ABSTRACT
This commentary considers return to organized sport amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of nonprofit community (grassroots) sport clubs that are the backbone of sport in many countries around the world. Local clubs can be vulnerable to challenging conditions at the best of times, and are at risk of significant negative impact if they cannot weather the storm of the current pandemic and resume their sport delivery. The opportunity and importance of drawing on evidence-based insights during these unprecedented times is highlighted here, by connecting examples of existing knowledge in several key areas (assessing and building capacity, embracing innovation, and adapting top-down policy directives to the local context) with the challenges facing community sport clubs. Potential directions for new research during and post-pandemic that builds on such foundational knowledge are also presented, charting a course for new inquiry that will support a more resilient community sport sector for the future.
ABSTRACT
AIMS: This review aims to explore the prevalence and incidence rates of mental health conditions in healthcare workers during and after a pandemic outbreak and which factors influence rates. BACKGROUND: Pandemics place considerable burden on care services, impacting on workers' health and their ability to deliver services. We systematically reviewed the prevalence and incidence of mental health conditions in care workers during pandemics. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: Searches of MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library and PsychINFO for cohort, cross-sectional and case-control studies were undertaken on the 31 March 2020 (from inception to 31 March 2020). REVIEW METHODS: Only prevalence or incidence rates for mental health conditions from validated tools were included. Study selection, data extraction and quality assessment were carried out by two reviewers. Meta-analyses and subgroup analyses were produced for pandemic period (pre- and post), age, country income, country, clinical setting for major depression disorder (MDD), anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). RESULTS: No studies of incidence were found. Prevalence estimates showed that the most common mental health condition was PTSD (21.7%) followed by anxiety disorder (16.1%), MDD (13.4%) and acute stress disorder (7.4%) (low risk of bias). For symptoms of these conditions there was substantial variation in the prevalence estimates for depression (95% confidence interval [CI]:31.8%; 60.5%), anxiety (95% CI:34.2%; 57.7%) and PTSD symptoms (95% CI,21.4%; 65.4%) (moderate risk of bias). Age, level of exposure and type of care professional were identified as important moderating factors. CONCLUSION: Mental disorders affect healthcare workers during and after infectious disease pandemics, with higher proportions experiencing symptoms. IMPACT: This review provides prevalence estimates of mental health conditions during and after a pandemic which could be used to inform service staffing impact and formulation of preventative strategies, by identifying clinical populations who may be at high risk of developing mental health symptoms and conditions.