Relationship Between Fear of Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Patient Preferences for Medical Services in Ghana: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Nathan Kumasenu Mensah, Godwin Adzakpah, Jessica Abakah, Christabell Opoku, Michael Wadere, Michael Dogbe, Dela Senyah, Mavis Agyarkoaa, Lawrencia Mensah, Amanda Appiah‐AcheampongABSTRACT
Background
The COVID‐19 pandemic has significantly impacted public health, causing fear and influencing individuals' behaviours and attitudes towards healthcare services. This study explores the relationship between fear of COVID‐19 and patient preferences for medical services in Ghana.
Design and Methods
A cross‐sectional study was undertaken among 1227 patients in six selected health facilities in Ghana from October 18, 2021 to November 30, 2021. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse data. The relationship between patients' fear of COVID‐19, patients' concerns about healthcare access, and their preference for medical services was measured using a χ2 test and a Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel test. Odds ratios with corresponding 95% confidence intervals and p values of less than 0.05 indicating statistical significance were reported accordingly. Stata 15 was used for the analysis.
Results
This study of 1227 patients from six health institutions found that 67.97% were afraid of COVID‐19. Factors like age, gender, education level, National Health Insurance Scheme coverage, marital status, religion, hospital visits, and access to telemedicine services were associated with fear of COVID‐19. Fear of COVID‐19 also influenced patients' willingness to use telemedicine services and accept home care services (such as diagnostic samples collection, home health care sessions, and home delivery of regular drugs for chronic diseases), over visiting a hospital or laboratory.
Conclusion
Most of the study participants expressed fear of COVID‐19. Fear of COVID‐19 significantly influenced patients' preference for alternative healthcare delivery, indicating the need for providers to collaborate to offer patients the care they require using appropriate technology.