This journal club presentation summarizes a research article that assessed fear of COVID-19 among the Indian population using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale. The study used a cross-sectional online survey distributed via social media to 1499 respondents. It found that over half of the population reported low fear, while females, married individuals, those with lower education, and healthcare workers had significantly higher odds of high fear. The discussion noted that females and healthcare workers may be more prone to fear due to stress and their close contact with COVID-19 patients. The conclusion recommended further nationwide studies to evaluate fear and develop tailored intervention strategies.

1. Journal Club Presentation
Presented By:
Name: Shweta LAMSAL.
Roll No: 27
BPH, VIII Semester, SHAS, PU.
1

2. Presented for the partial fulfillment of requirement
of
PHA 451 Journal Club/Health Seminar
of
Bachelor of Public Health, VIII Semester,
School of Health and Allied Sciences, Pokhara University
under the cardinal supervision of
Assistant Professor Dr. Hari Prasad Kaphle
By
Shweta Lamsal.,
17270204,
<2016-1-37-0128>. 2

3. Assessing Coronavirus Fear in Indian
Population Using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale
• Authors : Dolar Doshi1 & Parupalli Karunakar2 & Jagadeeswara Rao
Sukhabogi1 & Jammula Surya Prasanna 3 & Sheshadri Vishnu
Mahajan4
• Article in International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction.
• Published on 28 May ; volume :18, Issue :3
3

4. International Journal of Mental Health &
Addiction
• The International Journal of Mental Health & Addiction offers a forum for
up-to-date information and developments in mental health and addiction-
related research, policy, phenomenology, literature, and treatment.
• Publisher: Springer New York.
• Has 6 issues published annually under 1 volume.
• ISSN: 15571882, 15571874.
• internationally peer-reviewed.
• To publish open access in International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction,
authors are required to pay an article-processing charge.
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5. Critical Appraisal of Journal
• This journal provides immediate open access to its content.
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6. Tittle of Article
• Assessing Coronavirus Fear in Indian Population Using the Fear of COVID-19
Scale
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7. Critical Appraisal of Tittle
• Tittle indicates the aim of the study.
• Tittle clarifies the survey tool.
• Tittle indicates research question.
• Clarifies study population and area.
• It would have been better if the words and length of tittle was
adjusted.
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8. Authors
• Dolar Doshi ; Department of Public Health Dentistry, Government Dental College
and Hospital, Room No. 311, Hyderabad, India.
• Parupalli Karunakar ; Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics,
Panineeya Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Hyderabad, India
• Jagadeeswara Rao Sukhabogi ; Department of Public Health Dentistry,
Government Dental College and Hospital, Room No. 311, Hyderabad, India.
• Jammula Surya Prasanna ; Department of Periodontics, Panineeya Institute of
Dental Sciences and Hospital, Hyderabad, India.
• Sheshadri Vishnu Mahajan ; Department of Ophthalmology, BMC, Hyderabad,
India. 8

9. Critical Appraisal of Authors
• The name of the authors and there current department are clearly
mentioned.
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10. Abstract
<Insert your name here> 10

