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Factors related to perceived stress during the COVID-19 epidemic context among the general population in China: A cross-sectional nationwide study. J Affect Disord 2021; 294:816-823. [PMID: 34375208 PMCID: PMC8433595 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.07.097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to investigate factors related to high stress levels among the general population in China during the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic when its containment measures were in place and to identify the most stressed populations. METHODS A nationwide study was conducted online among 5,039 adults in all 31 provinces in mainland China between March 1 and March 16, 2020. Bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to explore the related factors of high perceived stress. RESULTS Among all respondents, 36.0% reported a high level of stress. Respondents in Hubei province (the epicenter) were more likely to report high stress levels than those in low epidemic areas. Respondents who went outside every day or every other day reported greater odds of experiencing a high level of stress than those who went outside every 8-14 days. People with higher risk perceptions were more prone to report high stress levels. Respondents aged 16-35 were more likely to report high stress than respondents aged 46 or older. Lower household income and lower health literacy were related to increased odds of reporting high stress levels. LIMITATIONS We used a convenience sample and self-reported survey data. CONCLUSIONS We identified risk factors for high stress levels related to the epidemic (epidemic intensity in residential areas, risk perception, and frequency of going outside) and other vulnerabilities (younger age, low household income, low health literacy). Our findings can directly inform interventions and policies for mitigating stress among the general population for this or future epidemics.
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Mayer G, Hummel S, Gronewold N, Oetjen N, Hilbel T, Schultz JH. Validity and Reliability of the Self-administered Psycho-TherApy-SystemS (SELFPASS) Item Pool for the Daily Mood Tracking of Depressive Symptoms: Cross-sectional Web-Based Survey. JMIR Ment Health 2021; 8:e29615. [PMID: 34661547 PMCID: PMC8561414 DOI: 10.2196/29615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND e-Mental health apps targeting depression have gained increased attention in mental health care. Daily self-assessment is an essential part of e-mental health apps. The Self-administered Psycho-TherApy-SystemS (SELFPASS) app is a self-management app to manage depressive and comorbid anxiety symptoms of patients with a depression diagnosis. A self-developed item pool with 40 depression items and 12 anxiety items is included to provide symptom-specific suggestions for interventions. However, the psychometric properties of the item pool have not yet been evaluated. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to investigate the validity and reliability of the SELFPASS item pool. METHODS A weblink with the SELFPASS item pool and validated mood assessment scales was distributed to healthy subjects and patients who had received a diagnosis of a depressive disorder within the last year. Two scores were derived from the SELFPASS item pool: SELFPASS depression (SP-D) and SELFPASS anxiety (SP-A). Reliability was examined using Cronbach α. Construct validity was assessed through Pearson correlations with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the General Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7), and the WHO-5-Wellbeing-Scale (WHO-5). Logistic regression analysis was performed as an indicator for concurrent criterion validity of SP-D and SP-A. Factor analysis was performed to provide information about the underlying factor structure of the item pool. Item-scale correlations were calculated in order to determine item quality. RESULTS A total of 284 participants were included, with 192 (67.6%) healthy subjects and 92 (32.4%) patients. Cronbach α was set to .94 for SP-D and α=.88 for SP-A. We found significant positive correlations between SP-D and PHQ-9 scores (r=0.87; P<.001) and between SP-A and GAD-7 scores (r=0.80; P<.001), and negative correlations between SP-D and WHO-5 scores (r=-0.80; P<.001) and between SP-A and WHO-5 scores (r=-0.69; P<.001). Increasing scores of SP-D and SP-A led to increased odds of belonging to the patient group (SP-D: odds ratio 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.05; P<.001; SP-A: 1.05, 1.05-1.01; P=.01). The item pool yielded 2 factors: one that consisted of mood-related items and another with somatic-related items. CONCLUSIONS The SELFPASS item pool showed good psychometric properties in terms of reliability, construct, and criterion validity. The item pool is an appropriate source for daily mood tracking in future e-mental health apps among patients with depression. Our study provides general recommendations for future developments as well as recommendations within the item pool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwendolyn Mayer
- Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Svenja Hummel
- Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nadine Gronewold
- Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Neele Oetjen
- Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Hilbel
- Electrical Engineering and Applied Sciences, Westphalian University of Applied Sciences, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
| | - Jobst-Hendrik Schultz
- Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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Zhang Y, Wang D, Zhao J, Chen XY, Chen H, Ma Z, Yu Q, Wang T, Chen Z, Jiang J, Zhu Z, Huang S, Fan F, Liu X. Insomnia and other sleep-related problems during the remission period of the COVID-19 pandemic: A large-scale survey among college students in China. Psychiatry Res 2021; 304:114153. [PMID: 34403874 PMCID: PMC8424256 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the sleep-related problems and predictors of probable clinical insomnia among college students during the COVID-19 remission period in China. 146,102 college students from 22 colleges/universities in Guangdong province participated in this study from 1th to 15th June, 2020. Self-administered questionnaires were used to assess demographic characteristics. Sleep-related problems, depression and anxiety symptoms were measured by Youth Self-Rating Insomnia Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7, respectively. The prevalence of difficulty in initiating sleep, difficulty in maintaining sleep, early morning awakening, sleep insufficiency, unrefreshing sleep and daytime functioning impairment were 7.2%, 3.4%, 3.5%, 9.6%, 14.6%, and 7.6%, respectively. 16.9% students had varying degrees of insomnia and 6.3% were considered as displaying probable clinical insomnia. Moreover, being urban residents, having a history of physical or mental illness, and probable clinical depression or anxiety were significant risk factors of probable clinical insomnia, while college senior degree and 7-8 hours' sleep duration per day was the protective factor for probable clinical insomnia. Unrefreshing sleep was the most prominent sleep problem among college students during COVID-19 remission in China. Good sleep hygiene practices are strongly suggested to develop in the time of prolonged home isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Zhang
- School of Psychology, Centre for Studies of Psychological Applications, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Educational Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou China
| | - Dongfang Wang
- School of Psychology, Centre for Studies of Psychological Applications, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Educational Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou China
| | - Jingbo Zhao
- Department of Psychology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Chen
- School of Psychology, Centre for Studies of Psychological Applications, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Educational Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou China
| | - Huilin Chen
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, UK
| | - Zijuan Ma
- School of Psychology, Centre for Studies of Psychological Applications, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Educational Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou China
| | - Qian Yu
- School of Psychology, Centre for Studies of Psychological Applications, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Educational Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou China
| | - Tong Wang
- School of Psychology, Centre for Studies of Psychological Applications, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Educational Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou China
| | - Zihao Chen
- School of Psychology, Centre for Studies of Psychological Applications, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Educational Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou China
| | - Jiaqi Jiang
- School of Psychology, Centre for Studies of Psychological Applications, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Educational Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou China
| | - Zhiyi Zhu
- School of Psychology, Centre for Studies of Psychological Applications, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Educational Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou China
| | - Shuiqing Huang
- School of Psychology, Centre for Studies of Psychological Applications, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Educational Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou China
| | - Fang Fan
- School of Psychology, Centre for Studies of Psychological Applications, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Brain Cognition and Educational Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou China.
| | - Xianchen Liu
- Center for Public Health Initiatives, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Yun JY, Kim JW, Myung SJ, Yoon HB, Moon SH, Ryu H, Yim JJ. Impact of COVID-19 on Lifestyle, Personal Attitudes, and Mental Health Among Korean Medical Students: Network Analysis of Associated Patterns. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:702092. [PMID: 34483994 PMCID: PMC8416342 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.702092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The current COVID-19 pandemic have affected our daily lifestyle, pressed us with fear of infection, and thereby changed life satisfaction and mental health. The current study investigated influencing cascade of changes during the COVID-19 among the lifestyle, personal attitudes, and life (dis)satisfaction for medical students, using network-based approaches. This cross-sectional survey used self-reports of 454 medical students during June and July of 2020. Depressive mood, anxiety, and intention to drop out of school were observed in 11.9, 18.5, and 38.3% of medical students, respectively. Directed acyclic graph that estimated directional propagation of the COVID-19 in medical students' daily lives initiated from the perception of unexpected event, propagated to nervous and stressed feeling, trouble relaxing, feeling like a failure, and were followed by trouble concentrating, feeling loss of control for situation, and fear of infecting colleagues. These six features were also principal mediators within the intra-individual covariance networks comprised of changed lifestyle, personal attitude, and mental health at COVID-19 pandemic. Psychosocial supports targeting nervousness, trouble relaxing and concentrating, fear of spreading infection to colleagues, feelings of a failure or loss of situational control are required for better mental health of medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Je-Yeon Yun
- Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
- Yeongeon Student Support Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ju Whi Kim
- Office of Medical Education, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sun Jung Myung
- Office of Medical Education, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hyun Bae Yoon
- Office of Medical Education, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sang Hui Moon
- Office of Medical Education, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hyunjin Ryu
- Office of Medical Education, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jae-Joon Yim
