Understanding Stress Levels Impacting Hispanic Patient Hesitancy in a Rural Surgery Clinic

Introduction, Objectives, and/or Purpose: 1. acknowledge and address Hispanic patients’ hesitancy and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Research is needed to understand Hispanic patients’ hesitancy and stress levels during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A five-point Likert rating survey with 19 statements was used to gauge the factors that impacted patients’ stress levels before and during the pandemic. A convenience sampling method was used for the study. Paired difference, correlation, and t-test analyses were utilized to compare the general groups of elements to one another before and during the pandemic.

Results: 125 patients completed the survey: 101 female (81%); 24 male (18%); 76 were Hispanic (61%); 63 indicated English as a primary language (54%); and 53 indicated Spanish as a primary language (46%). 64 patients identified as heterosexual (51%) and of those, 48 were female (75%). The top stressors for Hispanics pre-COVID-19 were: financial instability (x̄=2.25) and finding care for or taking care of their children (x̄=2.48). During the pandemic, the top stressors were: enforcement of mask mandates (x̄=2.73) and concern for contracting COVID-19 while in public other than office (x̄=2.82). Financial instability increased during the pandemic: x̄=2.10 pre-pandemic to x̄=2.34 post-pandemic. Paying for child care and medical bills all increased from before the pandemic to during the pandemic (x̄=1.66 to x̄=1.89 and x̄=2.47 to x̄=2.55, respectively). Another significant stress factor is the responsibility of taking care of their kids or finding care for them, x̄=2.48 for Hispanic patients to x̄=1.83 for all other races, p=0.03.

Conclusion(s): Our study provides a framework from which future studies can add to the research on the impact of stress on Hispanic patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.