Concerns to Aging and Health of Schizophrenia Inpatients During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Aims: Patients with schizophrenia are more likely to be affected by contagious diseases and health problems because of the influence of factors such as comorbidity with chronic diseases, psychiatric symptoms, and whether treatment with psychotropic drugs is possible. Accordingly, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was particularly important to pay attention to the health problems and coping experiences of patients with schizophrenia.

Methods: Twenty inpatients with schizophrenia were recruited via purposive sampling to participate in this qualitative study. Data collection was conducted from June to August 2022 and the data were analyzed via thematic analysis.

Results: Four dominant themes emerged from the responses of the participants, who: 1) were concerned about COVID-19 and performed health-management behaviors; 2) were concerned about significant health problems but did not take preventive actions; 3) experienced barriers to health management; and 4) required healthcare resources for elderly patients.

Conclusions: We found that these patients with schizophrenia had received health management education and implemented infection-prevention measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although they expressed concerns about health problems that interfered significantly with their daily lives, including the need for healthcare resources for the elderly, they lacked awareness of aging-related comorbidities. Healthcare professionals should thus align the care they provide with their patients’ needs, continuously provide them with health-related information, observe their daily behaviors, and help them to develop their skills related to changing and implementing health behaviors.