Anxiety, Motivation, Stress Levels and Associated Factors Among University Students in the COVID-19 Pandemic

The effects of person-centred active rehabilitation on symptoms of suspected Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy: A mixed-methods single case design

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to investigate the effectiveness of a person-centred active rehabilitation programme on symptoms associated with suspected Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). This was accomplished by (1) assessing the effect that a person-centred active rehabilitation programme had on participant symptoms, and (2) exploring how temporal contextual factors affected the participants' experience with, and perceived effectiveness of, the active rehabilitation programme.

METHODS

A twelve-month mixed-methods single case experimental research design was used with six cases (participants). Individual cases were involved in a 51-week study period including an initial interview and three-week baseline phase. Cases were then randomly allocated to one of two n-of-1 study designs (i.e., A-B, B-A, B-A, A-B or B-A, A-B, A-B, B-A) where A and B represent a non-intervention and intervention phase, respectively. Interviews were conducted regularly throughout the study whilst outcome measures were assessed at each follow-up. Analysis of the data included visual, statistical, and qualitative analysis.

RESULTS

Visual and statistical analysis of cognitive and executive function, and mindful attention, demonstrated trivial-to-large effects with the summary reflecting positive or unclear results. A mixed picture was observed for mood and behaviour with effects considered trivial-to-large, and the summary demonstrating positive, unclear and negative effects. Qualitative analysis indicated a perceived improvement in outcome measures such as memory, attention, anxiety, and emotional control despite mixed quantitative findings whilst a clear impact of contextual factors, such as COVID-19, the political atmosphere, exercise tolerance, programme progression, and motivation were evident during the intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

This study has provided primary-level evidence to suggest active rehabilitation as a potential intervention for the management of suspected CTE symptoms. This study has also demonstrated the benefit of a person-centred approach to both clinical research and practice, particularly by considering contextual factors for a better understanding of an intervention effect.

The effect of a distance-delivered mindfulness-based psychoeducation program on the psychological well-being, emotional intelligence and stress levels of nursing students in Turkey: a randomized controlled study

Nursing students who started university during the COVID-19 pandemic had to attend via distance education, which increased their stress. This study aimed to determine the effect of a mindfulness-based psychoeducation program on the psychological well-being, emotional intelligence and stress levels of young adults in their first year of an undergraduate nursing program at a university in Turkey. The sample consisted of 59 students (mean age 19.3 years) who were randomized to the intervention group (n = 29) and control group (n = 30). Those in the intervention group participated in a mindfulness-based psychoeducation program twice a week for 4 weeks via video conference. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14), Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWB) and Revised Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale (SEIS) were used as measurement tools. Between the pretest and posttest assessments, students in the intervention group showed a significant decrease in perceived stress scores and increases in emotional intelligence and psychological well-being scores. There were statistically significant differences in perceived stress, emotional intelligence and psychological well-being scores between the intervention and control groups in the posttest. Online mindfulness psychoeducation via video conferencing can be a useful intervention for nursing students to reduce stress and support psychological well-being and emotional intelligence.