Various Valid and Reliable Scales used in Covid19 Assessment -A Narrative Review

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, emerged in late 2019 and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020. The virus causes symptoms ranging from mild respiratory issues to severe pneumonia and organ failure, with critical cases often requiring hospitalization and mechanical ventilation. Beyond physical health, COVID-19 has profoundly affected psychological, social, and economic well-being, leading to anxiety, stress, depression, and daily life disruptions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Literature related to COVID-19 was reviewed from sources such as PubMed, Scopus, and PEDro to assess the efficacy of various scales measuring health aspects like anxiety, depression, and stress. RESULTS: Nine studies were included, demonstrating the effectiveness of various scales in physiotherapy assessment for COVID-19 patients. The Fatigue Severity Scale showed good test-retest reliability in assessing physical activity levels. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale demonstrated strong construct validity and reliability, effectively evaluating anxiety and depression levels. The COVID-19 Anxiety Scale proved reliable and valid, successfully distinguishing individuals with dysfunctional anxiety from those without. The COVID-19 Stress Scale exhibited positive psychometric properties, effectively measuring anxiety levels. The Post-COVID-19 Functional Status Scale was effective in tracking symptom progression and its impact on patients’ functional status. The Burnout Scale for COVID-19 indicated higher degrees of burnout or stress with higher scores, while the Coronavirus Stress Measure was a reliable tool for assessing stress and burnout related to COVID-19. Additionally, the COVID-19 Stigma Scale proved effective in evaluating stigma among healthcare providers, showing good reliability across various contexts. CONCLUSION: All nine scales demonstrated strong validity and reliability, proving effective in physiotherapy assessments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their consistent performance supports their clinical utility for accurate patient evaluation.