- Office of Medical Education, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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Shen X, Li CJ, Dong T, Cao H, Feng J, Lei Z, Wang Z, Han X, Lv C, Gan Y. Public Opinion and Expectations: Development of Public Health Education in China After COVID-19 Pandemic. Front Public Health 2021; 9:702146. [PMID: 34447736 PMCID: PMC8383066 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.702146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Policymakers must promote the development of public health education and human resources. As a feature of the political environment, public opinion is essential for policy-making, but virtually the attitudes of Chinese citizens toward human resources development in public health is unknown. Methods: This study conducted a crosssectional survey from February 4, 2021 to February 26, 2021 in China. We adopted a convenient sampling strategy to recruit participators. Participants filled out the questions, which assess the attitudes of the expanding public health professionals. A logistic regression analysis was given to identify the predictors associated with the attitudes of the subjects. Results: There were 2,361 residents who have finished our questionnaire. Chinese residents who lived in urban (OR = 1.293, 95% CI = 1.051-1.591), "themselves or relatives and friends have participated in relevant epidemic prevention work" (OR = 1.553, 95% CI = 1.160-2.079), "themselves or family members engaged in medical-related work" (OR = 1.468, 95% CI = 1.048-2.056), and those who "were aware of public health before the outbreak of COVID-19" (OR = 1.428, 95% CI = 1.125-1.812) were more likely to support the promotion of public health education and training. Conclusions: The present study found that 74.50% of Chinese citizens supported the promotion of public health education and training in China, in which economic status, personal perception, and comprehension are the crucial factors that influence public opinion. COVID-19 has aroused the attention of Chinese residents to public health education, with only 22.11% of residents being aware of public health before the outbreak of COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has profound implications for human society. Literally, this impact will feed back into future public health policies based on public opinion. This innovative perspective will also help us better understand the potential social impact of COVID-19 on human resources and development for health in the modern world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Shen
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Crystal Jingru Li
- Department of Psychology, School of Education and Human Development, Hong Kong Education University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tianyi Dong
- Department of Labor and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hui Cao
- Department of Labor Economics and Management, Beijing Vocational College of Labour and Social Security, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Feng
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zihui Lei
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zijian Wang
- School of Arts and Communication, Guangxi University of Science and Technology, Liuzhou, China
| | - Xiaotong Han
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Hunan Provincial Institute of Emergency Medicine, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Emergency and Critical Care Metabolomics, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital/The First Affiliated Hospital, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Chuanzhu Lv
- Emergency Medicine Center, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- Research Unit of Island Emergency Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (No. 2019RU013), Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
- Key Laboratory of Emergency and Trauma of Ministry of Education, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Yong Gan
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Sánchez-Sánchez E, García-Álvarez JÁ, García-Marín E, Gutierrez-Serrano M, Alférez MJM, Ramirez-Vargas G. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of Nurses and Auxiliary Nursing Care Technicians-A Voluntary Online Survey. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:8310. [PMID: 34444060 PMCID: PMC8393702 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18168310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Pandemics impose an immense psychological burden on healthcare workers due to a combination of workplace stressors and personal fears. Nurses and auxiliary nursing care technicians (ANCTs) are on the front line of this pandemic and form the largest group in healthcare practice. The aim of this study is to determine the symptoms of depression and/or anxiety among nurses and ANCTs during the periods known as the first wave (March-June) and second wave (September-November) of theCOVID-19 pandemic in Spain. An observational cross-sectional study was carried out using an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire among nurses and ANCTs practising in Spain. During the first period, 68.3% and 49.6% of the subjects presented anxiety and depression, respectively, decreasing in the second period (49.5% for anxiety and 35.1% for depression). There were statistically significant differences between the different categories and periods (p < 0.001). The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively influenced mental health in nurses and ANCTs. Mental health should be monitored and coping strategies promoted to improve the health, productivity and efficiency of these professionals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Sánchez-Sánchez
- Internal Medicine Department, Punta de Europa Hospital, 11207 Algeciras, Spain; (J.Á.G.-Á.); (E.G.-M.); (M.G.-S.); (G.R.-V.)
- Instituto de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica de Cádiz (INiBICA), Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar, Universidad de Cádiz, 11009 Cádiz, Spain
| | - J. Ángel García-Álvarez
- Internal Medicine Department, Punta de Europa Hospital, 11207 Algeciras, Spain; (J.Á.G.-Á.); (E.G.-M.); (M.G.-S.); (G.R.-V.)
| | - Esperanza García-Marín
- Internal Medicine Department, Punta de Europa Hospital, 11207 Algeciras, Spain; (J.Á.G.-Á.); (E.G.-M.); (M.G.-S.); (G.R.-V.)
| | - María Gutierrez-Serrano
- Internal Medicine Department, Punta de Europa Hospital, 11207 Algeciras, Spain; (J.Á.G.-Á.); (E.G.-M.); (M.G.-S.); (G.R.-V.)
| | - Maria José M. Alférez
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, University of Granada, 18011 Granada, Spain;
| | - Guillermo Ramirez-Vargas
- Internal Medicine Department, Punta de Europa Hospital, 11207 Algeciras, Spain; (J.Á.G.-Á.); (E.G.-M.); (M.G.-S.); (G.R.-V.)
