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Newnham EA, Mergelsberg ELP, Tearne J, McEvoy P, Stanley S, Celenza A, Kavanagh H, Stevenson T, Mavaddat N, Demore G, Hood S. Mental Health Status, Risk and Protective Factors for Healthcare Staff Prior to the First Major COVID-19 Outbreak in Western Australia. Int J Public Health 2023; 68:1606102. [PMID: 37732330 PMCID: PMC10507727 DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2023.1606102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives: Western Australia's unique public health response delayed the first wave of community COVID-19 transmission for 2 years. We aimed to determine the status of post-traumatic stress (PTSS), depressive, and anxiety symptoms among healthcare staff in major tertiary hospitals, together with associated risk and protective factors prior to the first substantial outbreak of COVID-19. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 431 healthcare staff immediately prior to the Western Australian border re-opening in 2022. Staff were recruited via notices in email newsletters, at four tertiary hospitals and a public mental health clinic in metropolitan Perth. Validated and original questionnaires were administered via Qualtrics. Results: Moderate levels of PTSS (22.3%), depression (21.9%), and anxiety (25.9%) were reported. Pathway analyses indicated that sleep difficulties, workplace stressors, and infectious disease training were associated with higher PTSS, depression and anxiety symptoms, and younger age was associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety. Nursing roles were associated with higher PTSS. Social support and workplace support were associated with lower levels of depression and anxiety but were not associated with PTSS. Conclusion: The findings illustrate high levels of resilience, but indicate a need for structural supports within the health system to foster staff mental health prior to the onset of emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A. Newnham
- School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
- Curtin enAble Institute, Perth, WA, Australia
- François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | - Jessica Tearne
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Clinical Neuropsychology, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
- State Major Trauma Unit, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Peter McEvoy
- School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
- Curtin enAble Institute, Perth, WA, Australia
- Centre for Clinical Interventions, North Metropolitan Health Service, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Susanne Stanley
- Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Antonio Celenza
- Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Emergency Department, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Hyranthi Kavanagh
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Clinical Neuropsychology, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Teresa Stevenson
- Peel and Rockingham Kwinana Mental Health Service, Rockingham, WA, Australia
| | - Nahal Mavaddat
- Discipline of General Practice, School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Gavin Demore
- Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Western Australia Country Health Service, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Sean Hood
- Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Mental Health Unit, North Metropolitan Health Service Mental Health, Public Health and Dental Services (MHPHDS), Perth, WA, Australia
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Corrigan M, Quinn B, Moore A, O'Donnell S. Co-producing transgender awareness training for healthcare students and professionals. Nurs Manag (Harrow) 2022; 30:e2050. [PMID: 35942586 DOI: 10.7748/nm.2022.e2050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Nurses and doctors must be culturally competent to care for transgender patients. However, there is little time dedicated to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer plus (LGBTQ+) health in undergraduate and postgraduate nursing and medicine education and healthcare professionals often lack the competence and skills to treat transgender patients sensitively. At Queen's University Belfast, a transgender awareness training session was developed to enhance the cultural competence of nursing and medicine students and academic staff. The training was co-produced with students and transgender people and delivered by a transgender person. Training on transgender health should be designed in collaboration with transgender people and should be a core component of undergraduate and postgraduate healthcare curricula.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mairead Corrigan
- School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Barry Quinn
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
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