Health-related quality of life of hospitalized COVID-19 survivors: An initial exploration in Nanning city, China

The impact of Covid 19 pandemic on life satisfaction and health of Iranian bank employees

Background

COVID-19 pandemic has affected various aspects of human life. Bank employees who are more in contact with people are more likely to be infected during the pandemic situation. Moreover, mental, physical and social impacts of COVID-19 are more intense among these employees.Objective: this study aims to determine the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on bank employees' health and life satisfaction in Iran.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted during the fifth wave of COVID-19 from July to October 2021. The population included all the employees of Tejarat Bank in 20 provinces of Iran, 350 of whom were selected using the multi-stage cluster sampling method. The data were collected by demographic questionnaire, 12-item short-form (SF-12) personal health assessment survey and satisfaction with life scale (SWLS). The objective of the study was examined by the structural equation modeling (SEM).

Results

The results showed the two default models of health function (CFI = 0.95) and life satisfaction (CFI = 0.99) had acceptable fit. Assessing the bank employees with COVID-19 revealed this disease had no direct impact on life satisfaction (β = -0.05, P = 0.28) and health function (β = 0.04, P = 0.48). However, it had a direct impact on physical function (β = -0.18, P = 0.001) and, consequently, an indirect impact on life satisfaction. Moreover, low mental function reduced life satisfaction.

Conclusion

COVID-19 infection had no direct impact on life satisfaction. However, it had an indirect and positive impact on it. Considering gender showed COVID-19 infection had a direct and positive impact on life satisfaction among women. The employees who recovered from COVID-19 infection reported higher life satisfaction after returning to work for various reasons than those who never got it.

Mental Health Issues as a Consequence of the Pandemic: Group Psycho-Educational Intervention to Support Patients Recovered from COVID-19 Infection

Common psycho-physical symptoms have emerged in patients who were previously recovered for COVID-19 infection, including traumatic experience and enduring emotional disturbances. A group psycho-educational intervention of seven weekly sessions and a follow-up after three months was proposed to all Italian-speaking patients formally discharged from a public hospital in northern Italy and physically recovered from infection. Eighteen patients were recruited and divided into four age-homogenous groups, each led by two facilitators (psychologists and psychotherapists). The group sessions followed a structured format with thematic modules, including main topics, tasks, and homework assignments. Data were collected through recordings and verbatim transcripts. The objectives of the study were twofold: (1) to analyze the emerging themes and gain insight into the significant aspects of the participants' lived experience of COVID-19, and (2) to examine changes in how participants approached these themes throughout the intervention process. Semantic-pragmatic text analyses, specifically thematic analysis of elementary context and correspondence analysis, were conducted using T-LAB software. Linguistic analysis revealed a congruence between the intervention's objectives and the participants' experiences. The study highlighted an evolution in the narratives, as participants transitioned from a passive and concrete perspective on the disease to a more comprehensive cognitive and emotional elaboration of their personal illness stories. These findings hold potential relevance for healthcare services and professionals working in this field.

Post-discharge quality of life of COVID-19 patients at 1-month follow-up: A cross-sectional study in the largest tertiary care hospital of Bangladesh

There is increasing evidence of the post-COVID-19 suffering and decreased quality of life in the COVID-19 patients. This study aimed to assess the quality of life and associated factors of COVID-19 patients at one month after discharge from the hospital. This was a cross-sectional study that was conducted at the post-covid clinic of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where RT-PCR-confirmed adult COVID-19 recovered patients were enrolled one month after discharge from the same hospital. They were consecutively selected from January 01 to May 30. A pretested semi-structured questionnaire was used for the data collection for clinical variables. The generic multi-attributable utility instrument EQ-5D-5L was used for assessing health-related quality of life (HRQoL). A total of 563 patients were enrolled in the study. The patients had a mean age with standard deviation (±SD) of 51.18 (±13.49) years and 55.95% were male. The mean (SD) EQ-5D-5L index score and EQ-VAS scores were 0.78 (±0.19) and 70.26 (±11.13), respectively. Overall, 45.77%, 50.99%, 52.79%, 55.14% and 62.16% had problems (slight to extreme) in the mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression dimensions, respectively. Patients aged ≥60 years had significant problem in mobility (odds ratio [OR] 3.24, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-9.77). Female participants were 5.50 times (95% CI: 2.22-13.62) more likely to have problems in their usual activities. In comparison to urban area, living in a peri-urban setting was significantly associated with problems in mobility (OR 1.89, 95% CI: 1.13-3.20), pain/discomfort (OR 1.82, 95% CI: 1.04-3.12) and anxiety/depression (OR 2.16, 95% CI: 1.22-3.84). Comorbid patients were 1.75 times (95% CI: 1.07-2.85) more likely to report problems in the pain/discomfort dimension. Presence of symptom(s) was associated with problems in self-care (OR 3.27, 95%CI: 1.31-8.18), usual-activity (OR 3.08, 95%CI: 1.21-7.87), pain/discomfort dimensions (OR 2.75, 95%CI: 1.09-6.96) and anxiety/depression (OR 3.35, 95%CI: 1.35-8.30). Specific management strategies should be planned to address the factors associated with low health-related quality of life in post-acute care of COVID-19 patients.