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Mekhemar M, Attia S, Dörfer C, Conrad J. Dental Students in Germany throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Psychological Assessment and Cross-Sectional Survey. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:611. [PMID: 34356466 PMCID: PMC8301083 DOI: 10.3390/biology10070611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Multiple investigations have reported high psychological distress among students since the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak started. This survey examined the associations between psychological features, and several demographic and social factors among dental students in German universities. Dental students registered in German universities nationwide were asked to join this survey via a self-directed online questionnaire, from July 2020 to January 2021. This study assembled data on demographic statistics, the depression anxiety stress scales (DASS-21), and the impact of events scale-revised (IES-R) instrument. The relationships between demographic-related variables and mental consequences of depression, anxiety, stress, intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal were inspected. Two hundred and eleven students contributed to the questionnaire and conveyed overall normal or mild outcomes of depression, anxiety, stress, intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal. In addition, female gender, cardiovascular diseases, smoking habits, and seeing the COVID-19 outbreak as a financial risk were stated as significant related factors (p < 0.05), with increased IES-R and DASS-21 scores. These results highlight the features that should be considered to better protect dental students' mental health in German universities during the crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Mekhemar
- Clinic for Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, Kiel University, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, Haus B, 24105 Kiel, Germany;
| | - Sameh Attia
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Klinik Str. 33, 35392 Giessen, Germany;
| | - Christof Dörfer
- Clinic for Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, Kiel University, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, Haus B, 24105 Kiel, Germany;
| | - Jonas Conrad
- Clinic for Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, Kiel University, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, Haus B, 24105 Kiel, Germany;
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Mahmud S, Hossain S, Muyeed A, Islam MM, Mohsin M. The global prevalence of depression, anxiety, stress, and, insomnia and its changes among health professionals during COVID-19 pandemic: A rapid systematic review and meta-analysis. Heliyon 2021; 7:e07393. [PMID: 34278018 PMCID: PMC8261554 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the COVID-19 pandemic, the health professionals who are at the frontline of this crisis have been facing extreme psychological disorders. This research aims to provide an overall scenario of the prevalence of depression, anxiety, stress, as well as insomnia and to inspect the changes in these prevalence over time by analyzing the existing evidence during this COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS A systematic search was performed on March 30, 2021, in PubMed, MEDLINE, Google Scholar databases, and Web of Science. To assess the heterogeneity, Q-test,I 2 statistics, and Meta regression and to search for the publication bias, Eggers's test and funnel plot were used. The random-effect model and subgroup analysis were performed due to the significant heterogeneity. RESULTS Among eighty-three eligible studies in the final synthesis, 69 studies (n = 144649) assessed the depression prevalence of 37.12% (95% CI: 31.80-42.43), 75 studies (n = 147435) reported the anxiety prevalence of 41.42% (95% CI: 36.17-46.54), 41 studies (n = 82783) assessed the stress prevalence of 44.86% (95% CI: 36.98-52.74), 21 studies (n = 33370) enunciated the insomnia prevalence of 43.76% (95% CI: 35.83-51.68). The severity of the mental health problems among health professionals increased over the time during January 2020 to September 2020. LIMITATIONS A significant level of heterogeneity was found among psychological measurement tools and across studies. CONCLUSIONS Therefore, it is an emergency to develop psychological interventions that can protect the mental health of vulnerable groups like health professionals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sultan Mahmud
- Institute of Statistical Research and Training, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sorif Hossain
- Institute of Statistical Research and Training, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Abdul Muyeed
- Department of Statistics, Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Trishal, Mymensingh-2224, Bangladesh
| | - Md Mynul Islam
- Institute of Statistical Research and Training, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Mohsin
- Institute of Statistical Research and Training, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Perceived stress of the COVID-19 pandemic and adolescents' depression symptoms: The moderating role of character strengths. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2021; 182:111062. [PMID: 34177027 PMCID: PMC8213401 DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2021.111062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The outbreak of COVID-19 could increase adolescents' psychological distress and have a detrimental effect on their mental health. However, the negative effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescents' mental health might be moderated by their existing psychological resources. The present study sought to investigate whether the relationship between adolescents' perceived stress of the COVID-19 pandemic and their depression symptoms was alleviated by their character strengths. A total of 617 adolescents were recruited and completed the online survey during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results indicated that adolescents' perceived stress of the COVID-19 pandemic was significantly positively correlated with their depression symptoms. Character strengths were significantly negatively correlated with adolescents' perceived stress of the COVID-19 pandemic and their depression symptoms. Moreover, the moderating effect of character strengths on the relationship between adolescents' perceived stress of the COVID-19 pandemic and their depression symptoms was significant. Therefore, adolescents' character strengths as a protective factor could buffer the effect of perceived stress of the COVID-19 pandemic on their depression symptoms and contribute to maintaining their mental health.
