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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with Behçet’s syndrome within the framework of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: implications for patient empowerment in national or global emergencies
F. Fortune1, J. Mather2, N. Şişman-Kitapci3, B. Gokani4, A.A. Senusi5, G. Mumcu6
- Centre for Oral Immunobiology and Regenerative Medicine, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London; and London Behçet’s Centre, Barts Health London, UK. f.fortune@qmul.ac.uk
- Behçet’s Patients Support, Registered Charity, UK.
- Department of Health Management, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.
- London Behçet’s Centre, Barts Health London, UK.
- Centre for Oral Immunobiology and Regenerative Medicine, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London; and London Behçet’s Centre, Barts Health London, UK.
- Department of Health Management, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.
CER16069
2023 Vol.41, N°10
PI 1976, PF 1984
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PMID: 36912342 [PubMed]
Received: 19/07/2022
Accepted : 27/10/2022
In Press: 02/03/2023
Published: 30/10/2023
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
The aim of this online survey was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with Behçet’s syndrome (BS) using Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
METHODS:
Sixty-eight BS patients from the UK completed an online questionnaire that covered three components of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs regarding Physiological needs (sleep, food, mobility), Safety needs (employment, health), Social needs (relationships), personal precautions and main concerns regarding COVID-19.
RESULTS:
The patients received a letter from the NHS (66.2%) advising shielding. Health concerns were addressed using Tele-medicine by telephone consultations and e-mails to access BS specialists during lockdown (44.1%; 27.9%). In addition, patients also obtained information through official government and Behçet corporate health web pages related to Behçet’s disease for self-empowerment. During lockdown, their weekly working hours were reduced (26.65±13.86 vs. 20.79±17.94) (p=0.017) and the employment rate was decreased (32.6% vs. 26.7%) in comparison to pre-lockdown. Moreover, the reduction in frequency of exercise per week (4.39±1.94 vs. 3.71±2.26) and healthy food consumption (73.5 % vs. 47.1%) per week were also reported (p=0.007; p=0.001, respectively). Furthermore, patients experienced sleeping less (54.4%) and feeling lonely (66.1%).
CONCLUSIONS:
Using Maslow’s hierarchy of needs provided a framework for reviewing the quality of basic needs in patients’ life during lockdown. These needs are required for healthy social lives and the deprivation should be considered while considering healthcare planning. Since lockdown appeared to have a negative influence on patients’ lives and disease management in the framework of patient-centred, the empowerment of patients gained importance at this point.
