Knowledge, Attitude, Anxiety, and Perceived Mental Healthcare Need in Indian Population during 2nd Wave of the Coronavirus Disease-19 Pandemic.

Abstract

Background: The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has caused freakish disruption to way of most people live, their work, study, social life, and access of healthcare during the second wave also. Lack of knowledge or spread of the misinformation regarding disease condition through social media heightened the anxiety.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, anxiety experience, and perceived mental healthcare need among adult Indian population during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic.

Materials and Methods: This was a web based crosssectional, observational study. To recruit the participants, a Snowball sampling technique was used. A total number of 1005 from general population responded to an online semi-structured questionnaire, developed on Google form to assess the knowledge, attitude, anxiety experience, and perceived mental healthcare needs. The data have taken from April 28, 2021, to May 30, 2021.

Results: Nearly two-third participants were aware about the mode of the virus transmission. About 92% acknowledged that washing hands frequently could stop the spread of the infection. About 78% participants thought social distancing is essential to stop the virus from spreading. Approximately 82% participants avoided social contact in the past 1 week. About 85.3% participants think it is beneficial to take help from mental health professionals in dealing with COVID-19 pandemic.

Discussion: As people have gone through COVID-19 first wave, most of the participants were aware of the COVID-19 infection, the importance of social distancing, possible preventive measures, and government initiatives to limit the spread of infection. More than 3/4th of the participants acknowledged the need of the mental health consultation.