Abstract
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated psychological disorders due to quarantine, insufficient support, and limited medical care, significantly impacting health anxiety and optimism among families. Given the restrictions on direct contact, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) delivered through virtual platforms in improving health anxiety and optimism levels in families at risk of COVID-19 through counseling at the Welfare Center of Shahrekord.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 64 COVID-19 patients who had previously received consulting at the Welfare Center of Shahrekord. Participants were selected via convenience sampling and divided into control and intervention groups. Data collection tools included a demographic questionnaire, a health anxiety questionnaire by Salkovskis and Warwick, and the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R2). Virtual CBT interventions were implemented during 6 sessions, covering disease etiology, symptoms, hygiene, social distancing, health anxiety concepts, relaxation techniques, cognitive errors, and positive-negative thought recording. Training materials were provided, and follow-ups clarified any ambiguities. Both groups completed the health anxiety and life orientation questionnaires again after 2 months via WhatsApp. Data were analyzed in SPSS version 22 using descriptive and analytical statistics, including independent t-tests and ANOVA.
Results: Before the intervention, health anxiety scores of the participants were 47.47±7.6 in the intervention group and 46.51±5.35 in the control group, with no significant difference (P>0.3). The results of repeated measures ANOVA showed a significant reduction in health anxiety in the intervention group after the intervention (P<0.01). Similarly, optimism scores before the intervention were 19.47±2.57 and 21.31±5.35, with no significant difference (P>0.095), but a significant increase was observed after the intervention (P<0.01).
Conclusion: Virtual psychological interventions via platforms like WhatsApp, complemented by follow-ups, effectively reduced health anxiety and increased optimism among families affected by COVID-19, proving beneficial when in-person interventions were unfeasible.