Abstract

Objective: Analysing rehabilitation- and mental health related information and sociodemographic features of patients in inpatient rehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic to identify factors influencing the fear of SARS-CoV-2. Patients admitted to inpatient rheumatological, orthopaedic, cardiological, oncological or psychosomatic rehabilitation settings. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional questionnaire study of patients in five different rehabilitation settings in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany between May and August 2021 during the third SARSCoV- 2 wave. The survey included 653 patients and used a self-reported paper & pencil questionnaire. The collected data was described for each rehabilitation facility and subjected to analyses of variance, correlation and linear regression to investigate associations between the score of the Fear of the Coronavirus Questionnaire (FCQ) and additional data were performed. Result: Differences of fear concerning the coronavirus between the rehabilitation subgroups were found (η=0.172, p<0.05), with highest fear scores in orthopaedic participants (MFCQ=28.65, SD=5.79). The fear examined correlated positively with age (r=0.223, p<0.001). Negative correlations exist with the absence of depressive symptoms (rWHO-5=-0.122, p<0.05), less pain (r_{IRES-24 Dimension Pain=-0.19, p<0.001}), better rated personal somatic and mental health (rself assessed somatic health=-0.187, p<0.001; r_{self assessed mental health}=-0.108, p<0.05) and with everyday functionality (r_{IRES-24 Dimension Functionality=-0.329, p<0.001}). Conclusion: The study identified predictors for virus-related fear. Using those can help to recognize vulnerable groups in times of a pandemic and improve rehabilitation processes.

Keywords:Anxiety; Coronavirus; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Depression; Fear; Rehabilitation; Wellbeing; Physical activity