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Zinchenko YP, Salagay OO, Shaigerova LA, Almazova OV, Dolgikh AG, Vakhantseva OV. Perception of stress by different categories of medical personnel during the first wave of the COVID‑19 pandemic in Russia. Public Health 2021. [DOI: 10.21045/2782-1676-2021-1-1-65-89] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Relevance. In the context of the pandemic, the current psychological state and the likely delayed deterioration of the mental health of medical personnel, regardless of their professional duties, are of concern. Taking into account the stressful circumstances in which the pandemic has placed all medical workers, assessing the level of perceived stress, as well as identifying risk factors and factors that mitigate stress, is an urgent task, the solution of which will contribute to the effective organization of psychological support for medical personnel.Methods. The study used a shortened version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS10) as the main methodology – a tool designed to study a person's attitude to stressful situations and determine the degree to which life is assessed as stressful and uncontrolled (Cohen et al., 1988). The methodology is widely used by the scientific community, including during the pandemic, and the original English version of the PSS has been translated into many languages and adapted in different countries. The study was conducted through an online survey.Respondents. The study, conducted in the period from May 9 to June 26, 2020, when there was a steady increase in SARS-CoV 2 virus infections in Russia, involved 1,287 employees of medical institutions in various subjects of the federation (1,079 women and 208 men) aged 19 to 80 years. The sample of the study is represented by doctors, middle and junior medical staff, heads of medical departments and institutions, as well as volunteers.Results. A high average overall index of perceived stress among employees of medical institutions was revealed. The highest level of stress is observed in the youngest age group (from 19 to 30 years), and with age, the level of stress decreases. There were no differences in the level of stress between male and female health workers in any of the considered stress indicators. Protective factors against increased stress are the presence of children and living with family members or relatives, while the presence of a spouse / partner does not affect the overall indicator of perceived stress. From different categories of medical workers, the index of perceived stress is higher in managers and doctors compared to middle and junior medical personnel. There were no significant differences in the level of stress between the staff working and not working in the "red zone". Differences in the level of stress of medical workers depending on the current situation (the number of infected and dead) in the region of residence were revealed: the level of stress is higher for those specialists who are forced to work in stressful conditions due to the complex epidemiological situation. The relationship between different beliefs about COVID19 and the level of stress is shown: the level of stress is higher in those who take its danger more seriously. In terms of the sources of stress, the most likely predictors are anxiety about exposure to COVID19 at work and the likelihood of infecting loved ones, fear of catching it yourself and getting sick, inability to meet the usual personal needs and economic instability.Conclusions. Practical interventions, the provision of psychological support and the development of actions to reduce stress for staff during a pandemic, should take into account the role of factors in increasing stress among staff working in specific conditions and focus on the prevailing beliefs and stressors in specific categories of medical factors.
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Altan A. Emotional effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on oral surgery procedures: a social media analysis. J Dent Anesth Pain Med 2021; 21:237-244. [PMID: 34136645 PMCID: PMC8187016 DOI: 10.17245/jdapm.2021.21.3.237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to analyze Twitter users' emotional tendencies regarding oral surgery procedures before and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic worldwide. METHODS Tweets posted in English before and after the COVID-19 pandemic were included in the study. Popular tweets in 2019 were searched using the keywords "tooth removal", "tooth extraction", "dental pain", "wisdom tooth", "wisdom teeth", "oral surgery", "oral surgeon", and "OMFS". In 2020, another search was conducted by adding the words "COVID" and "corona" to the abovementioned keywords. Emotions underlying the tweets were analyzed using CrystalFeel - Multidimensional Emotion Analysis. In this analysis, we focused on four emotions: fear, anger, sadness, and joy. RESULTS A total of 1240 tweets, which were posted before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, were analyzed. There was a statistically significant difference between the emotions' distribution before and after the pandemic (p < 0.001). While the sense of joy decreased after the pandemic, anger and fear increased. There was a statistically significant difference between the emotional valence distributions before and after the pandemic (p < 0.001). While a negative emotion intensity was noted in 52.9% of the messages before the pandemic, it was observed in 74.3% of the messages after the pandemic. A positive emotional intensity was observed in 29.8% of the messages before the pandemic, but was seen in 10.7% of the messages after the pandemic. CONCLUSION Infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, may lead to mental, emotional, and behavioral changes in people. Unpredictability, uncertainty, disease severity, misinformation, and social isolation may further increase dental anxiety and fear among people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmet Altan
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, Tokat, Turkey
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Rivera R, Smart J, Sakaria S, Wray A, Wiechmann W, Boysen-Osborn M, Toohey S. Planning Engaging, Remote, Synchronous Didactics in the COVID-19 Pandemic Era. JMIR MEDICAL EDUCATION 2021; 7:e25213. [PMID: 33872191 PMCID: PMC8115395 DOI: 10.2196/25213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
