Metrics details. The outbreak of the Corona virus is a challenge for health care systems worldwide. The aim of this study is to analyze a knowledge about, and feelings related to the Corona-pandemic.
Describe b loneliness, depression and anxiety and, c the perceived, immediate impact of the lockdown on frequency of social contacts and quality of health care provision of people with cognitive impairment during social distancing and lockdown in the primary care system and living at home in Germany.
Data on e. Attitudes, knowledge about and perceived personal impact of the pandemic, social support, loneliness, anxiety, depression, change in the frequency of social activities due to the pandemic and perceived impact of the pandemic on health care related services were assessed during the time of lockdown. The frequency of depressive symptoms has not increased between the time before pandemic and lockdown in almost all participants.
The sample shows minimal On average seven activities have decreased in frequency due to the pandemic. Social activities related to meeting people, dancing or visiting birthdays have decreased significantly. Talking with friends by phone and activities like gardening have increased. Utilization of health care services like day clinics, relief services and prescribed therapies have been reported to have worsened due to the pandemic. Visits to general practitioners decreased.
The study shows a small impact of the pandemic on psychological variables like depression, anxiety and loneliness in the short-term in Germany. There is a decrease in social activities as expected. The impact on health care provision is prominent. There is a need for qualitative, in-depth studies to further interpret the results. Peer Review reports. The first cases of a novel atypical pneumonia β the infection later being named COVID and shown to be caused by the corona virus strain SARS-CoV-2 β were reported in Wuhan, China in December ; the WHO announced it officially as pandemic on March 11, , after the virus had rapidly spread to numerous countries worldwide.
