ABSTRACT
Introduction: Vaccines are effective interventions that can reduce the high burden of COVID19 globally. However, public vaccine hesitancy is a pressing problem for public health authorities. Objective(s): This study aimed to assess the prevalence of vaccination within mentally ill population and to point out the factors of acceptance and reticence. Method(s): We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study. It was carried out on a clinical population who consult in the psychiatry department in Sfax's university hospital Hedi Chaker. Patients included in our study were aged between 21 and 69 years and were not in a decompensation phase of their psychiatric illness Results: Forty five patients were included. The mean age was 45+/-13 years old. Our population was made up of 3 women (6.7%) and 42 men (93.3%).A rate of 42.2% of the patients was of urban origin, 15.6% lived with a partner, 77.8% were unemployed and 46.7% were schizophrenic. In our study population, five patients had COVID 19 (11.1%), fourteen patients (31.1%) were vaccinated and eight patients (17.8%) asked their psychiatrist to vaccine. The main reasons of vaccination were their belief that vaccination decreases the chance of contracting COVID 19 and its complications (0.00) , that COVID is lethal (0.002), and the fact that they trust it (0.001). Thirtyone patients (68.9%) refused vaccination, mainly due to reading or hearing negative information about vaccination (0.025). Vaccination wasn't correlated neither to the fact that it could be a conspiracy nor to the diagnostic. Conclusion(s): Our study reveals that one third of mentally ill patients are vaccinated. The reasons of acceptance of vaccination are multiple in opposite of the hesitancy factors.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The COVID pandemic brought an overwhelming impact on hospital systems and personnel in the world. Objective(s): Our study aimed to examine the impact of the COVID pandemic on the attitude and mental health of healthcare professionals working in COVID departments. Method(s): We included 23 healthcare professionals working in the COVID departments of the Hospitals of Sfax. Sociodemographic data, medical history and COVID related details were collected from the participants. Their mental health was assessed by the Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). Result(s): In our sample, 26.1% were men and 73.9% were women, they were aged from 26 to 52. They worked for 57 hours per week, including 27.38 hours of direct contact with COVID positive patients and 5.43 nightshifts per month. A rate of 52.2% of the participants claimed having enough protection tools and 13% confirmed having enough equipment for patient management. 30.4% feared the lack of equipment and 39.1% considered themselves trained enough to manage COVID patients. As for the protective measures, 95.7% reduced contact with family members, 30.4% stopped visiting their parents, 8.7% left the family house and 4.3% didn't take any particular measure. The mean HADS depression score was 9.61, and 60.86% had a Depression score equal or greater than 8, indicating depression. As for the HADS Anxiety score, its mean was 10.61 and 69.56% had a score equal or greater than 8, indicating anxiety. Conclusion(s): The pandemic had a big impact on healthcare professionals working in COVID departments, as shows the relatively high depression and anxiety rate.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The COVID pandemic had a heavy impact on the mental health of people in general and healthcare professionals in particular. Objective(s): Our study aimed to examine the the prevalence of posttraumatic stress symptoms among healthcare professionals working in COVID departments, and assess their professional quality of life. Method(s): Our sample consisted of 23 healthcare professionals who are working in the COVID departments of the Hospitals of Sfax. We collected their sociodemographic data, their medical history and COVID-related details. Their mental health was assessed by the Impact of Event scale (IES-R) and the professional quality of life scale (ProQOL-5) Results: The sex ratio in our study was 17:6, with a mean age of 31.79 years. They carried out 5.43 nightshifts per month, 57 hours of work per week including 27.38 hours of direct contact with COVID positive patients. A rate of 21.74% of the patients had a high IES-R score, indicating severe post traumatic stress symptoms. As for the subscales of the professional quality of life score, 21.73% of the participants had a low compassion satisfaction score, 65.21% of the participants had a moderate one and 13% had a high one. A rate of 91.3%of the participants had amoderate burnout score, the mean was 29.39. The secondary traumatization score was low in 26% of the cases, moderate in 60.86%, high in 13% and the mean was 27.91. Conclusion(s): COVID healthcare professionals are at a relatively high risk of developing burnout and post-traumatic stress symptoms.