COVID-19: Knowledge, anxiety, academic concerns and preventative behaviours among Australian and Indian undergraduate nursing students: A cross-sectional study

Roles of self-efficacy and self-control in the association between relative deprivation and psychological well-being among undergraduate students during COVID-19 pandemic

Prior research show that relative deprivation can decrease individuals' psychological well-being. However, the underlying mechanism between relative deprivation and psychological well-being remains unclear. To explore the mediating effects of self-efficacy and self-control on the relationship between relative deprivation and psychological well-being. 426 undergraduate students submitted the online survey that assessed their psychological well-being, relative deprivation, self-efficacy and self-control. Students experienced high levels of psychological well-being, moderate to high levels of relative deprivation and moderate levels of self-efficacy and self-control. Parallel mediators of self-efficacy and self-control on the relationship between relative deprivation and psychological well-being were significant (each p < 0.01). This study explores the underlying mechanism between relative deprivation and psychological well-being by identifying the parallel mediators of self-efficacy and self-control. Effective interventions should be taken to alleviate students' relative deprivation and promote their self-efficacy, self-control and psychological well-being during future pandemics.

Academic resilience of nursing students during COVID-19: An analysis using machine learning methods

AIM

This cross-sectional study investigates the factors that contribute to academic resilience among nursing students during COVID-19 pandemic.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

METHODS

A survey was conducted in a general hospital between November and December 2022. The Nursing Student Academic Resilience Inventory (NSARI) model was used to assess the academic resilience of 96 nursing students. The Boruta method was then used to identify the core factors influencing overall academic resilience, and rough set analysis was used to analyse the behavioural patterns associated with these factors.

RESULTS

Attributes were categorised into three importance levels. Three statistically significant attributes were identified ("I earn my patient's trust by making suitable communication," "I receive support from my instructors," and "I try to endure academic hardship") based on comparison with shadow attributes. The rough set analysis showed nine main behavioural patterns. Random forest, support vector machines, and backpropagation artificial neural networks were used to test the performance of the model, with accuracies ranging from 73.0% to 76.9%.

CONCLUSION

Our results provide possible strategies for improving academic resilience and competence of nursing students.

Sleep Disturbances in Health Professional Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Concept Analysis

AIM

The aim is to delineate the concept of sleep disturbances in health professional students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

DESIGN

A concept analysis was conducted.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted for relevant articles published and performed from inception to July 5, 2024. Electronic databases searched included PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Embase and Web of Science. Rodgers' method of evolutionary concept analysis was used.

RESULTS

A total of 50 pertinent articles were included in our analysis. Utilising inductive thematic analysis, this study identified attributes, antecedents and consequences of sleep disturbances. Important attributes included insomnia, disrupted sleep patterns, altered sleep duration/nocturnal sleep duration and poor sleep quality. Antecedents encompassed factors such as gender, age/grade levels, physical activity, screen time of digital production, mental health issues, COVID-19-related stressors, financial strain and academic stress. Consequences included both mental and physical health implications. By addressing sleep disturbances and promoting better sleep health among students, we can enhance their learning and performance, which could translate to improved patient care outcomes. Additionally, understanding and mitigating sleep disturbances can contribute to the development of a more resilient and effective health care workforce, capable of providing high-quality care even during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

No patient or public contribution.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of the training on "Home care of COVID-19 positive/suspicious patients" given to nursing students: A quasi-experimental study

BACKGROUND

This study aims to evaluate the effects of education on home care of infected or suspected COVID-19 patients on the levels of knowledge, anxiety, and awareness of nursing students in Turkey.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study is in quasi-experimental design. A sample of 158 volunteer students studying nursing at a private university in Turkey was formed. Data were collected using, descriptive information form, "Coronavirus Anxiety Scale," "COVID-19 Awareness Scale," and the "Knowledge of COVID-19 Home Care Test." Pre-test was performed before the participants received education. Post-test was performed seven days after the intervention. SPSS version 25.0 was used for data analysis. "TREND checklist" was used for quasi-experimental/non-randomized evaluations to report the findings of the study.

RESULTS

Anxiety levels decreased and the levels of awareness and knowledge on COVID-19 increased after receiving education on home care of infected or suspected COVID-19 patients (p < 0.001), indicating the effectiveness of the education. Education on home care of infected or suspected COVID-19 patients was an effective method to reduce anxiety and increase knowledge and awareness in nursing students.

CONCLUSIONS

To contribute to community health, home care training can be given to nursing students, other people receiving home care, or providing home care to COVID-19 patients, infected or suspected COVID-19 patients.

Integrative Review of Sources of Baccalaureate Nursing Students' Clinical Practice Anxiety

BACKGROUND

Nursing education research and anecdotal literature has revealed that undergraduate nursing students report anxiety related to clinical practice. Most published studies have focused on the effectiveness of interventions to reduce anxiety; only a few identify specific sources of clinical practice anxiety.

METHOD

We conducted an integrative literature review to understand the sources of nursing students' practice-related anxiety and how this anxiety has been measured.

RESULTS

We classified sources of practice-related anxiety into nine themes grouped into five categories: consequences of making a mistake; fear of the unknown; incivility of staff members or teachers; threat to self-concept, image, or health; and theory-practice gap. Practice-related anxiety was measured quantitatively with various surveys and qualitatively using semistructured individual or group interviews and students' journal entries.

CONCLUSION

Different sources of practice-related anxiety likely require distinct interventions. Further research is recommended to identify effective interventions to reduce anxiety related to each of the identified themes. [J Nurs Educ. 2024;63(6):349-355.].

PTSD prevalence and factors in intern nursing students after COVID-19 full liberalization in China: a cross-sectional study

Objective

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its influencing factors among intern nursing students after the full liberalization of the COVID-19 prevention and control policy in China.

Methods

Participants completed the online survey from January 14 to January 19, 2023. A demographic questionnaire, COVID-19 and internship-related questionnaire, the Fear of COVID-19 scale, the Primary Care PTSD Screen, and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale were used to conduct the online survey.

Results

Of 438 participants, 88.4% tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 6 months. The prevalence of fear, resilience, and PTSD was 16.9, 15.5, and 11.2%, respectively. Direct care of COVID patients in hospital (OR = 2.084, 95%CI 1.034 ~ 4.202), the experience of occupational exposure (OR = 2.856, 95%CI 1.436 ~ 5.681), working with an experienced team (OR = 2.120, 95%CI 1.070 ~ 4.198), and fear COVID-19 (OR = 8.269, 95%CI 4.150 ~ 16.479) were significantly and positively associated with PTSD in nursing internship students.

Conclusion

After COVID-19 full liberalization in China, intern nursing students still experienced pandemic-related mental distress, which can bring PTSD. Adequate support and counseling should be provided, as needed, to intern nursing students who are about to enter the workforce and have experienced severe PTSD symptoms related to COVID-19. Our findings indicated that should understand the importance of screening, formulate intervention strategies and preventive measures to address psychosocial problems, and provide coping skills training to intern nursing students.

Intern nursing students' experiences in the COVID-19 vaccination unit and views on the COVID-19 vaccine: A phenomenological qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Improving acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine among nursing students is an important strategy for both preventing infection and building public confidence in the vaccine.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to describe the views of intern nursing students on the COVID-19 vaccine and to evaluate their experiences in the COVID-19 vaccination unit.

METHODS

This was a phenomenological qualitative study with a descriptive design. The 46 intern nursing students included in this study were all trained in the COVID-19 vaccination unit. The data was collected at focus group interviews conducted during June 2021 and October 2021.

RESULTS

The mean age of intern nursing students was 22.78±0.91. From the focus group interviews, two themes were identified regarding the views of intern nursing students on the COVID-19 vaccine and their experiences in the COVID-19 vaccination unit: Theme 1. Positive views; Theme 2. Negative views. Intern nursing students described that they trust the COVID-19 vaccine and believe in its protection. Intern nursing students who performed their clinical practices in COVID-19 vaccination unit stated that they realized their responsibilities toward patients and the community.

CONCLUSIONS

From the INSs' point of view, confidence in the vaccine, responsibility towards patients, their families and the community, and VU practice experience, the health risk associated with COVID-19 positively affected their decision to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The participation of intern nursing students in clinical practice during the pandemic influenced both intern nursing students and population in terms of the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines.