Determinants of the Support System and Quality of Life for Post-COVID-19 Patients

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a change in habits for post-COVID-19 patients in Indonesia. Support system, both informal and formal, are very important for the successful treatment and recovery of post-COVID-19 patients. The level of knowledge, attitudes and behavior of the patient's family is also significantly influential on the support system, especially for comorbid patients who undergo a longer recovery process. The objective of this study to determine the determinants of the support system and quality of life in post-COVID-19 patients in Ende Regency. The type of research used is analytic observational using a cross sectional study design. The sampling method used cluster random sampling. The sample used proportional allocation technique with a sample of 110 respondents. The results of the study found that the variables that had a significant relationship with the support system and quality of life of post-COVID-19 patients were the respondent's age (p=0.001), quality of life (p=0.001), family attitudes (p=0.001), family behavior (p=0.001), health status (p=0.001) and the patient's comorbid history (p=0.001), while for family knowledge variables (p=0.051) and (p=0.129), and there is no significant relationship for symptoms when suffering from COVID-19 (p=0.078) and (p=0.717). The conclusion is that the support system provided to people with various determinants when facing the situation after the coronavirus pandemic is very important in improving the physical and psychological dimensions. A good support system can reduce various forms of stress, improve coping mechanisms and improve the quality of life of post-COVID-19 patients.

Kopfkino: Phases of quarantine among asymptomatic SARS-COV-2 carriers in Germany

Although a majority of SARS-COV-2 diagnosis are asymptomatic, presymptimatic or minimally symptomatic, little has been described and understood about the illness careers of these individuals. This study explored the lived experience of a SARS-COV-2 diagnosis and subsequent quarantine among individuals in Germany who were diagnosed with SARS-COV-2 during the second wave of the pandemic (late 2020-early 2021), but whose diagnosis was unexpected due to a lack of a known contact, or the asymptomatic nature of their case at the time of diagnosis. In-depth interviews (n ​= ​22) were conducted by phone or video call, audio-recorded, and transcribed verbatim. Routine debriefings guided data collection and facilitated analysis, which followed a framework approach. Regardless of age, gender or socioeconomic status, data consistently demonstrated a diagnosis and quarantine career marked by five emotional phases: overconfidence, shock and denial, coming to grips and asking questions, enduring, and cautious optimism as quarantine ended. These experiences suggest that providing trustworthy, easily accessible information regarding certain key aspects of the post diagnosis and quarantine period could benefit patients in terms of reducing stress, understanding the consequences of a diagnosis and mitigating foreseeable challenges in terms of personal, logistical and emotional issues. Follow-up research with providers and public health bureaus could inform how to best tailor such messaging for clients who experience an unexpected diagnosis.

Quality of life among health care workers in Arab countries 2 years after COVID-19 pandemic

Background

Assessment of the quality of life (QoL) among healthcare workers (HCWs) is vital for better healthcare and is an essential indicator for competent health service delivery. Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic strike, the frontline position of HCWs subjected them to tremendous mental and psychological burden with a high risk of virus acquisition.

Aim

This study evaluated the QoL and its influencing factors among HCWs residing in the Arab countries.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study using a self-administered online questionnaire based on the World Health Organization QoL-BREF instrument with additional questions related to COVID-19. The study was conducted in three different languages (Arabic, English, and French) across 19 Arab countries between February 22 and March 24, 2022.

