Assessment of potential risk factors for coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) among health care workers

Parity of esteem: A global COVID-19 vaccination approach for people with mental illnesses, based on facts from 34 countries; recommendations and solutions

Background

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has detrimental effects on physical and mental health. Patients with severe mental illness are at higher risk of contracting the virus due to social determinants of health. Vulnerable populations include the elderly, people with pre-existing conditions, and those exposed to SARS-CoV-2. Unfortunately, only a few countries have updated vaccination strategies to prioritize patients with mental illnesses. Therefore, we aimed to explore whether individuals with mental disorders are prioritized in vaccine allocation strategies in different world regions. They are often neglected in policymaking but are highly vulnerable to the threatening complications of COVID-19.

Methods

A questionnaire was developed to record details regarding COVID-19 vaccination and prioritizations for groups of persons with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), mental disorders, and substance use disorders (SUDs). NCDs were defined according to the WHO as chronic diseases that are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental, and behavioral factors such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, respiratory diseases, and diabetes.

Results

Most countries surveyed (80%) reported healthcare delivery via a nationalized health service. It was found that 82% of the countries had set up advisory groups, but only 26% included a mental health professional. Most frequently, malignancy (68%) was prioritized followed by diabetes type 2 (62%) and type 1 (59%). Only nine countries (26%) prioritized mental health conditions.

Conclusion

The spread of the coronavirus has exposed both the strengths and flaws of our healthcare systems. The most vulnerable groups suffered the most and were hit first and faced most challenges. These findings raise awareness that patients with mental illnesses have been overlooked in immunization campaigns. The range of their mortality, morbidity, and quality of life could have widened due to this delay.

Quarantine experience of healthcare workers in close contact with COVID-19 patients in China: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

This study investigated the experiences of front-line healthcare workers who had been in close contact with COVID-19 patients and had been quarantined in order to provide guidance on quarantine measures with more humanistic care when dealing with future public health emergencies.

METHODS

We conducted a qualitative study using semistructured, qualitative, in-depth interviews between April and June 2022. The interviews were recorded and transcribed, followed by a thematic analysis. The study followed the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research.

RESULTS

This study identified the following four themes: (1) personal psychological changes, (2) increased reflection on life and work during quarantine, (3) the important role of others' support and (4) different types of demands during quarantine and isolation. Each theme is supported by several subthemes that further illustrate the participants' experiences.

CONCLUSIONS

Quarantine of close contacts is necessary to prevent outbreaks. Front-line doctors and nurses are at a greater risk of COVID-19 infection than others. The results showed the psychological reactions of ordinary close contacts, and the unique feelings and experiences of doctors and nurses during the epidemic. Therefore, future research should cooperate with multiple departments to assess their needs, provide them with individualised care and love and give them incentives in order to reduce their psychological burden, improve their quality of life and allow them to engage in healthcare with a healthy mind.

Risk categorization and outcomes among healthcare workers exposed to COVID-19: A cohort study from a Thai tertiary-care center

BACKGROUND

A risk categorization tool for healthcare workers (HCWs) exposed to COVID-19 is crucial for preventing COVID-19 transmission and requires validation and modification according to local context.

METHODS

From January to December 2021, a prospective cohort study was conducted among Thai HCWs to evaluate the performance of the specifically-created risk categorization tool, which classified HCWs into low-risk (LR), intermediate-risk (IR), and high-risk (HR) groups based on types of activities, duration of exposure, and protective methods used during exposure. Subsequent measures were determined for the HCWs based on the risk categories.

RESULTS

1891 HCWs were included; 52%, 25% and 23% were LR, IR, and HR, respectively. COVID-19 was diagnosed in 1.3%, 5.1% and 27.3% of LR, IR and HR HCWs, respectively (P <0.001). Independent factors associated with COVID-19 were household or community exposure [adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 1588.68; P <0.001), being HR (aOR, 11.94; P <0.001), working at outpatient departments (aOR, 2.54; P <0.001), and no history of COVID-19 vaccination (aOR, 2.05; P = 0.01). The monthly rates of COVID-19 among LR, IR, and HR HCWs significantly decreased after the incremental rate of full vaccination. In-hospital transmission between HCWs occurred in 8% and was mainly due to eating at the same table.

CONCLUSION

The study risk categorization tool can differentiate risks of COVID-19 among the HCWs. Prevention of COVID-19 should be focused on HCWs with the identified risk factors and behaviors associated with COVID-19 development and encouraging receipt of full vaccination.

An Investigation into the Relation of Coping Skills with Mental Health and Quality of Life in Family Members of Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic

OBJECTIVES

During the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, health care workers, including nurses and their family members, experienced various psychological problems. Coping skills may help them deal with the current challenge and maintain their mental health and improve their quality of life. Therefore, this study investigated the relation of coping skills with mental health and quality of life of the nurses' family members during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted on the family members of the nurses working at Hajar Hospital of Shahrekord dedicated to admission and hospitalization of COVID-19 infected patients using a census sampling method in 2020. Participation in this study was voluntary and finally 220 persons were included in this study. To prevent the spread of COVID-19 through respiratory droplets or contact, a weblog was created using blogging software that contained questionnaires for collecting data on demographic information, mental health (PHQ-9), coping skills (coping responses inventory [CRI], Billings & Moos), and quality of life (SF-36). The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tests in SPSS software version 22 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY).

RESULTS

Of the 220 participants in this study, 101 participants were male and 119 were female. The mean age of the subjects was 35.78 years, and 56.4% of them had an academic education level. The Pearson correlation analysis showed a significant relationship between coping skills and mental health, quality-of-life items, total quality-of-life score, and demographic variables of participants (except education) (P < 0.05). This was a direct relationship in such a way that as the score of coping skills increases, so does the score of mental health and quality of life. Based on the results of regression analysis, the predictive power of mental health, coping skills, and education level was obtained to be 0.634. The coping skill variable was the strongest predictor (ß = 0.467), and after that, the mental health variable (ß = 0.421) had the highest predictive power.

CONCLUSION

The obtained results showed that coping skill is the association between psychological health and quality of life such that the coping skill has a significant direct effect on psychological health and quality of life. The results also showed that, at the time of crisis, further attention should be paid to coping skills to develop and improve the quality of life and psychological health.