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Facing educational difficulties related to COVID-19, some teachers can no longer adapt, making them potential candidates for burnout. Objective(s): We aimed to assess burnout among high school teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic and to determine its prevalence and factors associated with it. Method(s): We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study, carried out on google drive in May 2021, and relating to 97 Tunisian junior and secondary school teachers from the Sfax region. Burnout was evaluated by the Burnout Measure Short version (BMS-10). Result(s): The sex-ratio (M/F) of our population was 0.32 and the average age was 44.23 +/- 7.81 years old. The labor load was low, medium and high in respectively 1.4%, 57.6% and 41% of cases. Almost a third of participants (30.6%) reported a low satisfaction with working conditions. The average BMS score was 40.19 +/- 13.98. According to the BMS scores, 36.1% of teachers had a very low to a low degree of burnout, 23.6% had burnout while 40.3% had a high to very high degree of exposure to burnout. Furthermore, the BMS score was associated with the female gender (p=0.002), sleep disturbances (p<0.001), suicidal thoughts (p<0.001) and with a medium to a high labor load (p=0.045). Conclusion(s): In this study, Tunisian high school teachers in times of COVID-19 reported a high burnout rate. Thus, the protection of this vulnerable population must be an important component of public health measures.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The constraints linked to COVID-19 may reduce resilience and intensify depressive feelings especially in vulnerable populations such as teachers. Objective(s): To understand the psychological distress in terms of depression of the COVID-19 pandemic among secondary school teachers in Sfax, Tunisia and to determine the correlated factors. Method(s): This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study of 97 medium and high school teachers from Sfax, Tunisia. The study was conducted on google drive in May 2021, including an information sheet and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 to assess depression. Result(s): In our study, the sex-ratio (M/F) was 0.32 and the average age was 44.23 years old. The median professional seniority was 16 years (minimum=1, maximum=37). Suicidal thoughts were described by 10.4% of teachers while 54.2% reported the presence of sleep disturbances since the onset of the pandemic. The median PHQ-9 score was 8 (Q1=4, Q3=15). The distribution of scores indicated that 59.7% of participants had no to mild symptoms of depression while 40.3% had moderate to severe depression. Furthermore, the presence of depression was associated with an age <= 40 years old (p=0.037), a professional seniority <= 20 years (p=0.035), the female gender (p=0.005), the presence of sleep disturbances (p<0.001) as well as with suicidal thoughts (p=0.006). Conclusion(s): It seems that COVID-19 health situation in education have led to the emergence of a teacher overexertion and a depth adaptation to the new environment demands. Thus, clinical attention to the depression level of the teachers is certainly warranted.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic time, teachers have to adapt to many changes that could potentially make them more vulnerable to psychological distress. Objective(s): To determine the prevalence and the factors for anxiety during the COVID-19 epidemic among the high school teachers in Sfax, Tunisia. Method(s): This was a cross-sectional study, for descriptive and analytical purposes, conducted on google drive in May 2021.We involved 97 junior and secondary school teachers from Sfax, Tunisia, practicing in public high schools. Anxiety was assessed by using Generalized Anxiety Disorder tool (GAD-7). Result(s): The average age of the participants was 44.23 years old with a sex-ratio (M/F) of 0.32. Since the advent of COVID-19, 54.2% had presented sleep disturbances while 10.4% had suicidal thoughts. Among all participants, 77.8% were afraid of the virus transmission within the classroom or the school and 81.3% reported regular mask wear at work. The median score on the GAD-7 was 6.5 (Q1=3, Q3=11). Scores' distribution indicated that 68% of the participants had no to mild symptoms of anxiety while 32% had moderate to severe anxiety. Furthermore, the presence of anxiety was associated to the female gender (p=0.01), sleep disturbances (p<0.001), suicidal thoughts (p=0.006), and to the conviction that wearing masks blocks the transmission of voice, information or emotions between teacher and student (p=0.025). Conclusion(s): During the COVID-19 outbreak, high school teachers in Sfax, Tunisia have high levels of anxiety.This can lead to a decreased effectiveness of their complex work.