Results

A total of 3,170 HCWs were included in the survey. The majority were females (75.3%), aged 18-40 years (76.4%), urban residents (90.4%), married (54.5%), and were living in middle-income countries (72.0%). The mean scores of general health and general QoL were 3.7 ± 1.0 and 3.7 ± 0.9, respectively. Those who attained average physical, psychological, social, and environmental QoL were 40.8, 15.4, 26.2, and 22.3%, respectively. The income per capita and country income affected the mean scores of all QoL domains. Previous COVID-19 infection, having relatives who died of COVID-19, and being vaccinated against COVID-19 significantly affected the mean scores of different domains.

Conclusion

A large proportion of the Arab HCWs evaluated in this study had an overall poor QoL. More attention should be directed to this vulnerable group to ensure their productivity and service provision.

Exploring loss and grief during the COVID-19 pandemic: A scoping review of qualitative studies

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about multiple losses to various groups, namely patients, families and healthcare professionals. Grief, which is the reaction to these losses, could cause strain on these individuals’ physical and mental health if not identified and managed early. This scoping review analysed loss, grief and how they were managed among these groups during the pandemic. Method: This scoping review utilised the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Statement extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) and the Joanna Briggs Institute framework for scoping reviews. Only qualitative studies relating to loss and grief and their management were included. Of 166 studies screened, 69 were included in the study. Qualitative analysis and data coding of each record were conducted through qualitative data analysis software. Results: Losses included the death of family members, patients, colleagues and others. They also included the loss of usual routines, lifestyles and physical health. The grief experienced was multidimensional, affecting mainly the emotional, physical, social and existential realms. Anger, guilt and fear resulted from unsatisfactory farewells, issues with funerals, social isolation, financial strain and stigmatisation. Management strategies could be categorised into 5 themes: communication, finance, counselling, education and spiritual care. Conclusion: Loss and grief identification and management among patients, family members and healthcare professionals are critically important during this COVID-19 pandemic. Current operating guidelines have proven insufficient in managing loss and grief. Innovative strategies are essential to tackle the many dimensions of loss and grief. Nevertheless, further research is necessary to better understand the effectiveness of implemented policies. Keywords: Bereavement, death, mourning, outbreak, palliative care

Dissecting Supplement and Nutrients Intake of Adults with and without COVID-19 History through the Lens of Health Belief Model

Over the past two years, the world has faced the pandemic, COVID-19, and various changes. Several regulations and recommendations from the Ministry of Health of Indonesia have contributed to behavioral changes among Indonesian residents, especially in food consumption patterns. The change in food consumption patterns can be a positive change that formed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to examine whether the application of a Health Belief Model (HBM)-based nutrition education programme can be effectively used in changing the beliefs of adults with or without a COVID-19 history in supplement and nutrient intake. This study was a cross-sectional study involving 140 adults. This study placed 70 adults with/without a COVID-19 history into the intervention group. The intervention group participated in a nutrition education programme. The respondents were asked to fill out the questionnaire. The data were analyzed by independent and paired t-tests and Chi-square test. The result of this study showed no association between perceived susceptibility, severity, benefit, barrier, and self-efficacy, of nutrient and supplement intake with the history of COVID-19 among the respondents. However, most of the respondents in this study were low in their scores of perceivedness. Thus, it is still important for the government to increase nutrient and supplement intake education, especially in young adults aged below 25 years old.

Emotional discourse analysis of COVID-19 patients and their mental health: A text mining study

COVID-19 has caused negative emotional responses in patients, with significant mental health consequences for the infected population. The need for an in-depth analysis of the emotional state of COVID-19 patients is imperative. This study employed semi-structured interviews and the text mining method to investigate features in lived experience narratives of COVID-19 patients and healthy controls with respect to five basic emotions. The aim was to identify differences in emotional status between the two matched groups of participants. The results indicate generally higher complexity and more expressive emotional language in healthy controls than in COVID-19 patients. Specifically, narratives of fear, happiness, and sadness by COVID-19 patients were significantly shorter as compared to healthy controls. Regarding lexical features, COVID-19 patients used more emotional words, in particular words of fear, disgust, and happiness, as opposed to those used by healthy controls. Emotional disorder symptoms of COVID-19 patients at the lexical level tended to focus on the emotions of fear and disgust. They narrated more in relation to self or family while healthy controls mainly talked about others. Our automatic emotional discourse analysis potentially distinguishes clinical status of COVID-19 patients versus healthy controls, and can thus be used to predict mental health disorder symptoms in COVID-19 patients.