As part of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education requirements, residents must participate in structured didactic activities. Traditional didactics include lectures, grand rounds, simulations, case discussions, and other forms of in-person synchronous learning. The COVID-19 pandemic has made in-person activities less feasible, as many programs have been forced to transition to remote didactics. Educators must still achieve the goals and objectives of their didactic curriculum despite the new limitations on instructional strategies. There are several strategies that may be useful for organizing and creating a remote residency didactic curriculum. Educators must master new technology, be flexible and creative, and set rules of engagement for instructors and learners. Establishing best practices for remote didactics will result in successful, remote, synchronous didactics; reduce the impact of transitioning to a remote learning environment; and keep educators and learners safe as shelter-at-home orders remain in place.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald Rivera
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA, United States
| | - Jonathan Smart
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA, United States
| | - Sangeeta Sakaria
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA, United States
| | - Alisa Wray
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA, United States
| | - Warren Wiechmann
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA, United States
| | - Megan Boysen-Osborn
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA, United States
| | - Shannon Toohey
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA, United States
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Zhang X, Huang DS, Guan P. Nursing Scheduling Mode and Experience from the Medical Teams in Aiding Hubei Province During the COVID-19 Outbreak: A Systematic Scoping Review of 17 Studies. Risk Manag Healthc Policy 2021; 14:1805-1813. [PMID: 33986617 PMCID: PMC8110278 DOI: 10.2147/rmhp.s302156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Due to COVID-19 outbreak, since January 24, 2020, national medical teams from across the country and the armed forces have been dispatched to aid Hubei. The present review was designed to timely summarize the existing frontline information about nursing scheduling mode with special focus on the length of shifts with the aim to contribute to improve the nurses' job satisfaction and the quality of nursing services. Methods Articles from Jan 2020 to October 2020 were retrieved from China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data and Weipu Information, with the terms "COVID-19", "designated hospital", "Hubei-assisted", "makeshift hospital", "nursing", "nursing shift", "whole-system takeover" and variations of these, in the title and abstract fields and the Boolean combinations of these words as the retrieval strategy. Results Seventeen journal articles have been included in the target field, from the nurses in aiding Hubei Province, four kinds of shift length, 2-hour (h), 3-h, 4-h and 6-h shift have been considered, the main nursing scheduling mode adopted in designated hospitals for COVID-19 patients was dynamic scheduling based on workload, flexible scheduling based on working hours, workload and the number of critically ill patients admitted, humanized scheduling based on the daily reported health status of the nurses, and professional-integrated scheduling according to the professional distribution of nurses on the basis of four-hour shift length, and in makeshift hospitals for mild patients, the scheduling mode was 6-h based correspondingly. Conclusion The descriptive results of the present systematic review shed light on the challenges and practical solutions of nursing scheduling mode in the context of cross-regional medical assistance. Additionally, the present systematic review could provide the academic community of nurses, nurse managers and administrators with baseline information and scientific productions from the content's points of view in the target field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochun Zhang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, People's Republic of China
| | - De-Sheng Huang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.,Department of Mathematics, School of Fundamental Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Guan
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, People's Republic of China
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Teaching during the Pandemic: A Comparison in Psychological Wellbeing among Smart Working Professions. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13094850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Background: As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, since March 2020, the Italian population was forced into lockdown to prevent the spread of the virus. The restrictive measures imposed forced many organizations and workers to work through online platforms and no longer in-person. Smart working, enjoyed by some workers for its flexibility, affected several professional categories. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there are differences in the psychological variables related to four groups of professional categories (practitioners, managers, executive employees, teachers), particularly the teachers group. Methods: A total sample of 628 individuals was recruited through a random probability sample across Italy. Due to the lockdown, an online questionnaire was developed; several validated scales were chosen, and some ad hoc constructed items related to the smart working experience were included. Results: The results showed statistically significant differences between the four groups of examined smart workers. Conclusions: All workers have had to readjust to this new way of working, but our results show that teachers were the most affected, both in the perception of their psychological well-being and in the management of the smart working mode.