Unveiling final-year students and new graduates' concerns, preparedness, and learning experiences during the pandemic in Qatar: A cross-sectional survey

Background

The emergence of COVID-19 interrupted education worldwide and educational institutions were forced to switch to an online learning (E-learning) environment.

Objectives

To explore the perceived educational experiences, worries, and preparedness to enter clinical practice among final-year nursing students and new graduate nurses after studying during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design

A cross-sectional survey design.

Setting

and participants: An online survey of final-year undergraduate bachelor of nursing students at a single university in Qatar and new graduates across 14 health facilities in Qatar was undertaken between May 2022 and July 2022.

Methods

Participant demographics, experiences of E-learning and perceptions of readiness for practice were collected using validated instruments and open-ended questions. Descriptive statistics and thematic exploration were used to analyze the data.

Results

Fifty-nine final-year students and 23 new graduates with an average age of 23.95 years (SD = 3.89) responded to the survey. Face-to-face clinical placement learning was preferred by 50 % of students and 66.1 % of graduates. During COVID-19, the majority of the participants indicated that strategies like practice kits and online simulations were implemented. While 61 % of new graduates felt well-prepared in their nursing skills, and 87 % felt confident, less than half of the students still in their final year of education felt prepared or confident. Increased stress and a perceived impact on education quality were reported due to changes in learning modalities. Despite these challenges, 81.1 % of students and 95.7 % of graduates felt they had developed sufficient professional values, with most looking forward to becoming registered nurses. The qualitative themes that emerged related to 1) adjusting to online learning, 2) experiencing restrictions in clinical learning skills, 3) feeling less confident and 4) experiencing increased stress.

Conclusions

Despite experiencing emotional and educational challenges, the participants in this study felt that their education prepared them for clinical practice. Innovative strategies and unique educational experiences used by educators enhanced participants' clinical skills and readiness for practice.

The effect of COVID-19 on fear, anxiety, and sleep in nursing students

PURPOSE

This research was conducted to determine the effect of COVID-19 on fear, anxiety, and sleep in nursing students.

METHODS

The sample of the study consisted of 1222 students in the 2019-2020 academic year who were members of the student nurses association. The data were collected online via Google Form between June and August 2020 using the student information form containing socio-demographic characteristics, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item (GAD-7) Scale, the fear of COVID-19 scale, and the Bergen Insomnia Scale.

RESULTS

In our study, the mean score of the fear of COVID-19 scale of nursing students was 18.23 ± 6.31, and it was determined that 51.8% had sleep problems and 70.9% had anxiety (39.9% mild, 20.8% moderate, and 10.2% severe). In simple linear regression analysis, the fear of COVID-19 was found to be statistically significant and positively correlated with anxiety (β: 0.383, p = 0.001), and the fear of COVID-19 (β: 0.120, p = 0.001) and anxiety (β: 0.346, p = 0.001) was found to be statistically significant and positively correlated with sleep.

CONCLUSION

In our study, there is a relationship between nursing students' fear of COVID-19 and anxiety and sleep quality. Accordingly, it is recommended to train students in effective methods for coping with the fear of COVID-19, and to take initiatives to reduce related anxiety and sleep problems.

Relationship between academic success, distance education learning environments, and its related factors among medical sciences students: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Academic success is among the most important criteria for determining students' competence. Hence, one of the concerns of education system researchers has always been investigating its associated factors. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationship between academic success, distance education learning environments, and its related factors among Shahroud University of Medical Sciences students.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 208 medical sciences students who completed at least two online and two in-person academic semesters. Participants were selected through the convenience sampling method and filled out three questionnaires, including the demographic information form, the Academic Success Inventory for College Students, and the Distance Education Learning Environments Survey. Finally, the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential tests (t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression).

RESULTS

In this study, students reported moderate levels of academic success (107.81 ± 10.72). Moreover, they assessed their distance education learning environment as the positive points were more than the negative points (74.10 ± 14.89). Distance education learning environment (β = 0.233 and P < 0.001) and field satisfaction (β = 9.797 and P = 0.001) were also mentioned as factors related to students' academic success.

CONCLUSION

According to the present results, it is suggested to improve the learning environment of distance education and increase students' satisfaction to enhance their academic outcomes such as academic success.

Self-compassion among Undergraduate Nursing Students at a State University in Indonesia during the COVID-19 Pandemic

OBJECTIVE

To determine the level of self-compassion and investigate the relationships between sociodemographic variables and self-compassion among undergraduate nursing students at a state university in Indonesia during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

METHODS

This study used a cross-sectional design. Samples were selected using a proportionate stratified random sampling technique (n=260). Data were collected using an Indonesian version of the Self-compassion Scale, which consists of 6 subscales: self-kindness, self-judgment, common humanity, isolation, mindfulness, and overidentification. Data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate analysis.

RESULTS

60% of students had moderate self-compassion. Students scored the highest in self-kindness (3,93±1,02) and over-identification (3,58±0,94), indicating that they often tried to love themselves when they felt emotional pain and often get carried away when something upsetting happened. Subsequently, a significant correlation was found between age and self-compassion (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Self-compassion among nursing students should be improved through interventions such as compassion literacy, mindfulness training, and compassion-based experiential techniques.

Disturbances of nursing students in internship during emerging disease COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study

AIM

The aim of the study was to examine the experiences of nursing students in internship during the COVID-19 pandemic.

DESIGN

A qualitative study.

METHODS

Purposeful sampling was conducted among undergraduate nursing students at Tabriz School of Nursing in November 2021. Students participated in 14 in-depth open-ended interviews and stated their experiences and opinions on internships during the COVID epidemic until full data saturation. Data analysis was performed using the conventional content analysis method. This study followed the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR) checklist.

RESULTS

Findings were extracted and classified into five main categories, including a lack of facilities and equipment, psychological disturbances, physical risk, disturbances in education and learning activities and movement to continue clinical learning in the situation.

CONCLUSION

Nursing students in clinical training during the COVID epidemic have experienced physical and mental health issues, as well as educational challenges. During an infectious disease epidemic period, education administrators should adopt appropriate strategies to protect students' health and facilitate their educational and learning activities.

Magnitude of general anxiety disorder among nursing students and its associated factors

Background

University training in nursing together with other student variables can increase the risk of anxiety in students. It is important to assess the student's level of anxiety, which can have repercussions on their training and mental health. There are several validated tools such as the generalized anxiety disorder scale (GAD-7).

Objective

To know which factors are associated with the appearance of anxiety and which protect against it in university nursing students.

Method

A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in which 170 university nursing students from University of Jaén participated. A bivariate and multivariate analysis was performed, calculating odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to determine which factors were associated with a higher score on the GAD-7 questionnaire, and therefore with the presence of anxiety.

Results

In total, 66.5% (113) of the students have suffered an anxiety crisis on some occasion and 48.8% (83) of the students did not carry out activities of any kind to control anxiety and stress. Practicing religious and spiritual beliefs increased the probability of having anxiety compared to those who did not have religious beliefs (aOR = 3.92; 95% CI = 1.09, 14.08), as well as having previously suffered an anxiety crisis (aOR = 5.13; 95% CI = 2.39, 11.04). Protective factors against anxiety appear to be second-year students (aOR = 0.33; 95% CI = 0.16, 0.72) and being deeply satisfied with the teaching staff (aOR = 0.03; 95% CI = 0.01, 0.79).

Discussion/Implications for practice

Knowing the factors that are associated with the appearance of anxiety is necessary to facilitate early detection and care in nursing university students.

Associations between depression, fear of COVID-19 infection and students' self-care measures used during the first wave of the pandemic

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 lockdown resulted in the closure of schools with associated problems. The aim of this study was to determine the associations between depression, fear of contracting COVID-19 infection and the use of self-care measures by college students during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study that collected data from undergraduate and postgraduate college students 18 years and older from 152 countries between June and December 2020. Study participants were recruited through crowdsourcing using various social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, WhatsApp groups and emails to participants in the collaborators' networks. The dependent variables were fear of contracting COVID-19 and depression while the independent variable was students' self-care measures. Multivariable logistic regression models were conducted to assess the associations between the dependent and independent variables.