Emotional Experiences of COVID-19 Patients in China: A Qualitative Study

This study explored the emotional experiences of COVID-19 patients in China. Thirty-four patients diagnosed with COVID-19 participated in semi-structured telephone interviews. We used qualitative methods to investigate the distribution patterns and characteristics of patients’ emotional experiences. The results indicated that emotional experiences showed different characteristics at different stages during isolation and treatment. COVID-19 patients’ emotional discourse encompassed eight main themes, namely, feelings of shock at the diagnosis, yearning for future life, attachment to one’s family, depression during the treatment, self-restriction due to probable contagiousness, powerlessness about the disease, open-mindedness about death, and faith in the joint efforts to fight COVID-19. These themes related to experiences concerning infection, isolation, outlook on life and death, stigma, and macro-identity. The findings suggest that the unexpected experience of COVID-19 infection exacerbated patients’ negative emotions. COVID-19 patients’ emotional stress stemmed from isolated environments, physiological effects of the disease, panic about the unknown, and realistic economic pressure. The government, medical staff, family members of patients, and the media should therefore work together to ensure proper emotional care for COVID-19 patients.

Psychological Experiences of Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) during and after Hospitalization: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study

During an infectious disease pandemic, patients may experience various psychological issues. Few studies have focused on survivors’ experiences in Hong Kong. This study aimed to assess the psychological impacts of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on survivors during admission to and discharge from COVID-19 wards using a descriptive phenomenological design. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 20 participants aged 30–77 years recently discharged from an isolation ward at an acute care facility and transferred to a community center specializing in pulmonary rehabilitation. Sampling was performed from 1 March 2022 to 3 April 2022. Semi-structured in-person interviews were conducted and transcribed verbatim; data analysis was performed using Colaizzi’s approach. The patients experienced two exclusive psychological phases during and after admission. The analysis of the patients’ experiences revealed three themes: (i) navigating uncertainties with mixed feelings and emotions during admission, (ii) adjusting to normal daily life after discharge, and (iii) self-growth after discharge. Our findings may provide empirical evidence for formulating pre-emptive strategies to mitigate the long-term psychological impacts of COVID-19. This investigation is timely and internationally relevant, and policymakers can use these findings to make informed decisions when developing guidelines for structuring the care of patients with COVID-19 during and after hospitalization. Based on our findings, we recommended that psychological support, particularly the provision of time to address patients’ concerns, may be integrated into the care of patients with COVID-19. Additionally, the structure of care may extend beyond the biomedical aspects of the illness to encompass the emotional and social dimension of the patients. To reduce stigmatization, we advise that public health authorities release clear information timely to clarify the misconceptions of the local community.

Associations of health-related quality of life with depression and stigma in MERS-CoV survivors during the recovery period

We explored factors related to health-related quality of life (HRQOL), including psychiatric symptoms and stigma related to Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, among MERS-CoV survivors during the recovery period.Sixty-three MERS-COV survivors were recruited from five hospitals for a cohort study, one year after their infection in 2015. The subjects' demographic information and medical conditions associated with MERS-CoV were recorded. HRQOL was evaluated using the Short Form-8 Health Survey (SF-8). Depression, post-traumatic stress symptoms, chronic fatigue, and perceived stigma were assessed using several questionnairesThe mean physical component summary (PCS) and mean mental component summary (MCS) of the SF-8 score were below 50 T (43.47 ± 9.60, 45.74 ± 10.18). Depression, chronic fatigue, posttraumatic stress symptoms and stigma were negatively correlated with the SF-8 PCS and MCS. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the PCS was associated with stigma (OR 8.66, 95% CI 1.96-38.23), whereas MCS was associated with depression (OR 26.62, 95% CI 3.56-198.85).The estimated HRQOL of MERS-CoV survivors during recovery was poor and appeared to be associated with depression and MERS-related stigma.

