Measuring pandemic-related anxiety and confidence in care in chronic patients using the Psychological Consequences of a Pandemic Event (PCPE) questionnaire.

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101089166 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1532-2998 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 15323005 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Stress Health Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: Chichester, West Sussex, UK : John Wiley & Sons, c2001-

COVID-19*/psychology ; COVID-19*/epidemiology ; Psychometrics* ; Anxiety*/psychology; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Chronic Disease/psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Aged ; Reproducibility of Results ; Pandemics ; Self Report ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; SARS-CoV-2

The COVID-19 pandemic has determined a considerable increase in psychological distress worldwide. Compared with the general population, patients with chronic conditions experience higher stress levels due to the increased risk of worse health outcomes from COVID-19 infection. Worries and fear of contagion could cause them to avoid going to their health facilities for medical examinations, which results in higher risks of morbidity and mortality. The present study aimed to develop and validate the Psychological Consequences of a Pandemic Event (PCPE) self-report questionnaire, and to assess the psychological effects of exposure to a pandemic on mood and on treatment adherence appropriate for patients with chronic diseases. Data were analysed with Rasch analysis after an Exploratory Factor Analysis and a Confirmatory Factor Analysis. We identified a final set of 10 items, divided into two independent factors labelled "pandemic-related anxiety" and "confidence in care". Finally, we transformed the raw scores of both factors into two interval scales (two rulers) that met the requirements of the fundamental measurement. The PCPE questionnaire has demonstrated to be a short and easy-to-administer measure, with valid and reliable psychometric properties, capable of assessing pandemic-related anxiety and confidence in care in patients with chronic clinical conditions.
(© 2023 The Authors. Stress and Health published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

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Keywords: Rasch analysis; chronic patients; confidence in care; factor analysis; pandemic stress; pandemic‐related anxiety

Date Created: 20231128 Date Completed: 20240611 Latest Revision: 20240611

20240611

10.1002/smi.3349

38015464