RESULTS

Of the 2840 respondents, 1305 (46.0%) had fears of contracting COVID-19 and 599 (21.1%) reported depression. The most common self-care measures were phone calls with friends/family (60.1%) and video chat (52.8%). Learning a new skill was significantly associated with higher odds of fear of contracting COVID-19 (AOR = 1.669) and lower odds of having depression (AOR = 0.684). Talking to friends/family through video chat (AOR = 0.809) was significantly associated with lower odds of feeling depressed while spending time with pets (AOR = 1.470) and taking breaks from the news/social media (AOR = 1.242) were significantly associated with higher odds of feeling depressed. Students from lower middle-income countries (AOR = 0.330) had significantly lower odds of feeling depressed than students from low-income countries.

CONCLUSION

Self-care strategies involving social interactions were associated with less depression. Coping strategies with more cognitive demands may significantly reduce the risk of fear of COVID-19. Special attention needs to be given to students in low-income countries who have higher odds of depression during the pandemic than students from other countries.

Perceived Nexus Between Non-Invigilated Summative Assessment and Mental Health Difficulties: A Cross Sectional Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic rapidly led to changes in the mode of teaching, learning and assessments in most tertiary institutions worldwide. Notably, non-invigilated summative assessments became predominant. These changes heightened anxiety and depression, especially among individuals with less resilient coping mechanism. We explored the perceptions and experiences of mental health difficulties of students in tertiary education regarding non-invigilated alternative assessments in comparison to invigilated assessments. A pragmatic, mixed method cross sectional design was conducted online via Qualtrics. Thematic analysis of text was carried out using NVivo 12. In the quantitative analysis, univariable and multivariable ordinal logistic models were used to examine the potential factors for preference among students in higher education. A total of 380 Nursing and Social Science students responded to the survey. Approximately 77% of students perceived non-invigilated assessments to be less stressful compared to invigilated exams. Age, course of study, stage of studies, and number of units enrolled per semester were identified as significant drivers for students' perceived preference for non-invigilated assessments. There was an inverse relationship between the perception of stress associated with invigilated exams and the age of students. For instance, students aged between 18-24 were 5 times more likely to prefer non-invigilated exams compared to those aged 55 or more. Comparatively, students in early stages of studies had higher preference for non-invigilated assessments. However, there was a preference reversal for students enrolled in 2 or less units per semester. Social sciences students were two times more likely to prefer non-invigilated examinations to invigilated examinations compared to nursing students. The findings reinforce the use of alternative assessments in higher education as a mitigating agency to lessen the mental health burden of tertiary students in post COVID-19 era.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10805-023-09472-w.

Is Satisfaction with Online Learning Related to Depression, Anxiety, and Insomnia Symptoms? A Cross-Sectional Study on Medical Undergraduates in Romania

The objective of this study was to investigate online learning satisfaction in a sample of university students and its relationship with depression, anxiety, insomnia, and the average number of hours spent online. A total of 463 medical students were recruited for an online survey conducted from February to March 2022 with the main objective of estimating online learning satisfaction, while secondary outcomes involved assessing the relationship between online learning and depression, anxiety, insomnia, and the average number of hours spent online. A total of 285 participants were female (71.4%) and the mean age was 20.2 years. The results revealed that depression, anxiety, and insomnia are negatively correlated with overall satisfaction with e-learning. The more time students spent online, the greater the overall satisfaction. There are significant differences regarding student perceptions of interactivity in online learning satisfaction outcomes (p < 0.05, η2 partial Eta Squared-0.284). The opportunity to learn via chat-box presented differences in overall satisfaction while pleasant aspects of online learning, such as “no travel” and “economy”, were related to satisfaction. The students revealed that the higher the psychopathology scores, the less satisfied they were with online learning, while a higher number of hours spent online contributed positively to satisfaction.

Being a nursing student during the coronavirus pandemic: a mixed methods study

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic led to major changes in people's lives via protective strategies aimed at limiting the transmission of COVID-19, including social distancing, lockdowns, cancelled or limited leisure activities and tutorials and supervision for students taking place digital. All of these changes may have influenced students' health and quality of life.

AIM

To describe and explore fear of COVID-19 and psychological distress, as well as general health and quality of life, among baccalaureate nursing students at 1 year into the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHOD

We used a mixed method study design, including quantitative data from University of Agder, data that was a part of a national survey of baccalaureate nursing students nearly one year into the pandemic. All the nursing students at the university were invited to take part between 27 January and 28 February 2021. The quantitative survey included 396 (out of total 858) baccalaureate nursing students (response rate: 46%). The quantitative data were collected using well-validated measures of fear of COVID-19, psychological distress, general health and quality of life, and the data were analysed using the ANOVA-tests for continuous data and chi-square tests for categorical data. Qualitative data were gathered from focus group interviews from the same university two-three months later. Five focus group interviews were conducted with a total of 23 students (7 men, 16 women). The qualitative data were analysed using systematic text condensation.

RESULTS

The mean score (standard deviation [SD]) for fear of COVID-19 was 2.32 (0.71), for psychological distress was 1.53 (1.00), for general health was 3.51 (0.96) and for overall quality of life was 6.01 (2.06). In the qualitative data, we identified the overarching theme effect of COVID-19 on students' quality of life and the three main themes; importance of personal relations, physical health challenges and mental health challenges.

CONCLUSION

The COVID-19 pandemic influenced negatively nursing students' quality of life and physical and mental health, and they often felt lonely. However, most of the participants also adapted strategies and resilience factors to cope with the situation. Via the pandemic situation, the students learned additional skills and mental mindsets that may be useful in their future professional lives.

Resilience as a protective factor on the quality of life (QoL) of Indian nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the quality of life of individuals around the world, including health care professionals. There has been little research that examines the role of resilience concerning the impact of COVID-19 on the quality of life of nursing students. This study aimed to determine how resilience influenced the quality of life among nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

A cross-sectional research design was adopted for this study. A total of two hundred sixty-eight nursing students from three universities, South India responded in the web-based survey. Data was collected using self-reported questionnaires in June 2021.

RESULTS

Our findings revealed that the participants' resilience was normal, which had a moderate impact on the quality of life of nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 impact on QoL significantly differed with year of education (F = 3.087; p < 0.02) and university (F = 6.697, p < 0.001). Bivariate analysis revealed significant inverse relationships between the impact of COVID-19 on quality of life with resilience (r = -0.259; p < 0.001) and perceived knowledge on COVID-19(r = -0.168; p < 0.006).

CONCLUSION

In our study, we found that resilience had a moderate impact on the quality of life of nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, it is important to promote students' resilience and improve their quality of life during stressful situations.

Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on life and learning experiences of indigenous and non-Indigenous university and college students in Ontario, Canada: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

The years people spend attending university or college are often filled with transition and life change. Younger students often move into their adult identity by working through challenges and encountering new social experiences. These transitions and stresses have been impacted significantly by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to dramatic change in the post-secondary experience, particularly in the pandemic's early months when colleges and universities were closed to in person teaching. The goal of this study was to identify how COVID-19 has specifically impacted the postsecondary student population in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

METHODS

The Cost of COVID is a mixed methods study exploring the social and emotional impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on families, youth, and urban Indigenous People. The present analysis was completed using a subset of qualitative data including Spryng.io micronarrative stories from students in college and university, as well as in-depth interviews from service providers providing services to students. A double-coded phenomenological approach was used to collect and analyze data to explore and identify themes expressed by postsecondary students and service providers who worked with postsecondary students.

RESULTS

Twenty-six micronarratives and seven in-depth interviews were identified that were specifically relevant to the post-secondary student experience. From this data, five prominent themes arose. Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the use of technology was important to the post secondary experience. The pandemic has substantial educational impact on students, in what they chose to learn, how it was taught, and experiences to which they were exposed. Health and wellbeing, physical, psychological and emotional, were impacted. Significant impacts were felt on family, community, and connectedness aspects. Finally, the pandemic had important financial impacts on students which affected their learning and their experience of the pandemic. Impacts did differ for Indigenous students, with many of the traditional cultural supports and benefits of spaces of higher education no longer being available.