11. Critical Appraisal of Abstract
• It is informative abstract which summarizes the article as its aim is to
discuss about the level of fear among people due to COVID-19
pandemic.
• Abstract matches which detailed text in article.
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12. Introduction
• Fear is an adaptive response in the presence of danger. However, when
threat is uncertain and continuous, as in the current coronavirus
disease (COVID-19) pandemic, fear can become chronic and
burdensome .
• COVID-19 has made change in social and preventive behavior of
individual as well as physchological wellbeing.
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13. Critical Appraisal of Introduction
• The introduction has mentioned origin of the virus and the reason for
the study.
• It has not explained tittle in well and content is quiet insufficient .
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14. Materials and Methods
Population Group Online Survey was done in general population by
distribuiting google froms through social media
(whatsapp)
Study design cross-sectional study
Sampling Technique snowball sampling technique
Study material Fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19S)
Data recorded Age, gender, marital status, educational
qualifications, health care worker status and state
of residence
Study procedure Data was analysed using SPSS software
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15. Critical Appraisal of Materials and Methods
• The material and methods used in study is clear .
• Ethical Clearance for this study was obtained from the Institutional Review Board
of Panineeya Institute of Dental Sciences, Hyderabad, India.
• Verbal consent obtained from each respondents and confidentiality maintained.
• Data was analyzed using SPSS software.
• Descriptive statistics were calculated the form of number and percentage .
• overall mean score for the responses were calculated and compared based on
demographic variables using t test for two variables and analysis of variance
(ANOVA) for three or more variables.
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16. Results
• Out of 1499 respondents higher number of the study population reported low fear
(54.8%) and health care worker revealed a significant difference based on the level
of fear.
• Higher number of the study population reported low fear.
• Females, married status, lower educational status and being a health care worker
displayed significantly higher odds for high level of fear compared to other
respondents.
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17. Critical Appraisal of Results
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Most of the study population were either graduates
(44.3%) or post graduates (48.6%). The majority of this
surveyed population were health care workers (66.9%)
and over half of them were residents.

18. Critical Appraisal of Results
18
Most of the responses were Neither
Agree or Disagree with question .
Higher number of the study
population reported low fear.
Females, married status, lower
educational status and being a
health care worker displayed
significantly higher odds for high
level of fear compared to their
respective counterpart

19. Discussion
19
it has been found that females are
more prone to stress, depression and
anxiety. Likewise, in this study,
females had 1.29 times significantly
higher odds to fear COVID-19
compared with their male
counterparts. Higher odds based on
marital status were seen for all the
sub-groups but was significant only
for the married group (Odds ratio
1.45; p = 0.01). This could be
attributed to the increased sense of
responsibility and added concern
towards their loved ones.

20. Discussion
20
A surprising finding of our
study is the significantly
heightened fear of this
infection among health care
workers compared to their
counterparts (Odds ratio
1.37). This may be due to
their direct close interaction
with COVID-19 positive
patients, a better
understanding of the disease
development, progression and
consequence in the form of
fatality associated with the
contagion

21. Critical appraisal of Discussion
• Discussion illustrates the positive frame of mind of the people who help fight this
illness.
• Has encouraged to rely on authentic sources of information, adopt health
promoting behaviors, support each other and seek timely professional help
through various online platforms during pandemic.
• Highlighted the fear of virus in health care workers which may be due to their
direct close interaction with COVID-19 positive patients and better understanding
of the disease development, progression and consequences.
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22. Conclusion
• This study portrays an urgent need to conduct a nationwide
epidemiological study to determine the level of fear as well as other
associated issues concerning mental health in relation to COVID-19.
• The findings of this study may help to identify the groups most at risk
and formulate tailor-made intervention strategies to ensure their
optimal health in this time of global crisis.
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23. Critical Appraisal of Conclusion
• The conclusion is meaningful and supported by the result drawn.
• The conclusion suggests for more study on determining fear of
COVID-19.
• Connects fear of COVID-19 with mental health issues and suggests to
make necessary study and intervention strategies on it.
.
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24. References
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25. References
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26. Critical Appraisal for References
• The references are present for every citations in the article.
• The provided references are enough for the article.
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27. Strengths
• Study includes large sample size.
• Standardized questionnaire displays the strength of study.
• This study helps to promote psychological wellbeing during pandemic
interventional strategies during COVID-19 .
• This study shows difference in level of fear among health care worker
and non- health care worker.
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28. Weaknesses
• The convenience sampling methodology along with the Smartphone
based application and English language literacy may prevent the
generalization of the survey.
• The self-report nature of the questionnaire may exhibit social
desirability bias.
• Evaluation of a subjective factor such as fear objectively itself presents
as a limitation of the study.
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29. Overall significance of the article
• Findings are relevant.
• Study is based on current global pandemic disease.
• Contribution to the scientific society .
• Standardized tool is used.
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30. •Thank You!
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