COVId-19 fear, anxiety and the correct implementation of protective measures (hand washing and mask USE)

The study aims to determine the effect of hand washing and mask use training given to patients with cardiac disease hospitalized in Bursa Uludağ University Cardiology Clinic on correct hand washing and correct mask use technique, fear of COVID-19, and generalized anxiety. The sample size before the study was calculated as at least 45 for each group, based on 80% statistical power, 0.05 significance level, and 0.60 effect size. Considering that there may be losses from the study, 112 volunteers who met the criteria were included. The study was completed with a total of 105 people, including the intervention group (n=50) and the control group (n=53). The mean age of the Intervention group participating in the study was 46.16±15.89 years, and the mean age of the Control group was 52.20±14.87 years. The mean "Compliance form with recommendations for breaking the COVID-19 Chain of Infection" score was 103.14 ± 16.68 in the Intervention group and 99.62 ± 19.99 in the Control group. The mean "Compliance Form to Changes Made by COVID-19 in Daily Life Activities" score was 22.00± 1.31 in the Intervention group and 21.33± 3.85 in the Control group. It was determined that education given to patients with the cardiac disease increases correct hand washing technique (p<0.001) and correct mask use technique (p<0.001) and decreases fear (p<0.001) and anxiety (p<0.001) of COVID-19 (p<0.05). While education positively affected the hand washing score in the intervention group, age and the length of time lived as patients with cardiac disease were found to have a negative effect (p<0.05). While the Scale of Compliance with Recommendations for Breaking the Chain of COVID-19 Infection score positively affected the mask use score in the intervention group, age affected it negatively (p<0.05). In the intervention group, while the anxiety score affected the COVID-19 Fear Scale score positively, the Scale of Adaptation to Changes Made by COVID-19 in Daily Life Activities score negatively affected it (p<0.05). In the intervention group, the follow-up anxiety score had a positive effect on the follow-up coronavirus fear score (p<0.05). It may be considered appropriate to give the education given to heart patients to other risky groups in the prevention of the epidemic. Keywords: Mask Use, Hand Washing, COVID-19, Fear, Anxiety, Cardiac Patients