CONCLUSION

Our study highlights important impacts of the pandemic on students of higher education that may have significant individual and societal implications going forward. Both postsecondary institutions and society at large need to attend to these impacts, in order to preserve the wellbeing of graduates, the Canadian labor market, and to ensure that the pandemic does not further exacerbate existing inequalities in post-secondary education in Canada.

Nursing students' achievement emotions in association with clinical practicums and alternative learning

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to identify and compare nursing students' achievement emotions associated with clinical practicums and alternative learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

This cross-sectional, descriptive study enrolled 236 nursing students. Participants completed a web-based, self-administered survey regarding achievement emotions. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to calculate mean differences in achievement emotions associated with clinical practicums and alternative learning.

RESULTS

Nursing students who undertook e-learning reported higher negative achievement emotions than those who experienced other alternative learning modalities. Higher achievement emotions were associated with clinical practicums than with alternative learning. The most frequently reported negative emotions were anxiety associated with clinical practicums and boredom with alternative learning.

CONCLUSIONS

Nurse educators should design and implement supportive clinical learning experiences to engender productive achievement emotions. Implications for an international audience: Nurse educators should play roles in providing well-designed and supportive clinical learning environments to help nursing students regulate achievement emotions.

Factors associated with mental health among undergraduate nursing students early in the COVID-19 pandemic: an integrative review

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to synthesize research findings identifying factors associated with mental health in undergraduate nursing students early in the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

Seven electronic databases were searched using key terms and subject headings. JBI Critical Appraisal Checklists were used to evaluate research report quality.

RESULTS

Among 23 reports (19 quantitative and four qualitative) meeting inclusion criteria, negative emotional responses to COVID-19 (fear of infection, perceived risk, uncertainty about care/future), negative behavioral responses to COVID-19 (eating behaviors, problematic internet use, insomnia), and negative coping strategies were associated with more adverse mental health symptoms. Conversely, social support, professional identity, preventive behaviors, sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE), and positive coping strategies were related to fewer symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

During a pandemic, undergraduate nursing students require educational support to promote their ability to avoid severe mental health disorders. Also, educators should strengthen students' professional identity, provide infection prevention knowledge and skills, and supply sufficient PPE.

Experiences of first year undergraduate nursing students using Instagram in their clinical practicum during COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Social media provides us with easy access to information. For students, it is an additional learning resource used in different types of theoretical and practical teaching methodologies.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this paper was to describe the perspective of undergraduate nursing students on the use of Instagram during their clinical practicums in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

DESIGN

A qualitative descriptive and exploratory study based on an interpretative framework.

SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS

First-year undergraduate nursing students at the Universidad Europea de Madrid were included.

METHODS

In-depth interviews and researchers' field notes were used to collect the data. Purposive sampling and inductive thematic analysis were applied. During the interviews, themes such as accompaniment during practicums or training opportunities were identified.

RESULTS

The use of Instagram helped students to feel closer to professors, identifying it as an opportunity to remedy the possible lack of connection between theory and practice. Moreover, Instagram helped them build an image of nursing in clinical practicum environments. By using Instagram, undergraduate nursing students were able to better integrate and apply the knowledge acquired at university during their clinical practicums in hospitals.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results can be applied to future studies on the use of social media platforms as teaching tools in clinical practicum settings and to observe the evolution of the image and role of nursing and its relationship with social media.

Health as expanding consciousness: Change of psychological situation in nursing students

AIM

This study aims to explore the mind of Chinese nursing students transitioning to online education in the pandemic using health as expanding consciousness (HEC) as methodology.

DESIGN

A qualitative, descriptive study based on interviews.

METHODS

This qualitative study was conducted from September to November 2021 by students in the Guangzhou university of Chinese medicine. Thirteen participants were recruited using purposive sampling. A questionnaire containing two sections with demographic information, the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) and the Connor-Davidson resilience scale (CD-RISC)-10 was collected to explore the health of participants.

RESULTS

A total of 13 participants were enrolled in the study (69% female). Students ranged in age between 19 and 24 years and the mean age was 22 years. All students lived with their families. Five participants (38%) had a master's degree in nursing, three (23%) were in fourth year of college, four (30%) were in third year of college and one (7%) was in their second year of college respectively. More than half of the participants had high levels of mental toughness and self-efficacy. Four generic categories were identified form a unitary-transformative paradigm perspective. The respondents reported three health pattern phases: Curriculum Transformation, Curriculum adaptation and Curriculum expansion.

CONCLUSION

This research backs up Newman's hypothesis, and supports the theoretical framework. HEC explains well the psychology of nursing students during the epidemic. More research is needed in the future to develop comprehensive, targeted emotional regulation therapies for nursing students.

Pre-registration nursing students' anxiety and academic concerns after the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Italy: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The pandemic and its related social restrictions have led to many uncertainties in nurse education, including the fear of infection in clinical learning settings and the challenge of remote learning. The modification of clinical and academic environments generated anxiety and academic concerns among nursing students.

OBJECTIVES

To explore the main determinants of anxiety related to the clinical and classroom environments in nurse education after the second wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

DESIGN

Multicentre cross-sectional study.

SETTINGS

Ten universities offering nursing bachelor programs in central and southern Italy.

PARTICIPANTS

A convenience sample of 842 nursing students.

METHODS

From April to July 2021, the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and the Altered Student Study Environment Tool were administered to assess, respectively, students' anxiety and their concerns about the study environment. A regression model was tested.

RESULTS

Most of the nursing students were female (76.6 %), living with family (70.9 %), and full-time students (85.7 %); 44.6 % were third-year of Bachelor in Nursing students. The majority of the participants (88.5 %) showed a level of anxiety. The statistically significant predictors of anxiety levels were concerns about grade attainment (β=0.42, p < 0.001) in the total sample, and, among the first-year students, the completion of clinical placement (β=0.14, p = 0.047).

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest a need for the redesign of teaching activities and clinical learning experiences to ensure academic outcomes and to preserve students' psychological well-being. Models of learning environments' dynamic adaptation and ongoing psychological support should be implemented to develop tailored interventions.

The extraordinary makes the ordinary visible - nursing students' experiences of their learning in clinical practice during COVID-19: a qualitative study

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 crisis had a significant impact on health care and nursing education as a large part of it is carried out in clinical practice. However, it is not known how the learning situations during the pandemic affected students' learning. To deepen the understanding of students' learning, learning theories within a constructive paradigm is used as a framework for this study. The purpose of the study was to explore nursing students´ perceptions of their learning in clinical practice during COVID-19.

METHODS

In this interpretative qualitative study, seven focus group discussions were conducted with 21 nursing students at different stages of the nursing programme, all of whom performed clinical practice during the outbreak of COVID-19. The analysis of the discussions was performed with interpretative content analysis related to theoretical assumptions about learning.

RESULTS

The learning situation was characterised by chaos and confusion affecting both the students' opportunities to learn and what they learned. Despite the uncertainty the students appreciated having experienced this unique situation, which contributed to valuable learning. Things otherwise taken for granted or not encountered before became visible. The learning processes were characterised by complexity and challenges that hindered or stimulated learning. It depended on the student's approach and the management of the clinical education. Concerns about one´s own and relatives' health, and not being able to finish studies, also affected learning. The students learned about important measures during a pandemic regarding hygiene, care organisation, communication, and the multifaceted role of the nurse.

CONCLUSION

Unpredictable situations such as a pandemic can lead to unique learning since "the extraordinary makes the ordinary visible". The students learned things additional to the formal learning outcomes, and the experiences strengthened their will to become nurses. Challenges due to a crisis can become important driving forces for learning, if not experienced as overwhelming. Some students felt they received space for own initiatives and responsibility while others felt lost and abandoned. Preparing for a crisis means preparing for an unknown future. Students therefore need to experience dilemmas and uncertain situations and reflect in a safe environment.

