Communication Strategy in Managing Anxiety and Uncertainty during the COVID-19 Tests in Indonesia

Abstract

COVID-19 haunts people's lives, especially participants of the COVID-19 swab test in Indonesia. This study aimed to describe the communication strategy carried out by COVID-19 swab test participants in managing anxiety, the uncertainty of information, and finding patterns of communication networks while waiting for laboratory test results. This study was conducted qualitatively; data was collected with a semi-open questionnaire through social media networks with the google form applcation on 61 informants of the COVID-19 swab test participants in Indonesia. Furthermore, the data was analyzed using the flow model and UCINET-NetDraw software. As a result of the study, a few communication strategies were recommended by COVID-19 swab test participants in managing anxiety and uncertainty namely: first, transcendental communication strategy by approaching and praying to God; second, phatic communication strategy to build personal communication that has an impact on feelings of pleasure; third, a communication strategy built with the pattern of interpersonal networks with the closest people. Parents and friends played an important role in helping participants manage anxiety. Furthermore, general practitioners provided health information to their patients. These three communication strategies helped increase the body's immunity when sick and develop humanistic communication patterns in the health sector.