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Luo H, Yao H, Xi Y, Zhang Z, Li J, Li J, Wang X, Zhong Z, Lv Y. Protective and Risk Factors for Medical and Nursing Staff Suffering From Psychological Symptoms During COVID-19. Front Psychol 2021; 12:603553. [PMID: 33935859 PMCID: PMC8086510 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.603553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: With the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic in China, the general public but also medical staff were confronted with psychological challenges, suffering from the highly infectious and unknown characteristics of COVID-19. In this study, we surveyed psychological symptoms including anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders in medical staff. Method: A questionnaire star/WeChat link-based survey assessing the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 depression, the Insomnia Severity Index, Social Support scales in addition to lifestyle, and income level was conducted and included 8,288 medical staff from 24 provinces in China. Pearson Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U-tests were used to evaluate single risk factors and significant differences in psychological symptoms before and during the outbreak of COVID-19. Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted for the risk factors of anxiety, depression, and sleep disorder symptoms. Results: Medical staff had a high incidence of psychological symptoms, which was more prominent during the COVID-19 epidemic. Comparatively, females, nurses, first-line department, never exercised, and low income were risk factors for psychological symptoms. Social support including objective support, subjective support, support utility, and regular sports over 3 times per week were protective and manageable elements that could protect from and manage the psychological symptoms of medical staff. Conclusion: The susceptibility of psychological symptoms among medical staff should be of concern to policymakers and the public in the long-term, and the aggravation of mental health problems of medical staff could be eased by providing adequate social support during and after the COVID-19 outbreak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailong Luo
- Department of Psychology, Meizhou People's Hospital, Meizhou, China
| | - Huiqi Yao
- Department of Rehabilitation, Meizhou People's Hospital, Meizhou, China
| | - Yuandi Xi
- Department of Epidemiology, Public Health College, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhun Zhang
- Department of Psychology, Meizhou People's Hospital, Meizhou, China
| | - Jia Li
- Department of Psychology, Hainan General Hospital, Haikou, China
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Geriatrics, Meizhou People's Hospital, Meizhou, China
| | - Xuewen Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Wuhan Asian Cardiovascular Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhixiong Zhong
- Medical Department, Meizhou People's Hospital, Meizhou, China
| | - Yan Lv
- Department of Neurology, Hainan General Hospital, Haikou, China
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Troschel FM, Ahndorf F, Wille LM, Brandt R, Jost J, Rekowski S, Eich HT, Stummer W, Wiewrodt R, Jetschke K, Wiewrodt D. Quality of Life in Brain Tumor Patients and Their Relatives Heavily Depends on Social Support Factors during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13061276. [PMID: 33805663 PMCID: PMC7999211 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13061276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with increased mortality worldwide. Cancer patients are among those at enhanced risk while already suffering from decreased quality of life (QoL) due to their disease. In the present study, we investigated QoL in 100 brain tumor patients and relatives across a twelve-week timespan during the first COVID-related lockdown (04–07/2020) in detail. Compared to the general population, both patients and relatives showed significant distress, anxiety, and depression, with patients more at risk. QoL within a family—between patients and relatives—was correlated. While QoL did not change over time, acceptance of lockdown measures decreased towards the end of the study period. Finally, QoL was strongly associated with the number of weekly social contacts. These findings shed light on the psychosocial situation of a vulnerable cancer population during the COVID pandemic and indicate the need for targeted psychosocial interventions in these patients and their relatives. Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic is associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and restrictions on everyday life worldwide. This may be especially challenging for brain tumor patients given increased vulnerability due to their pre-existing condition. Here, we aimed to investigate the quality of life (QoL) in brain tumor patients and relatives in this setting. Over twelve weeks during the first wave of the pandemic (04–07/2020), brain tumor patients and their families from two large German tertiary care centers were asked to complete weekly questionnaires for anxiety, depression, distress, and well-being. Information regarding social support and living conditions was also collected. One hundred participants (63 patients, 37 relatives) completed 729 questionnaires over the course of the study. Compared to relatives, patients showed more depressive symptoms (p < 0.001) and reduced well-being (p = 0.013). While acceptance of lockdown measures decreased over time, QoL remained stable. QoL measures between patients and their families were weakly or moderately correlated. The number of social contacts was strongly associated with QoL. Age, living conditions, ongoing therapy, employment, and physical activity were other predictors. QoL is correlated between patients and their families and heavily depends on social support factors, indicating the need to focus on the entire family and their social situation for QoL interventions during the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian M. Troschel
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Münster University Hospital, 48149 Münster, Germany;
- Correspondence: (F.M.T.); (D.W.)
| | - Franziska Ahndorf
- Department of Neurosurgery, Münster University Hospital, 48149 Münster, Germany; (F.A.); (L.-M.W.); (R.B.); (J.J.); (W.S.)
| | - Lisa-Marie Wille
- Department of Neurosurgery, Münster University Hospital, 48149 Münster, Germany; (F.A.); (L.-M.W.); (R.B.); (J.J.); (W.S.)
| | - Ralf Brandt
- Department of Neurosurgery, Münster University Hospital, 48149 Münster, Germany; (F.A.); (L.-M.W.); (R.B.); (J.J.); (W.S.)
| | - Johanna Jost
- Department of Neurosurgery, Münster University Hospital, 48149 Münster, Germany; (F.A.); (L.-M.W.); (R.B.); (J.J.); (W.S.)
| | - Sylvia Rekowski
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44892 Bochum, Germany; (S.R.); (K.J.)
| | - Hans Theodor Eich
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Münster University Hospital, 48149 Münster, Germany;
| | - Walter Stummer
- Department of Neurosurgery, Münster University Hospital, 48149 Münster, Germany; (F.A.); (L.-M.W.); (R.B.); (J.J.); (W.S.)
| | - Rainer Wiewrodt
- Pulmonary Division, Department of Medicine A, Münster University Hospital, 48149 Münster, Germany;
| | - Kathleen Jetschke
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44892 Bochum, Germany; (S.R.); (K.J.)
| | - Dorothee Wiewrodt
- Department of Neurosurgery, Münster University Hospital, 48149 Münster, Germany; (F.A.); (L.-M.W.); (R.B.); (J.J.); (W.S.)
- Correspondence: (F.M.T.); (D.W.)