The effect of mindfulness-based mandala activity on anxiety and spiritual well-being levels of senior nursing students: A randomized controlled study

PURPOSE

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based mandala activity on the anxiety levels and spiritual well-being of nursing students who started clinical practice after distance education during COVID-19 period.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This study is a randomized controlled study employing a pre-/posttest design with a single-blind, parallel group. The study was completed with a total of 170 participants (n = 84, intervention group; n = 86, control group). Data were collected using the Descriptive Characteristics Form, State-trait Anxiety Inventory, Spirituality Well-Being Scale, and Scale of Positive and Negative Experience. The intervention group participated in three mindfulness-based mandala sessions. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT05053178.

FINDINGS

In three sessions, there was a significant decrease in the intervention group compared with the control group regarding the mean values of pretest and posttest anxiety levels. Evaluation of the mean scores Spiritual Well-Being Scale before and after the intervention showed a significant decrease in the scores between groups (p < 0.05).

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

With mindfulness-based mandala activity, the well-being of nursing students can be increased.

Impact of COVID-19 on Nursing Students: Factors Associated with PTSD Risk

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic rapidly transformed nursing education, creating multiple stressors for students. The researchers in this study examined how undergraduate and graduate nursing students at a faith-based university perceived the impact of COVID-19. A multiple linear regression model explored the effect of 17 variables on the Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R) scores. Anxiety level, quality of sleep, and perceived health demonstrated a statistically significant influence on IES-R scores; 27% of students had IES-R scores above 33, indicating high risk for posttraumatic stress disorder. Strategies to help address student stress and anxiety are discussed.

College Students’ Opinions About Coping Strategies for Mental Health Problems, Suicide Ideation, and Self-Harm During COVID-19

Background

Mental health problems have emerged as a significant health complication in United States colleges during COVID-19, and as a result, they have been extensively investigated in the United States and internationally. In contrast, research on coping among the college population during the pandemic is scant. Hence, this study investigated coping strategies proposed by undergraduate students attending a Midwestern university.

Objectives

The purpose of this preliminary study was to obtain college students’ feedback/opinions about coping strategies for mental health problems, suicide ideation, and self-harm during COVID-19.

Methods

In December 2021, one-hundred and four undergraduate students (ages 18–22 years) completed an online survey on coping strategies using Qualtrics. Major topics included: (1) Types of coping strategies/styles expressed by students for general mental health problems, (2) Types of coping strategies for suicide ideation and self-harm behaviors, (3) Preferred platforms for receiving coping therapy, and (4) Reasons for accepting or refusing parent involvement with mental health problems.

Results

The most beneficial coping strategies for mental health were ranked by college students as follows: (1) a skills training development program (30%), (2) meditation (19%), and (3) mindfulness exercises (15%), and physical education (11%). The respondents’ best coping strategies for preventing self-harm and suicide ideation/behaviors during COVID-19 were ranked as: (1) improving support from friends (32%), (2) building self-esteem (29%), and (3) addressing anger, depression, stress, and loneliness (25%). Finally, a total of 50% of participants felt that parents should be involved in college student interventions. Students stated that the most important type of support that they received from their parents were: (1) emotional support (31%), (2) direction and/or assistance with solutions (27%), and problem-solving (16%).

Conclusion

This study identified potential avenues which could be implemented into action during future outbreaks. Specifically, employing interventions that: (i) train undergraduate students to employ more effective skills training coping strategies or practicing mindfulness or meditation; (ii) integrate mental health, suicide, and self-harm prevention into the curriculum; (iii) offer more in-person campus services targeted toward the psychological and emotional effects of a pandemic, and (iv) involve support persons (e.g., family) in students’ lives to enhance their well-being during and after COVID-19.

Life during lockdown: coping strategies used by preregistration nursing students during COVID-19

Aim

To explore the coping strategies used by Australian preregistration nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic ‘lockdown’ period.

Background

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on preregistration nursing students, both physically and psychologically. As campuses closed and online learning commenced, clinical placement access was reduced, with heightened concern about personal and family safety. As such, nursing students were forced to adopt coping strategies to manage their self and the environment.

Design

A descriptive qualitative study.

Methods

One hundred and fifty-five preregistration nursing students enrolled at a regional Australian university completed a self-administered online survey.

Results

Overwhelmingly, student responses revealed that staying connected was the key coping strategy to ensure emotional and mental health wellbeing. Heightened vigilance in infection control measures was also evident, personally and for others. Routines, including exercise, facilitated physical and mental wellbeing. Overall, coping strategies identified by nursing students demonstrated applied resilience during the isolation period.

Conclusions

Understanding the adaptive coping strategies used by nursing students can enable nurse academics to understand how to best provide support. This study emphasises the importance of recognising that not all students are able to adapt and ‘cope’ without supports in place. Future studies should investigate the longer-term impact of COVID-19 within the broader preregistration nursing experience and how this might impact nursing students’ future careers.

Factors influencing bedtime procrastination in junior college nursing students: a cross-sectional study

Background

Sleep quality is related to physical and mental health. Though bedtime procrastination has been identified as a potentially key source of poor sleep quality, related research is scarce. The goal of our study was to determine bedtime procrastination among nursing students and identify its influencing factors.

Methods

This cross-sectional study comprised 1827 junior college nursing students. The data were collected from November to December 2021 using a mobile app-based survey. We evaluated demographic factors, Big Five personality traits, self-regulatory fatigue, future time perspective, and problematic mobile phone use. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify independent characteristics that influence bedtime procrastination among junior college nursing students.

Results

The mean bedtime procrastination score in junior college nursing students was 25.11 ± 6.88. Family monthly income of 3000–6000 RMB (β = 0.740; p = 0.015), as well as that of > 6000 RMB (β = 1.708; p = 0.001), and an extroverted personality (β = 0.225; p = 0.001), self-regulatory fatigue (β = 0.135; p < 0.001), and problematic mobile phone use (β = 0.078; p < 0.001) had significant positive effects on bedtime procrastination. Conscientious personality (β = − 0.284; p = 0.003), neurotic personality (β = − 0.203; p = 0.031), and future time perspective (β = − 0.141; p < 0.001) had significant negative effects on bedtime procrastination.

Conclusion

The nursing students who participated in this study had moderate levels of bedtime procrastination. Bedtime procrastination was predicted by higher monthly household income; personality traits of extroversion, conscientiousness, and neuroticism; self-regulatory fatigue; future time perspective; and problematic mobile phone use.

Practical implications

We recommend that effective measures are needed to help alleviate bedtime procrastination and improve the health and well-being of nursing students.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12912-022-00881-7.

Changes in Clinical Training for Nursing Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review Protocol

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had consequences for social, economic, cultural and educational life, affecting nursing training and practice. To date, no previous scoping reviews addressing this objective have been found. This study aims to map the literature related to changes in clinical training for nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A scoping review will be carried out according to the Joanna Briggs Institute’s latest guidance regarding methodology. A set of relevant electronic databases and grey literature will be searched using terms such as clinical practice, nursing students, COVID-19. Results: This scoping review will consider any type of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods study and systematic review designs for inclusion, focusing on changes in clinical training for nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: Pedagogical criteria had to be changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially face-to-face clinical training for nursing students. Identifying the changes in clinical training for nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic will help educators to understand the potential impact of this specific context and trace possible gaps. This protocol is registered at Open Science Framework.

The multidimensionality of anxiety among nursing students during COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Over the past year, healthcare workers constantly report their COVID-19 anxiety. However, this concept remained understudied among nursing students (NSs).

AIM

This study investigated the difference between NSs' three types of anxiety and their profile variables during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

This study used a cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational design. Three instruments were used: COVID-19 anxiety scale (CAS), COVID-19 anxiety syndrome scale (COVID-19ASS), and short health anxiety inventory (SHAI) to collect data from 484 Saudi NSs. We applied the Mann-Whitney U test and linear regression to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Across the three instruments; CAS, Item 1 "I feel bad when thinking about COVID-19"; COVID-19ASS, Item 11 "I have imagined what could happen to my family members if they contracted COVID-19"; and SHAI, Item 17 "A serious illness could ruin many aspects of my life" yielded the highest means. COVID-19ASS showed a significant difference for the profiles "known positive" (p = 0.05) and "action taken after with testing" (p = 0.05). NS, who knew someone with COVID-19, was the only predictor of CAS.