Perceived Symptoms, Mental Health and Quality of Life after Hospitalization in COVID-19 Patients

Patients recovering from novel coronavirus are reporting a variety of symptoms such as cough, dyspnea, myalgia as well as psychological distress and poor quality of life. The aim of this study is to assess quality of life and psychological distress in COVID-19 survivors and the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics that affect COVID-19 survivors’ mental health status and quality of life. A quantitative study was conducted among COVID-19 survivors, who had previously been admitted to the University Hospital of Larissa, Greece. Data were collected via a questionnaire consisting of three-parts. The first part consisted of questions about the demographic characteristics. The second part was the SF-36 QoL index. The third part was the Symptom Checklist-90r (SCL 90-R). In addition, clinical information such as the length and the department of hospitalization, days since discharge and pulmonary function (spirometry values) were recorded. From a total of 145 patients, 60% were male, aged 59.72 ± 12.74 and 78.6% of them were married; the majority had completed secondary education, 35.9% were pensioners and 58.6 were living in urban areas. The most frequently reported symptoms were fatigue (67.6%) and pain (44.8%) and 11.7% were experiencing psychological distress. Pain, loss of smell, mandatory education, ICU admission, female gender and the experiencing of skin disturbance are associated with poor physical QoL among COVID-19 recovered patients. Greek COVID-19 previously hospitalized patients were reporting several symptoms associated with COVID-19. Good QoL and mental health were also reported. Physical pain, loss of smell and female gender were associated with poor QoL and psychological distress.

Quality of life among patients with chronic non-communicable diseases during COVID-19 pandemic in Southern Ethiopia: A cross-sectional analytical study

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 outbreak became a continuing global health agenda. It has a significant impact on individuals' quality of life (QOL). Patients with preexisting medical conditions may have severely reduced QOL. The aim of this study was to assess QOL and its associated factors among patients with chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) during COVID-19 pandemic at Sidama Regional State, southern Ethiopia.

METHODS

We conducted a multicenter, cross-sectional study from 1 June to 1 September 2021. A total of 633 participants took part in the study, using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. The QOL was measured using the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) Scale, which has 12 items. To describe different variables, descriptive statistics were employed. To find independent factors associated with QOL, we used multivariable linear regression analysis. P-value of < 0.05 was declared statistically significant at 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS

The majority (56.4%) of participants were male and about half (53.1%) had a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. The multivariable linear regression model showed statistically significant negative association between different independent variables such as age (β = -0.188, 95% CI = -0.238 to -0.139), being female (β = -1.942, 95% CI = -3.237 to -0.647), duration of illness ≤ 5 years (β = -4.222, 95% CI = -6.358 to -2.087), alcohol use in the past 3 months (β = -4.574, 95% CI = -6.905 to -2.243), common mental disorder (CMD) (β = -1.512, 95% CI = -2.924 to -0.100), insomnia (β = -0.274, 95% CI = -0.380 to -0.168), and QOL. Also, there is a statistically significant positive association between QOL and being illiterate (β = 3.919, 95% CI = 1.998-5.841) and living in the rural area (β = 2.616, 95% CI = 1.242-3.990).

CONCLUSION

In general, the findings confirmed that the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on patients with chronic NCDs QOL. The QOL was significantly influenced by age, gender, educational status, residence area, duration of illness, alcohol use, CMD, and insomnia during COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, this study suggests that addressing insomnia, co-morbidities of mental disorders, and alcohol use has the potential effect to improve the QOL of patients with chronic medical illnesses.

Psychological experience of patients with confirmed COVID-19 at the initial stage of pandemic in Wuhan, China: a qualitative study

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) quickly developed into a global pandemic and affected patients’ mental health. However, little is known about psychological experience of patients with COVID-19. The aim was to elucidate the psychological experience of patients with confirmed COVID-19 in Wuhan, at the initial stage of the pandemic.

Methods

This study was conducted using a phenomenological approach in a qualitative study. Thirteen patients with confirmed COVID-19 from a COVID-19-designated hospital in Wuhan, were recruited between March 15th and April 20th, 2020 via purposive sampling. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted face-to-face. The interview data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.

Results

The psychological experience of patients was summarized into three themes: mental distress related to COVID-19, expectations of life scenarios after discharge, and making sense of the experience. These themes were classified into 10 sub-themes. Patients experienced confusion, uncertainty, worry, guilt and concern. Both positive and negative expectations of life scenarios after discharge were reported, manifested as expectations about making up for lost time with family, anxiety about social discrimination and feelings of helplessness about poor financial security. Moreover, patients perceived strength of abundant social support and awareness of social responsibility from their unique experience to cope with their condition.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that patients with confirmed COVID-19 in Wuhan underwent complex psychological experience, both positive and negative at the initial stage of the pandemic. These findings will contribute to the delivery of effective mental health care to safeguard patients’ wellbeing.

