Evaluation of Perceived Social Support Status and Quality of Life in Improved COVID-19 Patients in Birjand, Iran

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infectious disease and a pandemic since late 2019. One of the factors affecting the quality of life (QoL) and longevity of patients is social support. Social support reduces the effects of stress and calls for effective coping responses in the face of illness. Patients behave better if they have social support.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the QoL and perceived social support in patients with improved COVID-19 in Birjand, Iran, in 2020.

Using the available samplingmethod, the participants of this descriptive-analytical study were selected from the list of patients in the health center. A total of 100 patients with improved COVID-19 were included. Data were collected using the demographic information, the Perceived Social Support (PSS) Questionnaire (Kanti-Michel and Zimmet 2000), and WHOQOL-BREF Questionnaire. Data were analyzed by descriptive and analytical tests (one-way analysis of variance and correlation test) using SPSS version 22 at a significance level of P < 0.05.

The mean age of participants was 50.08±9.63 years and 44% of the samples were male. The mean score of perceived social support was 52.15±7.62 (out of 60), and the mean QoL score was 86.63±16.72 (out of 100). Also, there was a significant relationship between perceived social support and QoL (P = 0.03, r = 0.21).

Our findings showed a significant relationship between perceived social support and QoL. Thus, implementation of interventions to promote perceived social support and QoL by the governments, health care workers, family, and friends is essential