CONCLUSION

Our study concludes NSs experience anxiety symptoms. Anxiety is specific to COVID-19 or a set of similar anxiety symptoms. Further research is needed to explore the anxiety state of NSs during the pandemic.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Psychological Impacts of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia

Background

The world has been facing an unprecedented pandemic of COVID-19 with over 336 million people infected and millions of deaths. This required an enormous communication effort response from governments, international, and individuals to keep the public informed about the outbreak. When a pandemic affects communities, individuals' knowledge and attitude are important factors to contain the outbreak. Thus, the purpose of this study is to measure individuals' knowledge and attitude toward COVID-19 and ascertain whether a need exists for mental health services for those who were affected by the pandemic.

Methods

A cross-sectional design was used to measure the knowledge, attitude, and psychological impacts about the COVID-19 pandemic among the Saudi population. Research participants were recruited using a snowball sampling technique through the social media platform WhatsApp. A total of 482 eligible individuals participated from various locations in Saudi Arabia represented almost all Saudi regions. The questionnaire consisted of seven questions evaluating knowledge, seven gauging attitudes, and 16 questions assessing anxiety and perceived need for mental healthcare services.

Results

A modest level of knowledge (59%) was found among the Saudi population sampled about the COVID-19 pandemic, and satisfactory knowledge (>80%) about its preventive measures. Anxiety and stress existed among the participants (79% obsessed with COVID-19), with an 88% approval rate for obtaining mental health services for individuals highly affected by the pandemic.

Conclusion

There is a need to increase awareness and provide continuous updates regarding the pandemic situation. Promoting access to mental health services is critical, as well as finding creative and suitable strategies to deliver mental health services to those who need them.

Factors Influencing COVID-19 Vaccination Intentions Among College Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in India

Background: Students act as messengers in delivering effective messages for better uptake of health-promoting behavior. Understanding their knowledge about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), intentions to use the COVID-19 vaccine, and its associated factors will help develop promising strategies in vaccine promotion concerning the current COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was carried out among students in the healthcare and non-healthcare sectors to assess their intentions to get vaccinated against the COVID-19. A non-probability snowball sampling technique was used to recruit study participants (N = 655) through social media platforms and emails. Study participants were recruited across the country, including six major geographical regions (Eastern, Western, Northern, Southern, North-east, and Central) in India between November 2020 and January 2021 before the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine. Descriptive statistics were used to present the sociodemographic, and vaccine-related behaviors of the study participants. Key determinants that likely predict vaccine acceptance among students were modeled using logistic regression analysis. For each analysis, p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 655 students were recruited, 323 from healthcare and 332 from non-healthcare sectors, to assess their intentions to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Of the 655 students, 63.8% expressed intentions to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The acceptance was higher among non-healthcare students (54.07 vs. 45.93%). At the time of the study, 27.8% of the students indicated that they had been exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 patient. A vast majority (93.4%) of the students knew about the COVID-19 virus, and most (89.3%) of them were aware of the development of a COVID-19 vaccine. The history of vaccine hesitancy was found to be low (17.1%). Only one-third (33.4%) of the students showed concern about contracting COVID-19. Trust in the healthcare system [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 4.13; (95% CI: 2.83-6.04), p < 0.00] and trust in domestic vaccines [aOR: 1.46; (95% CI: 1.02-2.08), p < 0.05] emerged as the significant predictors of student's intention to get vaccinated. Higher acceptance for vaccine was observed among students in the non-healthcare [aOR: 1.982; 95% CI: 1.334-2.946, p < 0.00]. Conclusion: This study shows that the Indian college students had relatively high levels of positive intentions to receive COVID-19 vaccines, although about one-third were not sure or unwilling to receive the vaccine, highlighting possible vaccine hesitancy. Informational campaigns and other strategies to address vaccine hesitancy are needed to promote uptake of COVID-19 vaccines.

International psychological research addressing the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic: A rapid scoping review and implications for global psychology

In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Given that keeping abreast of international perspectives and research results is of particular importance for such massive global emergencies, we employed a scoping review methodology to rapidly map the field of international psychological research addressing this important early phase of the pandemic. We included a total of 79 studies, with data mostly collected between March and June 2020. This review aimed to systematically identify and map the nature and scope of international studies examining psychological aspects of the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic. We mapped key research themes, subfields of psychology, the nature and extent of international research collaboration, data methods employed, and challenges and enablers faced by psychological researchers in the early stages of the pandemic. Among the wide range of themes covered, mental health and social behaviours were the key themes. Most studies were in clinical/health psychology and social psychology. Network analyses revealed how authors collaborated and to what extent the studies were international. Europe and the United States were often at the centre of international collaboration. The predominant study design was cross-sectional and online with quantitative analyses. We also summarised author reported critical challenges and enablers for international psychological research during the COVID pandemic, and conclude with implications for the field of psychology.

Nursing Students’ Practicums during the COVID-19 Crisis and the Effect on Infection-Prevention Behavior in Students: A Mixed-Method Approach

Background and Objectives: The coronavirus disease pandemic is ongoing. Infection-prevention measures in nursing education (practicum) are essential. However, there are few studies on infection-prevention behaviors among nursing students participating in practicums. We aimed to clarify the effect of practicums during the coronavirus disease crisis on infection-prevention behavior in Japanese nursing students. Materials and Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 13 third-year nursing students in Osaka City within one week of their clinical placement training. From the results of the interview analysis, we compiled a questionnaire and surveyed 90 third-year students. We conducted qualitative and quantitative analyses. We used descriptive statistics for the quantitative analysis and the chi-squared test for binary variables. Results: From the qualitative analysis, we identified five categories regarding the awareness of infection-prevention measures: <Acquisition of knowledge and skills in infection-prevention measures during nursing practice>, <Defining the experience in infection-prevention measures>, <Changes in attitude towards infection>, <Changes in infection prevention behavior>, and <infection-prevention measures-related issues>. In the quantitative analysis, the practicum students who attended at least three pre-practicum orientations continued wearing masks during lunch breaks and avoided the three Cs. Conclusions: Students could recall the knowledge and experiences gained from pre-practicum orientations/practicums. This experience created a new awareness of infection-prevention and change of infection-prevention behavior. Infection-prevention education using practicums is important for infection-prevention behavior during this pandemic. However, there should be a much larger-scale study to support these findings in the future.

Depression, anxiety and stress among Australian nursing and midwifery undergraduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

To assess depression, anxiety and stress among undergraduate nursing and midwifery students during the COVID-19 pandemic, and identify socio-demographic and educational characteristics associated with higher depression, anxiety and stress scores.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study during August-September 2020, using an anonymous, online, self-administered survey. E-mail invitations with a survey link were sent to 2,907 students enrolled in the Bachelor of Nursing suite of courses, offered across four campuses of a single university in Victoria, Australia. Depression, anxiety and stress were assessed using the DASS-21. Data on socio-demographic and educational characteristics, self-rated physical health and exposure to COVID-19 were also collected. DASS-21 subscale scores were compared with existing data for various pre-pandemic and COVID-19 samples. Multiple regression was used to investigate factors associated with higher scores on depression, anxiety and stress subscales.

RESULTS

The response rate was 22% (n=638). Mean scores on all DASS-21 subscales were significantly higher (p<0.001) than means from all comparative sample data. The proportions of students reporting moderate to severe symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress were 48.5%, 37.2% and 40.2% respectively. Being a woman, being younger, having completed more years of study and having poorer self-rated general health were all significantly associated (p<0.05) with higher scores on at least one DASS-21 subscale.

CONCLUSIONS

Almost half of participants reported at least moderate symptoms of depression; more than a third reported at least moderate symptoms of anxiety or stress. Poor psychological wellbeing can impact students' successful completion of their studies and therefore, has implications for nursing and midwifery workforce recruitment and retention. During and after pandemics, universities should consider screening undergraduate students not only for anxiety and stress, but also for depression. Clear, low-cost referral pathways should be available, should screening indicate that further diagnosis or treatment is required.

The impact of covid-19 on psychosocial well-being and learning for australian nursing and midwifery undergraduate students: a cross-sectional survey

Aim

To explore the impact of COVID-19 on psychosocial well-being and learning for nursing and midwifery undergraduate students in an Australian university.

