An exploration of parental awareness, knowledge, and concerns related to COVID-19.

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 rapidly spread worldwide with high morbidity and mortality. In this study, we aimed to detect parental concerns along with their awareness of and attitudes towards COVID-19 among patients admitted to our inpatient and outpatient clinics.

Methods: This study was conducted at a children's hospital with 141 parents of children who were patients in the inpatient and outpatient clinics. Parents were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire and psychiatric scales that included the Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Impact of Events Scale-Revised form (IES-R).

Results: The study sample consisted of 141 parents, of which 59 were parents of inpatients and 82 were parents of outpatients. The most known COVID-19 symptoms were fever, difficulty in breathing, and cough, respectively. The most preferred precaution was "staying at home." We found a significant positive correlation between the number of precautions and BAI score (R = .169, P = .046). Inpatients' parents IES-R scores were significantly higher than outpatients' parents IES-R scores.

Conclusions: Parents were found to be aware of the COVID-19 pandemic regardless of education status and family income. Participants' IES-R scores revealed significant differences in terms of COVID-19 impact on psychological health between the parents of inpatient and outpatient children; inpatients' parents were more concerned about COVID-19.