PERCEPTION AND IMPACT OF COVID-19 PROTOCOLS ON THE LIFESTYLE OF PATIENTS ATTENDING GENERAL OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENT OF A TERTIARY HOSPITAL IN SOUTH EAST NIGERIA

Abstract: On 31 December 2019, the WHO was informed of a severe respiratory disease of unknown cause in Wuhan City, China. This was later identified as a coronavirus and named COVID-19. Due to its high mortality rate, the WHO and governments established prevention protocols to be followed by the public to curtail its spread. This study was carried out in the GOPD, COOUTH, Awka, Nigeria to determine the impact of the pandemic and its prevention protocols on the lifestyle of patients. Preventive practices observed by the patients during the pandemic included cleaning hands with soap and water or alcohol-based sanitizer (100%), covering mouth with bent elbow when sneezing or coughing (96.2%), cleaning and disinfecting surfaces frequently (86.7%). Some respondents (40.0%) had been vaccinated against COVID-19. The greater impact of the pandemic was observed in income as 90.5% of respondents had less income, 81.4% cooked more at home, while 76.2% and 88.6% had improved relationship with God and family members/friends respectively. Some respondents had tested positive to COVID-19 (15.2%), 17.1% think that they may have been infected but did not do the test while 67.6% have not been infected or don’t know if they have been. Keywords: attitude, COVID-19, impact, knowledge, lifestyle, perception, prevention, protocol. Title: PERCEPTION AND IMPACT OF COVID-19 PROTOCOLS ON THE LIFESTYLE OF PATIENTS ATTENDING GENERAL OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENT OF A TERTIARY HOSPITAL IN SOUTH EAST NIGERIA Author: Chinyerem Cynthia Nwachukwu, Gabriel Ifeanyi Eyisi, Ifeoma Anne Njelita, Amaechi Chinedu Nwachukwu, Chijioke Amara Ezenyeaku International Journal of Healthcare Sciences ISSN 2348-5728 (Online) Vol. 10, Issue 2, October 2022 - March 2023 Page No: 247-255 Research Publish Journals Website: www.researchpublish.com Published Date: 17-March-2023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7744273 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.researchpublish.com/papers/perception-and-impact-of-covid-19-protocols-on-the-lifestyle-of-patients-attending-general-outpatient-department-of-a-tertiary-hospital-in-south-east-nigeriaInternational Journal of Healthcare Sciences, ISSN 2348-5728 (Online), Research Publish Journals, Website: www.researchpublish.co