου του Νέου Κορωνοϊού 2019-2020 (Covid-19) στην εμφάνιση, διάρκεια και έκφραση του χρόνιου πόνου
Translated title:
The impact of the Novel Coronovirus (Covid-19) Pandemic on the onset, duration and psychological expression of chronic pain
Summary:
On 10 March 2020, Greece entered an increasingly restrictive 42-day lockdown, to contain the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. All scheduled appointments and activities of the pain clinics around the country were postponed indefinitely. This time-lag design study aimed to assess the perceived impact of the Pandemic and the subsequent restrictive measures on Greek patients suffering from chronic pain. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the Covid-19 pandemic sequelae on Greek chronic pain patients' pain experience and symptomatology, access to care, psychosocial and demographic profile across three pandemic waves, as well as the adaptation of the Greek tertiary government healthcare system to the pandemic reality. 101 and 100 chronic pain patients were contacted during the Spring of 2020 and 2021, respectively. A customized questionnaire was used to evaluate the perceived impact of the pandemic on pain levels and healthcare access. Psychological responses, personality characteristics, and overall well-being were evaluated using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-42), the Ten-Item Personality Index (TIPI) and the Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI). The perceived effect of the pandemic and the Covid-related restrictions affected significantly pain levels, pain experience, quality of life and access to healthcare, since number of follow up visits per year was reduced. Differences were detected in the PWI sub-scales regarding personal safety, sense of community-connectedness, future security, spirituality-religiousness, general life satisfaction and marital status. The personality traits of neuroticism, openness to experience and conscientiousness had a significant impact on patients’ experience during the Pandemic. Changes in chronic pain levels, emotional responses, and overall well-being took place throughout the year. Also, an evident shift took place in the care delivery system. Both tendencies disclose an ongoing adaptation process of chronic pain patients and healthcare services that needs further monitoring.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
Chronic pain, Healthcare access, Αnxiety, Stress, Resilience, Personality traits, Emotional wellbeing, Telemedicine
Number of references:
228
