The Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak on the Psychological Flexibility and Behaviour of Cancelling Medical Appointments of Italian Patients with Pre-Existing Medical Condition: The “ImpACT-COVID-19 for Patients” Multi-Centre Observational Study

Giuseppe Deledda, Niccolò Riccardi, Stefania Gori, Sara Poli, Matteo Giansante, Eleonora Geccherle, Cristina Mazzi, Ronaldo Silva, Nicoletta Desantis, Ambra Mara Giovannetti, Alessandra Solari, Paolo Confalonieri, Licia Grazzi, Elena Sarcletti, Gabriella Biffa, Antonio Di Biagio, Carlo Sestito, Roland Keim, Alida M. R. Di Gangi Hermis, Mariantonietta Mazzoldi, Alessandro Failo, Anna Scaglione, Naida Faldetta, Patrizia Dorangricchia, Maria Moschetto, Hector Josè Soto Parra, Jennifer Faietti, Anna Di Profio, Stefano Rusconi, Andrea Giacomelli, Fabio Marchioretto, Filippo Alongi, Antonio Marchetta, Giulio Molon, Zeno Bisoffi and Andrea Angheben
Additional contact information
Giuseppe Deledda: Clinical Psychology Unit, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, Italy
Niccolò Riccardi: Department of Infectious—Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, Italy
Stefania Gori: Oncology Department, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar, 37024 Verona, Italy
Sara Poli: Clinical Psychology Unit, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, Italy
Matteo Giansante: Clinical Psychology Unit, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, Italy
Eleonora Geccherle: Clinical Psychology Unit, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, Italy
Cristina Mazzi: Clinical Research Unit, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, Italy
Ronaldo Silva: Clinical Research Unit, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, Italy
Nicoletta Desantis: Clinical Research Unit, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, Italy
Ambra Mara Giovannetti: Unit of Neuroepidemiology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20145 Milan, Italy
Alessandra Solari: Unit of Neuroepidemiology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20145 Milan, Italy
Paolo Confalonieri: Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Neuroimmunology Unit, Clinical Neurology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20145 Milan, Italy
Licia Grazzi: Headache Center, Neurology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20145 Milan, Italy
Elena Sarcletti: Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
Gabriella Biffa: Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
Antonio Di Biagio: Infectious Diseases Clinic, Policlinico San Martino Hospital-IRCCS, 16132 Genoa, Italy
Carlo Sestito: Service of Psycho Oncology, San Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Azienda Sanitaria Provinciale di Crotone, 88900 Crotone, Italy
Roland Keim: General Hospital Bressanone, Azienda Sanitaria dell’Alto Adige, Bressanone, 39042 Bolzano, Italy
Alida M. R. Di Gangi Hermis: General Hospital Bressanone, Azienda Sanitaria dell’Alto Adige, Bressanone, 39042 Bolzano, Italy
Mariantonietta Mazzoldi: General Hospital Bolzano Azienda Sanitaria dell’Alto Adige, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
Alessandro Failo: General Hospital Bolzano Azienda Sanitaria dell’Alto Adige, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
Anna Scaglione: CFU-Italia ODV (Fybromyalgia Association), Castenaso, 40085 Bologna, Italy
Naida Faldetta: Department of Oncoplastic Surgery of Breast Unit. V. Cervello Hospital, 90100 Palermo, Italy
Patrizia Dorangricchia: Department of Oncoplastic Surgery of Breast Unit. V. Cervello Hospital, 90100 Palermo, Italy
Maria Moschetto: Oncology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria (A.O.U.) Policlinico Vittorio Emanuele, 95123 Catania, Italy
Hector Josè Soto Parra: Oncology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria (A.O.U.) Policlinico Vittorio Emanuele, 95123 Catania, Italy
Jennifer Faietti: Cardiac Surgery Unit, Salus Hospital GVM Care & Research, 42123 Regio Emilia, Italy
Anna Di Profio: Clinical Oncology Unit, S.S. Annunziata Hospital, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Stefano Rusconi: Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (DIBIC) Luigi Sacco, University of Milan, 20157 Milan, Italy
Andrea Giacomelli: Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (DIBIC) Luigi Sacco, University of Milan, 20157 Milan, Italy
Fabio Marchioretto: Neurological Unit, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, Italy
Filippo Alongi: Advanced Radiation Oncology Department, Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, Italy
Antonio Marchetta: Rheumatology Unit, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, Italy
Giulio Molon: Cardiology Deparment, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, Italy
Zeno Bisoffi: Department of Infectious—Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, Italy
Andrea Angheben: Department of Infectious—Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, 37024 Verona, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 1, 1-21

Abstract: Psychological distress imposed by the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak particularly affects patients with pre-existing medical conditions, and the progression of their diseases. Patients who fail to keep scheduled medical appointments experience a negative impact on care. The aim of this study is to investigate the psychosocial factors contributing to the cancellation of medical appointments during the pandemic by patients with pre-existing health conditions. Data were collected in eleven Italian hospitals during the last week of lockdown, and one month later. In order to assess the emotional impact of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak and the subject’s degree of psychological flexibility, we developed an ad hoc questionnaire (ImpACT), referring to the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) model. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) and the Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire (CFQ) were also used. Pervasive dysfunctional use of experiential avoidance behaviours (used with the function to avoid thought, emotions, sensations), feelings of loneliness and high post-traumatic stress scores were found to correlate with the fear of COVID-19, increasing the likelihood of cancelling medical appointments. Responding promptly to the information and psychological needs of patients who cancel medical appointments can have positive effects in terms of psychological and physical health.

Keywords: COVID-19; virus; pandemic; lockdown; psychological flexibility; depression; anxiety; stress; psychological impact; cancelling medical appointments (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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