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Hummel S, Oetjen N, Du J, Posenato E, Resende de Almeida RM, Losada R, Ribeiro O, Frisardi V, Hopper L, Rashid A, Nasser H, König A, Rudofsky G, Weidt S, Zafar A, Gronewold N, Mayer G, Schultz JH. Mental Health Among Medical Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Eight European Countries: Cross-sectional Survey Study. J Med Internet Res 2021; 23:e24983. [PMID: 33411670 PMCID: PMC7817254 DOI: 10.2196/24983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The death toll of COVID-19 topped 170,000 in Europe by the end of May 2020. COVID-19 has caused an immense psychological burden on the population, especially among doctors and nurses who are faced with high infection risks and increased workload. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to compare the mental health of medical professionals with nonmedical professionals in different European countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. We hypothesized that medical professionals, particularly those exposed to COVID-19 at work, would have higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. We also aimed to determine their main stressors and most frequently used coping strategies during the crisis. METHODS A cross-sectional online survey was conducted during peak COVID-19 months in 8 European countries. The questionnaire included demographic data and inquired whether the participants were exposed to COVID-19 at work or not. Mental health was assessed via the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales32 (23.53)-21 (DASS-21). A 12-item checklist on preferred coping strategies and another 23-item questionnaire on major stressors were completed by medical professionals. RESULTS The sample (N=609) consisted of 189 doctors, 165 nurses, and 255 nonmedical professionals. Participants from France and the United Kingdom reported experiencing severe/extremely severe depression, anxiety, and stress more often compared to those from the other countries. Nonmedical professionals had significantly higher scores for depression and anxiety. Among medical professionals, no significant link was reported between direct contact with patients with COVID-19 at work and anxiety, depression, or stress. "Uncertainty about when the epidemic will be under control" caused the most amount of stress for health care professionals while "taking protective measures" was the most frequently used coping strategy among all participants. CONCLUSIONS COVID-19 poses a major challenge to the mental health of working professionals as a considerable proportion of our participants showed high values for depression, anxiety, and stress. Even though medical professionals exhibited less mental stress than nonmedical professionals, sufficient help should be offered to all occupational groups with an emphasis on effective coping strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svenja Hummel
- Department of General Internal and Psychosomatic Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Neele Oetjen
- Department of General Internal and Psychosomatic Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Junfeng Du
- Department of General Internal and Psychosomatic Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Liyuan Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Elisabetta Posenato
- Department of General Internal and Psychosomatic Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | | | - Oscar Ribeiro
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research, Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Vincenza Frisardi
- Geriatric and NeuroRehabilitation Department, AUSL-IRCCS Reggio Emilia, Emilia, Italy
| | - Louise Hopper
- School of Psychology, Faculty of Science and Health, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | | | | | - Gottfried Rudofsky
- Clinic for endocrinology and metabolic disorders, Kantonspital Olten, Olten, Switzerland
| | - Steffi Weidt
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ali Zafar
- Department of General Internal and Psychosomatic Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nadine Gronewold
- Department of General Internal and Psychosomatic Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gwendolyn Mayer
- Department of General Internal and Psychosomatic Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jobst-Hendrik Schultz
- Department of General Internal and Psychosomatic Medicine, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
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Zhou Y, Yang WFZ, Ma Y, Wu Q, Yang D, Liu T, Wu X. Doctor-Patient Relationship in the Eyes of Medical Professionals in China During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:768089. [PMID: 34777069 PMCID: PMC8580878 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.768089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Doctor-patient relationship (DPR) is very important for patient outcomes, especially during a public health emergency like the COVID-19 pandemic. However, few studies have evaluated DPR and related sentiments from medical professionals' perspectives. Thus, the aim of the study is to provide a better understanding of DPR from medical professionals' perspectives during the COVID-19 pandemic in China. Methods: A total of 979 medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, technicians, and other workers have completed a series of questionnaires to evaluate their attitudes toward DPR, trust, violence against doctors, factors that affected and improved DPR, and the importance of these factors on DPR. Analyses of variances (ANOVA) and linear regressions were used to analyze the effects of the pandemic, demographic variables, and various elements on DPR. Results: One-way ANOVA revealed a significant effect of education on recent DPR [F (2, 976) = 6.17, p < 0.001 and trust at F (2, 976) = 9.54, p < 0.001], indicating that individuals with higher level of education (bachelor's degree, Master's degree and above) showed poorer recent DPR and lower level of trust. The level of hospital also showed a significant effect on trust [F (5, 973) = 3.79, p = 0.0021]. Cochran's Q test revealed a significant difference in factors that affected [Q(11) = 3,997.83, p < 0.001] and improved [Q(8) = 3,304.53, p < 0.001] DPR. Backward stepwise linear regressions revealed predictors for changes during [F (9, 969) = 21.17, p < 0.001, R 2 = 0.16], shortly after [F (7, 971) = 54.98, p < 0.001, R 2 = 0.28], and long after [F (10, 968) = 37.83, p < 0.001, R 2 = 0.29] the pandemic. Conclusions: Medical professionals' perceptions of DPR is important as they provide basis for the improvement in working environment of medical professionals and hospital visiting experience of patients, as well as healthcare policy making and preparation for future public health emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Zhou
- Department of Psychiatry, Hunan Brain Hospital (Second People's Hospital of Hunan Province), Changsha, China.,Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Winson Fu Zun Yang
- Department of Psychological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Yuejiao Ma
- Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qiuxia Wu
- Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Dong Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, Hunan Brain Hospital (Second People's Hospital of Hunan Province), Changsha, China
| | - Tieqiao Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaoming Wu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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