Psychological Distress, Anxiety, Depression, and Associated Factors Among Nigerian Healthcare Workers During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objectives: We determined the prevalence of psychological distress, and the associations between sociodemographic factors, anxiety, depression, COVID-19-related experiences, and psychological distress, among nurses and doctors in Nigeria. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional descriptive study, conducted over a month (1st of July-31st of July 2021) among 434 Health Care Workers (HCWs) [225 (51.8%) nurses and 209 (48.2%) doctors] from two tertiary health facilities in southwestern Nigeria. Binary logistic regression was carried out to determine the factors associated with psychological distress (dependent variable), while the independent variables were anxiety, depression, and COVID-19 experience-related factors. Results: The prevalence of moderate and severe psychological distress was 49.1% and 5.8%, respectively. Individuals who had the first degree had significantly lower odds (AOR: 0.43; p = 0.037) of experiencing psychological distress while being a nurse (AOR: 2.03; p = 0.014), higher levels of anxiety (1.28; p < 0.001), and depression (AOR: 1.17; p = 0.005) were associated with significantly higher odds of experiencing moderate to severe levels of psychological distress. Conclusion: There is a high level of psychological distress experienced by these health workers. Hence, they will benefit from strategies to reduce their distress.

Psychological Distress, Anxiety, Depression, and Associated Factors Among Nigerian Healthcare Workers During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives: We determined the prevalence of psychological distress, and the associations between sociodemographic factors, anxiety, depression, COVID-19-related experiences, and psychological distress, among nurses and doctors in Nigeria. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional descriptive study, conducted over a month (1st of July–31st of July 2021) among 434 Health Care Workers (HCWs) [225 (51.8%) nurses and 209 (48.2%) doctors] from two tertiary health facilities in southwestern Nigeria. Binary logistic regression was carried out to determine the factors associated with psychological distress (dependent variable), while the independent variables were anxiety, depression, and COVID-19 experience-related factors. Results: The prevalence of moderate and severe psychological distress was 49.1% and 5.8%, respectively. Individuals who had the first degree had significantly lower odds (AOR: 0.43;p = 0.037) of experiencing psychological distress while being a nurse (AOR: 2.03;p = 0.014), higher levels of anxiety (1.28;p < 0.001), and depression (AOR: 1.17;p = 0.005) were associated with significantly higher odds of experiencing moderate to severe levels of psychological distress. Conclusion: There is a high level of psychological distress experienced by these health workers. Hence, they will benefit from strategies to reduce their distress.

Developing an mHealth Intervention to Reduce COVID-19-Associated Psychological Distress Among Health Care Workers in Nigeria: Protocol for a Design and Feasibility Study.

BACKGROUND: Globally, COVID-19-related psychological distress is seriously eroding health care workers' mental health and well-being, especially in low-income countries like Nigeria. The use of mobile health (mHealth) interventions is now increasingly recognized as an innovative approach that may improve mental health and well-being. This project aims to develop an mHealth psychological intervention (mPsyI) to reduce COVID-19-related psychological distress among health care workers in Nigeria. OBJECTIVE: Our objective is to present a study protocol to determine the level of COVID-19-related psychological distress among health care workers in Nigeria; explore health care workers' experience of COVID-19-related psychological distress; develop and pilot test mPsyI to reduce this distress; and assess the feasibility of this intervention (such as usability, engagement, and satisfaction). METHODS: A mixed (quantitative and qualitative) methods approach is used in which health care workers will be recruited from 2 tertiary health care facilities in southwest Nigeria. The study is divided into 4 phases based on the study objectives. Phase 1 involves a quantitative survey to assess the type and levels of psychosocial distress. Phase 2 collects qualitative data on psychosocial distress among health care workers. Phase 3 involves development of the mHealth-based psychological intervention, and phase 4 is a mixed methods study to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. RESULTS: This study was funded in November 2020 by the Global Effort on COVID-19 Health Research, and collection of preliminary baseline data started in July 2021. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to report the development of an mHealth-based intervention to reduce COVID-19-related psychological distress among health care workers in Nigeria. Using a mixed methods design in this study can potentially facilitate the adaptation of an evidence-based treatment method that is culturally sensitive and cost-effective for the management of COVID-19-related psychological distress among health care workers in Nigeria. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/36174.

Associations between psychological wellbeing, depression, general anxiety, perceived social support, tooth brushing frequency and oral ulcers among adults resident in Nigeria during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: The aims of this study were to determine the associations between psychological wellbeing, and the frequency of tooth brushing and presence of oral ulcers during the COVID-19 pandemic; and to identify the mediating roles of psychological distress (general anxiety and depression) and perceived social support in the paths of observed associations. METHODS: This cross-sectional study recruited 996 adults in Nigeria between June and August 2020. Data collected through an online survey included outcome variables (decreased frequency of tooth brushing and presence of oral ulcers), explanatory variable (psychological wellbeing), mediators (general anxiety symptoms, depression symptoms and perceived social support) and confounders (age, sex at birth, educational and employment status). Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the risk indicators for the outcome variables. A path analysis was conducted to identify the indirect effect of mediators on the association between the outcome and explanatory variables. RESULTS: Of the 966 respondents, 96 (9.9%) reported decreased tooth-brushing frequency and 129 (13.4%) had oral ulcers during the pandemic. The odds of decreased tooth-brushing during the pandemic decreased as the psychological wellbeing increased (AOR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.83-0.91; p < 0.001) and as generalized anxiety symptoms increased (AOR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.86-0.98; p = 0.009). The odds of having an oral ulcer was higher as the generalized anxiety symptoms increased (AOR: 1.15; 95% CI: 01.08-1.21; p < 0.001). Only generalized anxiety (indirect effect: 0.02; 95% CI: 0.01-0.04; P = 0.014) significantly mediated the relationship between wellbeing and tooth-brushing accounting for approximately 12% of the total effect of wellbeing on decreased toothbrushing. Generalized anxiety (indirect effect 0.05; 95% CI: - 0.07-0.03; P < 0.001) also significantly mediated the relationship between wellbeing and presence of oral ulcer accounting for 70% of the total effect of wellbeing on presence of oral ulcer. Depressive symptoms and perceived social support did not significantly mediate the associations between psychological wellbeing, decreased frequency of tooth brushing and the presence of oral ulcers. CONCLUSION: Patients who come into the dental clinic with poor oral hygiene or oral ulcers during the COVID-19 pandemic may benefit from screening for generalized anxiety and psychological wellbeing to identify those who will benefit from interventions for mental health challenges.