Clinical preceptorship in Ghana in the era of COVID-19 pandemic: an interventional study.

BACKGROUND: Innovations in clinical nursing education are critical in enhancing the experiences of students, especially in the era of coronavirus pandemic. This study aimed at investigating nurse preceptors' perceptions of use, intention to use and self-efficacy towards digital technology in preceptorship in the Cape Coast Metropolis of Ghana. METHODS: A concurrent type of mixed-methods design with a non-randomised interventional study using three-phase multi-methods technique was conducted among nurse preceptors in the Cape Coast Metropolis in the Central Region of Ghana. Forty-five nurse preceptors participated in a pre and post training intervention while seven were purposively selected for the qualitative interview. Complimentarity method of triangulation was used in the analysis. The quantitative data were analysed with STATA version 16 and presented using frequencies, percentages, means with standard deviations and McNemar's test while qualitative data were analysed using the six steps approach to qualitative data analysis by Braun and Clarke. RESULTS: Perceived usefulness statement "using technology will improve clinical teaching" increased from 19 (42.22%) at baseline to 44 (97.78%) post intervention. Perceived ease of using technology statement "I would find it easy to get this technology to do what I want it to do" also increased from 36 (80.00%) to 41 (91.11%) post intervention. Self-efficacy increased from 40 (88.89%) to 43 (95.56%) after the intervention. There was a statistically significant difference between pre-training and post-training scores regarding tablet (p = 0.016) and experience with online library resources (p = 0.039). The qualitative results yielded three themes, namely: strengths of using technology; constraints in the learning environment; and future of technological approach to clinical teaching. CONCLUSIONS: The training intervention improved participants intentions, self-efficacy, perceived use and perceived ease of use of technology. However, there are constraints in the clinical learning environment including students and preceptor-related factors, and institutional factors that needs to be addressed as part of efforts to implement technology in clinical teaching in this era of COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Coping strategies adapted by Ghanaians during the COVID-19 crisis and lockdown: A population-based study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic and control measures adopted by countries globally can lead to stress and anxiety. Investigating the coping strategies to this unprecedented crisis is essential to guide mental health intervention and public health policy. This study examined how people are coping with the COVID-19 crisis in Ghana and identify factors influencing it. METHODS: This study was part of a multinational online cross-sectional survey on Personal and Family Coping with COVID-19 in the Global South. The study population included adults, ≥18 years and residents in Ghana. Respondents were recruited through different platforms, including social media and phone calls. The questionnaire was composed of different psychometrically validated instruments with coping as the outcome variable measured on the ordinal scale with 3 levels, namely, Not well or worse, Neutral, and Well or better. An ordinal logistic regression model using proportional odds assumption was then applied. RESULTS: A total of 811 responses were included in the analysis with 45.2% describing their coping level as well/better, 42.4% as neither worse nor better and 12.4% as worse/not well. Many respondents (46.9%) were between 25-34 years, 50.1% were males while 79.2% lived in urban Ghana. Having pre-existing conditions increased the chances of not coping well (aOR = 1.86, 95%CI: 1.15-3.01). Not being concerned about supporting the family financially (aOR = 1.67, 95%CI: 1.06-2.68) or having the feeling that life is better during the pandemic (aOR = 2.37, 95%CI: 1.26-4.62) increased chances of coping well. Praying (aOR: 0.62, 95%CI: 0.43-0.90) or sleeping (aOR: 0.55, 95%CI: 0.34-0.89) more during the pandemic than before reduces coping. CONCLUSION: In Ghana, during the COVID-19 pandemic, financial security and optimism about the disease increase one's chances of coping well while having pre-existing medical conditions, praying and sleeping more during the pandemic than before reduces one's chances of coping well. These findings should be considered in planning mental health and public health intervention/policy.

Prevalence and changes in boredom, anxiety and well-being among Ghanaians during the COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with several adverse health outcomes. However, few studies in sub-Saharan Africa have examined its deleterious consequences on mental health. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence and changes in boredom, anxiety and psychological well-being before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana. METHODS: Data for this study were drawn from an online survey of 811 participants that collected retrospective information on mental health measures including symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, boredom, and well-being. Additional data were collected on COVID-19 related measures, biosocial (e.g. age and sex) and sociocultural factors (e.g., education, occupation, marital status). Following descriptive and psychometric evaluation of measures used, multiple linear regression was used to assess the relationships between predictor variables and boredom, anxiety and psychological well-being scores during the pandemic. Second, we assessed the effect of anxiety on psychological well-being. Next, we assessed predictors of the changes in boredom, anxiety, and well-being. RESULTS: Before the COVID-19 pandemic, 63.5% reported better well-being, 11.6% symptoms of anxiety, and 29.6% symptoms of boredom. Comparing experiences before and during the pandemic, there was an increase in boredom and anxiety symptomatology, and a decrease in well-being mean scores. The adjusted model shows participants with existing medical conditions had higher scores on boredom (ß = 1.76, p < .001) and anxiety (ß = 1.83, p < .01). In a separate model, anxiety scores before the pandemic (ß = -0.25, p < .01) and having prior medical conditions (ß = -1.53, p < .001) were associated with decreased psychological well-being scores during the pandemic. In the change model, having a prior medical condition was associated with an increasing change in boredom, anxiety, and well-being. Older age was associated with decreasing changes in boredom and well-being scores. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first in Ghana to provide evidence of the changes in boredom, anxiety and psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings underscore the need for the inclusion of mental health interventions as part of the current pandemic control protocol and public health preparedness towards infectious disease outbreaks.