Background

The World Health Organization has reported a substantial psychological impact of COVID-19 on healthcare professionals to date. Evidence is lacking, however, regarding university nursing and midwifery students of the pandemic and its impact on their educational preparation and/or clinical placement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design

Cross-sectional survey of nursing and midwifery undergraduate students enrolled in the Bachelor of Nursing suite of courses from the study institution in August- September 2020.

Methods

A cross-sectional self-administered anonymous online survey was distributed to current nursing and midwifery undergraduate students. The survey included three open-ended questions; responses were thematically analysed.

Results

Of 2907 students invited, 637 (22%) responded with 288 of the respondents (45%) providing a response to at least one of the three open-ended questions. Three major themes associated with the impact of the pandemic on psychosocial well-being and learning were identified: psychosocial impact of the pandemic, adjustment to new modes of teaching and learning, and concerns about course progression and career. These themes were underpinned by lack of motivation to study, feeling isolated, and experiencing stress and anxiety that impacted on students’ well-being and their ability to learn and study.

Conclusions

Students were appreciative of different and flexible teaching modes that allowed them to balance their study, family, and employment responsibilities. Support from academic staff and clinical facilitators/mentors combined with clear and timely communication of risk management related to personal protective equipment (PPE) in a healthcare facility, were reported to reduce students’ stress and anxiety. Ways to support and maintain motivation among undergraduate nursing and midwifery students are needed.

Coping with Fears of Covid-19 Pandemic Among Nursing Students During Clinical Practice: Malawi's Perspective

PURPOSE

Fears of the Covid-19 pandemic have brought additional psychological pressure among nursing students. Nursing students at Mzuzu University in Malawi resumed clinical practice amidst the first wave of the pandemic and completed their rotation from September to December 2020. However, it was not known how they were coping with fears of the Covid-19 pandemic during clinical practice and this had set the impetus for conducting this study.

METHODS

The study used qualitative approach employing a descriptive phenomenological design. Four focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted on students who had completed a clinical rotation during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

RESULTS

Four themes emerged from the data analysis, and these were staying positive amidst the Covid-19 pandemic; applying the Covid-19 preventive measures; the role of religion and use of avoidance strategies.

CONCLUSION

Students should be encouraged to use coping strategies that have been proven to promote psychological well-being in times of crisis such as the Covid-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 Knowledge and Pandemic-Associated Distress Among the Hospital Pharmacist Workforce in China

BACKGROUND

The unprecedented disruption brought about by the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had produced tremendous influence on the practice of pharmacy. Sufficient knowledge of pharmacists was needed to deal with the epidemic situation; however, outbreak also aggravated psychological distress among health-care professionals. Therefore, this study aimed to determine knowledge about the pandemic and related factors, prevalence and factors associated with psychological distress among hospital pharmacists of Xinjiang Province, China.

METHODS

An anonymous online questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted by means of WeChat, a popular social media platform in China, February 23-27, 2020, during the COVID-19 outbreak. The survey questionnaire consisted of 4 parts, including informed consent section, demographic section, knowledge about COVID-19, and assessment of overall mental health through World Health Organization's Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20). A score of 8 or above on SRQ-20 was used as cutoff to classify the participant as in psychological distress. SRQ-20 score and related knowledge score were used as dependent variables, demographic characteristics (such as gender, age, monthly income, etc.) were used as independent variables, and univariate binary logistic regression was used to screen out the variables with P < 0.05. Then, the filtered variables were used as independent variables, and multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze associations with sufficient knowledge of COVID-19 and psychological distress.

RESULTS

A total of 365 pharmacists participated in the survey, fewer than half (35.1%; n = 128) of pharmacists attained a score of 6 or greater (out of 10) in overall disease knowledge, and most were able to select effective disinfectants and isolation or discharge criteria. In the multivariable model, age ages 31-40 (odds ratio [OR] = 3.25; P < 0.05), ages 41-50 (OR = 2.96; P < 0.05) versus >50 (referent); primary place of practice in hospitals: drug supply (OR = 4.00; P < 0.01), inpatient pharmacy (OR = 2.06, P < 0.01), clinical pharmacy (OR = 2.17, P < 0.05) versus outpatient pharmacy (referent); monthly income Renminbi (RMB, China's legal currency) 5000-10,000 (OR = 1.77; P < 0.05) versus < 5000 (referent); contact with COVID-19 patients or suspected cases (OR = 2.27; P < 0.01); access to COVID-19 knowledge remote work+ on-site work (OR = 6.07; P < 0.05), single on-site work (OR = 6.90; P < 0.01) versus remote work (referent) were related to better knowledge of COVID-19. Research found that 18.4% of pharmacists surveyed met the SRQ-20 threshold for distress. Self-reported history of mental illness (OR = 3.56; P < 0.05) and working and living in hospital versus delay in work resumption (OR = 2.87; P < 0.01) were found to be risk factors of psychological distress.

CONCLUSIONS

Further training of COVID-19 knowledge was required for pharmacists. As specific pharmacist groups were prone to psychological distress, it was important for individual hospitals and government to consider and identify pharmacists' needs and take steps to meet their needs with regard to pandemic and other work-related distress.

Impact of Anxiety on Readiness for COVID-19 Vaccination among Polish Nursing Undergraduate Students: Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study

The COVID-19 pandemic had a huge impact on the mental health of people around the world, and it increased the level of fear of infection and anxiety about the consequences of the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. We examined the relationship between the level of anxiety among nursing students and their knowledge about COVID-19 vaccination. In addition, we explored the correlations among the level of anxiety, knowledge about vaccination, and the willingness to vaccinate against COVID-19. A total of 790 undergraduate nursing students participated in the study. The results demonstrated that the level of anxiety among the surveyed nursing students was low; 40% of the study participants did not report any anxiety at all, 30% reported mild anxiety, 20% reported moderate anxiety, and 9% reported severe anxiety. At the time of the study, 77.2% of the participants were already vaccinated against COVID-19. Student knowledge about vaccination against COVID-19 was high and anxiety levels were low, with no direct correlation between the knowledge of vaccination and the severity of anxiety.

Psychological Discomfort in Nursing Degree Students as a Consequence of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Students are a population at risk of developing psychological complications, such as psychological discomfort, stress, and anxiety, among other problems, especially during the current health crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study's objective was to analyze the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological discomfort of final-year nursing students. A cross-sectional descriptive observational study was carried out. To analyze the psychological discomfort of the participants, the Kessler test (previously validated) was used. The results of this test were divided into two levels (High ≥ 21/Low < 21), showing high sensitivity as a screening method for anxiety and depression. Questionnaires were sent via email to final-year nursing students of Spanish and South American universities, inviting them to participate voluntarily. The sample consisted of 400 students, with an average age of 23.29 years and a sex proportion of 82.75% women and 17.28% men. Almost all participants (n = 396) belonged to Spanish universities, and the greatest participation corresponded to Andalusian universities (64.5%). The average psychological discomfort was high (M = 27.94). Statistically significant relationships were detected between age, sex, and feeling ready for the world of work, observing no relationships with the rest of the studied variables. The sample of 4th-year students of the Degree of Nursing presented a high level of psychological discomfort. This pathology does not seem to be related to having suffered from COVID-19 or being in contact with infected people during the practicum and is more strongly related to personal sociodemographic variables and students' preparation for the world of work.

Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Undergraduate Nursing Students in a University Setting: A Narrative Review

(1) Introduction: Undergraduate (UG) nursing students are vulnerable to stress throughout their education, known to result in burnout, with high attrition rates of up to 33%. There is a growing body of evidence to suggest that mindfulness-based interventions are effective for the management of anxiety, depression and wellbeing, thereby reducing stress in healthcare provider populations. The aim of this narrative review was to synthesize and provide a critical overview of the current evidence in relation to mindfulness-based interventions for UG nursing students in a university setting. (2) Methods: A review of the literature was conducted in March 2020 and updated in May 2021, utilising the databases CINAHL, Medline and PsycINFO. (3) Results: Fifteen studies were included in the review, with three common themes identified: (i) the positive impact of mindfulness on holistic wellbeing, (ii) mindfulness-based techniques as a positive coping mechanism within academic and clinical practice, and (iii) approaches to the delivery of mindfulness-based interventions. (4) Conclusions: Mindfulness-based interventions are effective strategies for the management of stress, development of self-awareness and enhanced academic and clinical performance in undergraduate nursing students. No ideal approach to delivery or duration of these interventions was evident from the literature. Best practice in relation to delivery of mindfulness-based interventions for nursing students is recommended for future studies.

