The Effect of an Online Self-Care Training Program on Perceived Stress in COVID-۱۹ Patients: A Randomized Control Trial

Background: The coronavirus disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID-۱۹) caused many adverse effects, including increased stress in patients.Aim: The present study was conducted with aim to determine the effect of an online self-care training program on perceived stress in COVID-۱۹ patients.Method: This randomized control trial study was fulfilled by recruiting ۱۳۲ COVID-۱۹ patients, referred to two hospitals in Isfahan, Iran, ۲۰۲۱. The patients were selected using the purposive sampling method and were then randomly allocated into experimental and control groups (n=۶۳ in each group). The online self-care training program was presented to the experimental group in six ۳۰-minute sessions over two weeks. The data were collected through an individual characteristic form and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) at three stages before, immediately, and one month after the intervention. P<۰.۰۵ was considered statistically significant.Results: The mean scores of perceived stress before, immediately, and one month after the intervention in the experimental group were ۳۰.۵۱±۶.۳۱, ۲۴.۵۹±۴.۶۶, and ۲۶.۵۷±۳.۸۲, respectively and in the control group were ۲۹.۷۸±۴.۸۱, ۲۹.۴±۴.۵۷, and ۲۹.۱۱±۴.۷۳, respectively. Moreover, no significant difference was observed between the two groups at the pre-intervention stage (p=۰.۴۶۷), while the mean scores of perceived stress in the experimental group were lower compared with the control group immediately (p<۰.۰۰۱) and one month after the intervention (p=۰.۰۰۱).Implications for Practice: The online self-care training program led to a reduction in perceived stress in COVID-۱۹ patients. Thus, implementing this self-directed program may be considered as a safe and useful method to relieve perceived stress in similar conditions.

Keywords:

E-learning , Mental health , Public health , SARS-CoV-۲ , self-care , Telemedicine