Strategies to evaluate outcomes in long-COVID-19 and post-COVID survivors

SARS-CoV-2 infection can impact the physical, cognitive, mental health of patients, especially in those recovered in intensive care units. Moreover, it was proved that the effects of the virus may persist for weeks or months. The term long-COVID or post-COVID syndrome is commonly used for indicating a variety of physical and psychological symptoms that continue after the resolution of the acute phase. This narrative review is aimed at providing an updated overview of the impact of physical, cognitive, and psychological health disorders in COVID-19 survivors, by summarizing the data already published in literature in the last year. Studies cited were found through PubMed searches. We also presented an overview of the post-COVID-19 health consequences on three important aspects: nutritional status, neurological disorders, and physical health. Moreover, to activate a correct health planning policy, a multidisciplinary approach for addressing the post- COVID-19 issue, has been proposed. Finally, the involvement of health professionals is necessary even after the pandemic, to reduce expected post-pandemic psychosocial responses and mental health disorders.

The Strengthening Mechanism of the Relationship between Social Work and Public Health under COVID-19 in China

Social work and public health have always shared a common mission and vision in promoting human health. However, existing research tends to view social work and public health as two separate fields at both practice and policy levels, and these studies have largely neglected the consideration of how to integrate public health and social work. In the context of the COVID-19 epidemic, the link between the two has been strengthened and health social work has been given more importance. The question addressed in this article is through what mechanisms or practices the social work profession can strengthen its professional status and engage in interprofessional collaboration. Based on key informant interviews and case studies (one community and two cabin Hospitals), this study points out that three legitimacy mechanisms are needed: operationalizing policy, extending value, and completing justification. Furthermore, the future and possible limitations in relation to the development of health social work in China are discussed and specific recommendations are provided. Health social work needs to conduct practices and summarize its experiences and methods, to create a more friendly political environment by translating its results into policies that are conducive to the development of health social work through a political agenda. It needs to improve upon its practical abilities and methodologies, as well as professional education relating to professional values and ethics, in addition to identifying the deeper social needs of residents and discovering new, undeveloped areas of service. Moreover, because long-term change is difficult to justify due to China’s policy agendas, the question of whether the professional status of health social work in the post-epidemic context can be improved is something that needs to be further explored in future studies.

Assessment of Post-COVID-19 Quality of Life Using the Quality of Life Index

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 has impacted many aspects of peoples' quality of life (QOL).

AIM

To assess the QOL of post-COVID-19 cases and determine their associated sociodemographic attributes.

METHODS

A cross-sectional community-based study targeted recovered COVID-19 cases using an online questionnaire. An Arabic version of the Quality of Life Index (QLI) was evaluated for reliability and validity using Cronbach's alpha and Spearman's product moment tests, respectively. Descriptive analysis, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis H, and Spearman correlation tests were used to investigate the relationships between QOL and study independent variables, including sociodemographic characteristics, time since infection, intention for vaccination, perception of the influence of COVID-19 on general health, history of hospitalization, and history of chronic illness. Subgroups were compared using a Student's t-test for normally distributed data and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test or the Kruskal-Wallis test for non-normally distributed data.

RESULTS

In a sample of 449 respondents, the total QLI score was 22.64 ± 4.36; for subscales, it ranged from 20.86 ± 5.04 to 24.99 ± 4.74. Males had significantly higher health and functioning subscale (HFSUB) scores compared to females (p = 0.033). Employed cases had significantly higher social and economic subscale (SOCSUB) scores than unemployed cases (p = 0.000). Married people reported significantly higher family subscale (FAMSUB) scores (p = 0.000) than unmarried people. People who believe that their general health was affected by COVID-19 had significantly lower HFSUB and psychological and spiritual subscale (PSPSUB) scores (p = 0.000 and p = 0.021, respectively). Individuals with a history of hospital admissions scored lower on PSPSUB (p = 0.000). Age was significantly associated with both SOCSUB (p = 0.006) and FAMSUB (p = 0.040).

CONCLUSION

Sociodemographic attributes of people with a history of COVID-19 revealed significant differences in some QOL domains, as measured by the Arabic version of the generic QLI. History of hospitalization and beliefs about COVID-19's impact on general health negatively influenced individual's HFSUB and PSPSUB.