Division of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, Jockey Club School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, 26451The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Division of Health System, Policy and Management, Jockey Club School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, 26451The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 2022 Mar;35(2):206-214. doi: 10.1177/08919887221078563.
Social distancing and "stay-at-home" orders are essential to contain the coronavirus outbreak; however, there are growing concerns about physical and other mental distress in older people. Apart from quantitative data, their feelings, thoughts, and experience are essential to inform the implementation of patient-centered health care policy.
This study explained the psychosocial effects of COVID-19 on Hong Kong Chinese older people.
This was a qualitative study. Twenty-three participants aged between 63 and 86 were recruited in primary care through purposive sampling.
Semi-structured in-depth telephone interviews were conducted to explore participants' experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Grounded theory was used to analyze the data.
Three themes, nine subthemes, and 24 quotes were identified. The 3 themes included the psychological response of fear, annoyance, and worrisome; social isolation leading to loneliness and physical exhaustion; and the coping strategies in adversity. Fear was the major emotional response, which was not entirely explained by the uncertainty of the disease, but also the embedded routines norms and values. Loneliness was aggravated by the depleted family and community support. Physical distancing had intensified ones physical demand on self-care, especially among those with comorbid illnesses. The use of digital tools and telecommunications maintained the social connection, but the overexposure had led to a vicious cycle of anxiety and distress.
Self-isolation has disproportionately affected older individuals whose only social contact is out of the home. Online technologies can be harnessed to provide social support networks and a sense of belonging, but its adaptive and positive uses should be encouraged. Interventions can also involve more frequent telephone contact with significant others, close family and friends, voluntary organizations, or health-care professionals, or community outreach teams. Enhancing the values of older people's in calamity through active engagement may also potentially reduce the detrimental effect of social isolation.
社交距离和“居家”令对于遏制冠状病毒爆发至关重要；然而，人们越来越关注老年人的身体和其他精神困扰。除了定量数据外，了解他们的感受、想法和体验对于为以患者为中心的医疗保健政策提供信息至关重要。
本研究旨在解释 COVID-19 对香港华人老年人的心理社会影响。
这是一项定性研究。通过目的性抽样，在初级保健中招募了 23 名年龄在 63 岁至 86 岁之间的参与者。
采用半结构式深入电话访谈，探讨参与者在 COVID-19 大流行期间的经历。采用扎根理论分析数据。
确定了 3 个主题、9 个次主题和 24 个引语。这 3 个主题包括恐惧、烦恼和担忧的心理反应；导致孤独和身体疲惫的社会隔离；以及逆境中的应对策略。恐惧是主要的情绪反应，这不仅仅是由疾病的不确定性解释的，还与嵌入的日常生活规范和价值观有关。家庭和社区支持的减少加剧了孤独感。身体上的距离增加了对自我护理的身体需求，特别是对于那些患有合并症的人。数字工具和电信的使用保持了社会联系，但过度暴露导致了焦虑和困扰的恶性循环。
自我隔离对唯一的社交接触在家庭之外的老年人产生了不成比例的影响。在线技术可以被利用来提供社会支持网络和归属感，但应该鼓励其适应性和积极使用。干预措施还可以包括更频繁地与重要他人、近亲、朋友、志愿组织或医疗保健专业人员或社区外展团队进行电话联系。通过积极参与增强老年人在灾难中的价值，也可能减少社会隔离的不利影响。
