The impact of COVID-19 Fear: evidence to inform social, health and economic recovery (a Healthy Ageing In Scotland study)

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COVID-19 fear influences decisions such as visiting family and friends, attending GP/hospitalappointments, returning to the workplace and employment/consumption patterns. Yet there is nogenerally accepted instrument to define or measure COVID-19 Fear. This study addresses theproblem by:(1) constructing a robust and evidence-based survey instrument for COVID-19 Fear;(2) using the instrument to measure prevalence among older people in Scotland, and(3) relating this to willingness to re-engage across social, health, and economic domains as societyadjusts to what may be termed the 'new normal'.This will help researchers and policymakers to understand and respond to the social, health, andeconomic impacts of COVID-19 fear.The effects of COVID-19 are likely to play out beyond the successful introduction of a vaccine ortreatment. So, it is essential that Scotland has the data infrastructure to advance understandingnow and in the future. Therefore, we will extend the Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS,www.hagis.scot) study by partnering with Generation Scotland to advance the development ofScotland's first comprehensive longitudinal study of ageing. Quantitative research will highlightsocial gradients in COVID-19 fear and will be complemented by qualitative research to address theeffects of COVID-19 fear on the use of internet and mobile communication technology (ICT) duringlockdown and its impact on social connectedness, engagement with health services, return to theworkplace, and consumption and spending patterns. Further an eDelphi exercise will use findingsto inform policy and behavioural interventions to address COVID-19 fear.