Aim: This study aimed to determine the perception of the disease and the affecting factors of the patients receiving inpatient treatment due to the diagnosis of COVID-19.

Material and Methods: The sample of this descriptive study consisted of 150 patients hospitalized in a pandemic hospital between 01 March and 31 May 2021. Data were collected using the “Patient Descriptive Questionnaire” and the “COVID-19 Disease Perception Scale (COVID-19 DPS)”. Number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, independent sample t-test, and ANOVA test were used in the statistical analysis.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 54.14±15.89, 52.0% were female, 44.7% were primary school graduates, 36.7% were retired, 66.7% were married, and 50.0% had at least one chronic disease. COVID-19 DPS mean score was 3.84±0.80; the mean score of the dangerousness sub-dimension was 3.92±0.93; the infectiousness sub-dimension mean score was calculated as 3.78±0.99. A statistically significant difference was found between gender, educational status, adherence to treatment, and the mean score of COVID-19 DPS.

Conclusion: It was found that patients diagnosed with COVID-19 have a high perception of illness. It can be said that determining the perception of illness in the light of the findings will facilitate adherence to the disease and treatment.