Prevalence of mental health problems and sleep disturbances in nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

To identify the prevalence of mental health problems and sleep disturbances among nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND

As a future professional workforce, nursing students are expected to play a role in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic; however, physical and mental health problems may hinder their willingness to stay in the nursing profession. Evidence of the prevalence of the health problems among nursing students related to COVID-19 may allow educators to manage their students' health problems and make them feel more positive about their future careers.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis. This study was prospectively registered with PROSPERO.

DATA SOURCES

Databases, including CINAHL, Embase, PubMed and Web of Science, were searched for all related journal articles, from database inception to June 29, 2021, published between 2020 and 2021.

METHODS

This review was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines using a PICOS search strategy. A DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model was used to estimate the prevalence and potential heterogeneity among the selected studies using the Cochran Q statistic and I-square test. Publication bias was assessed using the Egger intercept test.

RESULTS

Seventeen studies were included in the meta-analysis, representing 13,247 nursing students. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of four health problems and sleep disturbances were identified. The health problem with the highest prevalence in nursing students was depression (52%). Other COVID-19-related health problems were fear (41%), anxiety (32%) and stress (30%) and sleep disturbances (27%).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings from this study showed that strategies are necessary to manage nursing students' teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic or similar future situations. Our results suggest that preparing modified distance learning might reduce the prevalence of health problems related to the educational process. In addition, providing regular mental health assessments or online mental health services to students may improve their mental health and increase their well-being. Nursing education policies regarding clinical practice remain to be formulated to ensure the achievement of competencies to support future careers while considering the mental readiness and safety of students.

Generational differences in psychological wellbeing and preventative behaviours among nursing students during COVID-19: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Many nursing programmes have had to swiftly move online in response to COVID-19. Nursing students are often a heterogenous group that traverses generational boundaries. Exploring generational differences may assist in developing support systems for specific groups. This study sought to examine psychological wellbeing and preventative behaviours among nursing students from the iGeneration in comparison to older generations.

METHOD

A prospective cross-sectional study was undertaken using a convenience sample of pre-registration nursing students studying at two Australian Universities, one regional and one metropolitan. About 631 pre-registration nursing students completed an online survey.

RESULTS

An independent samples t-test revealed that students from the iGeneration possess higher anxiety compared to nursing students from older generations (p = .000). Compared to iGeneration participants, older generation participants had significantly higher scores for knowledge of COVID-19 (p = .015). iGeneration participants utilised social media to source information about COVID-19 far more than older generations (p = .008). iGeneration participants were significantly more concerned than older generations about the impact of COVID-19 on completing their clinical placement (p = .014). Older generations tended to have higher academic preventative behaviours, with significant mean scores for not attending university if they or others they knew had symptoms of COVID-19.

CONCLUSION

Given the differences between generation groups with regard to psychological wellbeing, knowledge about COVID-19, and concerns about studying in an altered study environment, strategies should be targeted to generational groups. Anxiety negatively impacts the quality of life, educational performance and clinical practice and is experienced more frequently in the iGeneration. Therefore it is crucial for nursing educators to reflect on how they engage this generation in the online space to provide support, stability and a sense of connection. This will contribute towards ensuring a well-prepared future nursing workforce who may encounter other pandemics and isolating events.

IMPACT STATEMENT

Compared with other generations, iGeneration students have a greater likelihood to experience mental health issues, isolation and insecurity. Nursing leaders and educators must be sensitive to such intergenerational differences, to ensure they are developing a skilled and productive workforce.

Knowledge, Behaviors, and Perceptions of Risk of COVID-19 Among Brazilian Nursing Students: A Cross-sectional Study

Supplemental digital content is available in the text.

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic presented important challenges for the education of nursing students to provide health care with competence, quality, and safety.

Objectives

The purpose was to analyze knowledge, behavior, and perception of risk regarding COVID-19 and associated factors.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 2637 Brazilian undergraduate nursing students using a self-reported online survey.

Results

Students' knowledge about COVID-19 in general was considered inadequate. Students had limited knowledge about preventive measures in the hospital environment and recommendations for aerosol precautions. More than 90% of graduates adopted recommended prevention measures, and 86.1% perceived themselves to be at a greater risk of acquired SARS-CoV-2 during clinical practice.

Conclusions

The results show the need to rethink undergraduate nursing education regarding the prevention and control of infectious diseases, including the most appropriate strategies for COVID-19 prevention measures.

Teaching Style, Coping Strategies, Stress and Social Support: Associations to the Medical Students’ Perception of Learning during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

This study assessed the learning perception of undergraduate medical students on three types of teaching (classical/online/hybrid), in relation to coping strategies, stress, and social support, in the context of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Additionally, we explored gender differences and the perceived usefulness of teaching. 201 students (48 men, 153 women; mean age = 22.900, SD = 2.830) participated in the study. They answered a Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, a Brief Cope Scale, a Student-life Stress Inventory, a visual analog scale for usefulness, and a survey collecting their perceptions about learning across teaching types. Results point out a preference for classical teaching, followed by the hybrid and online formats. Online teaching was identified as more advantageous in terms of time management and seeking information. Denial and substance use were statistically associated with poor communication, bad time using, and impaired learning. Both stress and social support had ambivalent associations with learning perceptions. Gender differences were limited to behavioral disengagement and higher social support perceived by women. Although classical teaching was globally perceived as the most useful, online teaching was considered desirable by male urban respondents. These data may contribute to the strategic growth and refinement of web-based teaching methods in medical universities.

The Health Behaviour of German Outpatient Caregivers in Relation to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Study

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected outpatient caregivers in a particular way. While the German population becomes increasingly older, the number of people in need of care has also increased. The health and, thus, the health behaviour of employees in the outpatient care become relevant to maintain working capacity and performance in the long term. The aims of the study were (1) to examine the health behaviour and (2) to explore pandemic-related perceived change of health behaviour among outpatient caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a mixed-methods study, 15 problem-centred interviews and a web-based cross-sectional survey (N = 171) were conducted with outpatient caregivers working in Northern Germany. Interviewees reported partially poorer eating behaviour, higher coffee consumption, lower physical activity, skipping breaks more often and less sleep duration and quality during the pandemic. Some quantitative findings indicate the same tendencies. A majority of participants were smokers and reported higher stress perception due to the pandemic. Preventive behaviour, such as wearing PPE or hand hygiene, was increased among interviewees compared to the pre-pandemic period. Our findings indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic could negatively affect outpatient caregivers' health behaviour, e.g., eating/drinking behaviour and physical activity. Therefore, employers in outpatient care should develop workplace health promotion measures to support their employees in conducting more health-promoting behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stressors and Coping Strategies among Nursing Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Scoping Review

COVID-19 has impacted every aspect of life around the world. Nursing education has moved classes online. Undoubtedly, the period has been stressful for nursing students. The scoping review aimed to explore the relevant evidence related to stressors and coping strategies among nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The scoping review methodology was used to map the relevant evidence and synthesize the findings by framing the research question using PICOT, determining the keywords, eligibility criteria, searching the CINAHL, MEDLINE, and PubMed databases for the relevant studies. The review further involved study selection based on the PRISMA flow diagram, charting the data, collecting, and summarizing the findings. The critical analysis of findings from the 13 journal articles showed that the COVID-19 period has been stressful for nursing students with classes moving online. The nursing students feared the COVID-19 virus along with experiencing anxiety and stressful situations due to distance learning, clinical training, assignments, and educational workloads. Nursing students applied coping strategies of seeking information and consultation, staying optimistic, and transference. The pandemic affected the psychological health of learners as they adjusted to the new learning structure. Future studies should deliberate on mental issues and solutions facing nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic.