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Rao S, Dimitropoulos G, Jardine R, Quickstad J, Satam L, Qureshi M, Bui T, Todorova AA, Tumaneng Y, Suthakaran A, Dalley K, Smith S, Patten SB. Primus Inter PARES: First among equals-practical strategies for young adult PAtient RESearch partners (PARES) by young adult PARES. RESEARCH INVOLVEMENT AND ENGAGEMENT 2024; 10:45. [PMID: 38720386 PMCID: PMC11077772 DOI: 10.1186/s40900-024-00576-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This manuscript is coauthored by 15 young adult Patient RESearch partners (PARES) with lived and living mental health experiences and three institutional researchers across Canada involved in a patient-oriented research (POR) study called the HEARTS Study: Helping Enable Access and Remove Barriers To Support for Young Adults with Mental Health-Related Disabilities. We share our reflections, experiences and lessons learned as we grapple with the field of POR for its lack of clarity, hierarchical structures, internalized ableism, and accessibility challenges, among others. To mitigate the difficulties of POR, we started by laying the groundwork for equality by embracing the principle of Primus Inter Pares: First Among Equals as the foundation of our approach. In this way, we began with what we know for certain: the inherent worth and dignity of young adults as equal partners, recognizing their expertise, worldviews, creativity, and capacity to contribute meaningfully and intentionally to the research that affects their lives and futures. MAIN BODY The manuscript underscores the need to reconceptualize meaningful engagement in POR, advocating a shift from traditional, biased paradigms that fail to address the complexities faced by young adults with mental illness. It introduces what we have termed Adaptive and Differential Engagement, underscoring the necessity of tailoring participation to individual preferences and circumstances alongside a Tripartite Compensation model that promotes fair and holistic remuneration in research collaborations. Then we discuss the approaches we have conceptualized, such as Equitable Dialogue, Trust Architecture, Community Continuum, Unity in Diversity, Shared Stewardship, and Agile Frameworks that collectively aim to overcome barriers like language intimidation, power imbalances, framework fatigue, consultation burnout, trust deficits, and systemic discrimination and exclusion. The manuscript does not seek to prescribe any universal or standardized solutions; in fact, it seeks the opposite. Instead, it offers a thoughtful and transparent contribution to the POR canon, providing resources for young adults eager to engage in research and institutional researchers aspiring to collaborate with them. CONCLUSION This manuscript is a product of our collective learning and critical self-evaluation. By integrating theoretical insights with practical strategies, we present a justice-oriented blueprint for an inclusive and egalitarian approach to POR. We advocate for applications of POR that are responsive to the individualized contexts of young adult PARES, ensuring their perspectives are central to the research with the resources to take the lead should they choose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandy Rao
- Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
- Mental Health Accessibility and Policy Solutions Lab, Mississauga, ON, Canada.
| | - Gina Dimitropoulos
- Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Rae Jardine
- Mental Health Accessibility and Policy Solutions Lab, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - Julien Quickstad
- Mental Health Accessibility and Policy Solutions Lab, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - Laetitia Satam
- Mental Health Accessibility and Policy Solutions Lab, Mississauga, ON, Canada
- University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Mohammad Qureshi
- Mental Health Accessibility and Policy Solutions Lab, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - Thyra Bui
- Mental Health Accessibility and Policy Solutions Lab, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - Antoaneta Alexandrova Todorova
- Mental Health Accessibility and Policy Solutions Lab, Mississauga, ON, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ysabelle Tumaneng
- Mental Health Accessibility and Policy Solutions Lab, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - Abitha Suthakaran
- Mental Health Accessibility and Policy Solutions Lab, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - Kaiden Dalley
- Mental Health Accessibility and Policy Solutions Lab, Mississauga, ON, Canada
| | - Stacie Smith
- Mental Health Accessibility and Policy Solutions Lab, Mississauga, ON, Canada
- Faculty of Education, Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Scott B Patten
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
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Rao S, Dimitropoulos G, Williams JVA, Sharifi V, Fahim M, Munir A, Bulloch AGM, Patten SB. Associations between negative COVID-19 experiences and symptoms of anxiety and depression: a study based on a representative Canadian national sample. Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can 2024; 44:56-65. [PMID: 38353940 PMCID: PMC11013027 DOI: 10.24095/hpcdp.44.2.03] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Amid the widespread impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a notable increase in symptoms of anxiety and depression has become a pressing concern. This study examined the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms in Canada from September to December 2020, assessing demographic and socioeconomic influences, as well as the potential role of COVID-19 diagnoses and related negative experiences. METHODS Data were drawn from the Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health by Statistics Canada, which used a two-stage sample design to gather responses from 14 689 adults across ten provinces and three territorial capitals, excluding less than 2% of the population. Data were collected through self-administered electronic questionnaires or phone interviews. Analytical techniques, such as frequencies, cross-tabulation and logistic regression, were used to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms, the demographic characteristics of Canadians with increased anxiety and depression symptoms and the association of these symptoms with COVID-19 diagnoses and negative experiences during the pandemic. RESULTS The study found that 14.62% (95% CI: 13.72%-15.51%) of respondents exhibited symptoms of depression, while 12.89% (95% CI: 12.04%-13.74%) reported anxiety symptoms. No clear differences in symptom prevalence were observed between those infected by COVID-19, or those close to someone infected, compared to those without these experiences. However, there were strong associations between traditional risk factors for depressive and anxiety symptoms and negative experiences during the pandemic, such as physical health problems, loneliness and personal relationship challenges in the household. CONCLUSION This study provides insight into the relationship between COVID-19 and Canadians' mental health, demonstrating an increased prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms associated with COVID-19-related adversities and common prepandemic determinants of these symptoms. The findings suggest that mental health during the pandemic was primarily shaped by traditional determinants of depression and anxiety symptoms and also by negative experiences during the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandy Rao
- Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Gina Dimitropoulos
- Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jeanne V A Williams
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Vandad Sharifi
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mina Fahim
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Amlish Munir
- University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Andrew G M Bulloch
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Scott B Patten
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Hao F, Zhang Z, Lau SSS, Chiang SK, Zhou D, Tan W, Tang X, Ho R. The emergence of COVID-19 over-concern immediately after the cancelation of the measures adopted by the dynamic zero-COVID policy in China. Front Public Health 2024; 11:1319906. [PMID: 38249361 PMCID: PMC10796473 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1319906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background This study aimed to report the prevalence of COVID-19 over-concern and its associated factors after the relaxation of the health-protective measures in China. Methods A team of seven experts in psychiatry and psychology specializing in COVID-19 mental health research from China, Hong Kong, and overseas reached a consensus on the diagnostic criteria for COVID-19 over-concern. Individuals had to meet at least five of the following criteria: (1) at least five physical symptoms; (2) stocking up at least five items related to protecting oneself during the COVID-19 pandemic; (3) obsessive-compulsive symptoms related to the COVID-19 pandemic; (4) illness anxiety related to the COVID-19 pandemic; (5) post-traumatic stress symptoms; (6) depression; (7) anxiety; (8) stress and (9) insomnia. An online survey using snowball sampling collected data on demographics, medical history, views on COVID-19 policies, and symptoms of COVID-19 over-concern. Multivariate linear regression was performed using significant variables from the previous regressions as independent variables against the presence of COVID-19 over-concern as the dependent variable. Breush-Pagan test was used to assess each regression model for heteroskedasticity of residuals. Results 1,332 respondents from 31 regions in China participated in the study for 2 weeks from December 25 to 27, 2022, after major changes in the zero-COVID policy. After canceling measures associated with the dynamic zero-COVID policy, 21.2% of respondents fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for COVID-19 over-concern. Factors significantly associated with COVID-19 over-concern were poor self-rated health status (β = 0.07, p < 0.001), concerns about family members getting COVID-19 (β = 0.06, p < 0.001), perceived usefulness of COVID-19 vaccine (β = 0.03, p = 0.012), impact on incomes, employment and studies (β = 0.045, p < 0.001) and impact on families (β = 0.03, p = 0.01). Conclusion After removing measures associated with the dynamic zero-COVID policy in China, approximately one-fifth of respondents met the diagnostic criteria for COVID-19 over-concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengyi Hao
- Sleep Medicine Center, Mental Health Center, Translational Neuroscience Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Faculty of Education, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, China
| | - Zhisong Zhang
- Faculty of Education, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, China
| | - Sam S. S. Lau
- Research Centre for Environment and Human Health, School of Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Multidisciplinary Research Centre, School of Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
- College of International Education, School of Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Institute of Bioresource and Agriculture, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Soon-Kiat Chiang
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Dewen Zhou
- Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wanqiu Tan
- National University of Singapore (Chongqing) Research Institute, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiangdong Tang
- Sleep Medicine Center, Mental Health Center, Translational Neuroscience Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Roger Ho
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Institute for Health Innovation and Technology (iHealthtech), National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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