ABSTRACT
Introduction One of the adopted measures during the Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in education is the online modality, which can impact students' quality of Life (QoL) and their academic performance. Methods This cross-sectional study aims to assess the impact of online education on health-related QoL in a sample of 401 medical students. Results Most students attended all the online sessions, and around 32% participated in some of them. Only 16.2% reported high satisfaction from the online sessions, and almost 39% reported low satisfaction. Overall, medical students had moderate QoL. Online education affected medical students psychologically more than physically, translated by higher scores for the physical components than the mental ones. Students who preferred online over in-person education had significantly lower scores for the mental domains, namely lower social functioning and emotional role scores. Academic satisfaction did not influence any SF-36 scores, and students' preferences (online or in-person education) did not affect any of the physical component scores. Conclusion The pandemic directly impacted the QoL of medical students, namely their mental health. Medical students in Lebanon had a higher preference for in-person education, possibly due to its novelty and to other technological, technical, or personal challenges. Future research exploring the reasons and viable solutions should be performed to maintain a steady level of education during unanticipated situations. Resumen Introducción Una de las medidas adoptadas durante la pandemia de la enfermedad por Coronavirus de 2019 (COVID-19) en la educación es la modalidad en línea, la cual puede impactar la calidad de Vida (CdV) de los estudiantes y su rendimiento académico. Métodos Este estudio transversal tiene como objetivo evaluar el impacto de la educación en línea en la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en una muestra de 401 estudiantes de medicina. Resultados La mayoría de los estudiantes asistieron a todas las sesiones en línea y alrededor del 32% participó en algunas de ellas. Solo el 16,2 % reportó una alta satisfacción con las sesiones en línea y casi el 39 % reportó una baja satisfacción. En general, los estudiantes de medicina tenían una CdV moderada. La educación en línea afectó a los estudiantes de medicina psicológicamente más que físicamente, lo que se traduce en puntajes más altos para los componentes físicos que para los mentales. Los estudiantes que preferían la educación en línea a la presencial tenían puntajes significativamente más bajos en los dominios mentales, es decir, puntajes más bajos en el funcionamiento social y el rol emocional. La satisfacción académica no influyó en ningún puntaje del SF-36, y las preferencias de los estudiantes (educación en línea o en persona) no afectaron ninguno de los puntajes del componente físico. Conclusión la pandemia impactó directamente en la CdV de los estudiantes de medicina, es decir, en su salud mental. Los estudiantes de medicina en el Líbano tenían una mayor preferencia por la educación presencial, posiblemente debido a su novedad y a otros desafíos tecnológicos, técnicos o personales. Se deben realizar investigaciones futuras que exploren las razones y las soluciones viables para mantener un nivel constante de educación durante situaciones imprevistas.
ABSTRACT
Introduction One of the adopted measures during the Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in education is the online modality, which can impact students' quality of Life (QoL) and their academic performance. Methods This cross-sectional study aims to assess the impact of online education on health-related QoL in a sample of 401 medical students. Results Most students attended all the online sessions, and around 32% participated in some of them. Only 16.2% reported high satisfaction from the online sessions, and almost 39% reported low satisfaction. Overall, medical students had moderate QoL. Online education affected medical students psychologically more than physically, translated by higher scores for the physical components than the mental ones. Students who preferred online over in-person education had significantly lower scores for the mental domains, namely lower social functioning and emotional role scores. Academic satisfaction did not influence any SF-36 scores, and students' preferences (online or in-person education) did not affect any of the physical component scores. Conclusion The pandemic directly impacted the QoL of medical students, namely their mental health. Medical students in Lebanon had a higher preference for in-person education, possibly due to its novelty and to other technological, technical, or personal challenges. Future research exploring the reasons and viable solutions should be performed to maintain a steady level of education during unanticipated situations.
ABSTRACT
Background: Community pharmacists played an essential role in the control and management of the COVID-19 pandemic; both pharmaceutical care and community pharmacists were affected, given that, patients' needs and demands increased due to the fear of lockdowns and shortage of medication throughout the pandemic. Objectives: This study was based in Lebanon and aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on (1) pharmacists, including infection rates, pay, and working hours, and (2) pharmacy practice, including medicine and personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages. Design: A cross-sectional study involving 120 community pharmacists was carried out between August and November 2021. Methods: Data were collected using an online survey filled out by pharmacists working in Lebanon. Results: Most participants (71.7%) reported an increase in their income during the pandemic, and 60% reduced their working hours. A significant association was noted between being previously infected and marital status, level of education, work position, and salary of the participants. Most participants (95.8%) encountered a shortage of medications during the pandemic leading to high home storage of medication, searching for other sources of medicines, and decreased patient/pharmacist interactions. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic imposed new challenges on pharmacists and the provision of pharmaceutical care. It affected pharmacists' daily routines, putting them at risk of infection with limited availability of medicines and PPE. This study suggests that establishing effective crisis management plans to increase community pharmacists' resilience during similar outbreaks.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Home confinement and lockdowns have created challenges and vulnerabilities, causing relevant changes in sexual health and couple stability, particularly in women. The objective of this study was to evaluate the socio-economic and psychological factors related to current pregnancy status and unwanted pregnancy among Lebanese women during the COVID-19 lockdown. METHODS: A cross-sectional online study conducted between June 8 and August 1, 2020, enrolled 369 Lebanese women using the snowball technique for data collection. All married women between 18 and 51, with access to the internet and currently living with their partners, were eligible to participate. Current pregnancy status and unwanted pregnancy were assessed using binary questions. The SPSS software 25 was used for data analysis, and multivariable analysis was performed, taking the pregnancy status and unwanted pregnancy as the dependent variables. The statistical significance was set at a p-value < 0.05. RESULTS: Our results showed that 11.1% of women were pregnant, of whom 22.0% reported unwanted pregnancies. Having children (ORa = 0.183) and taking contraceptives (ORa = 0.231) were significantly associated with a reduced chance of becoming pregnant. Higher psychological violence would negatively affect pregnancy, but the association was not significant (p = 0.065). Regular visits to the physician for routine checks were also linked to a decreased risk of unwanted pregnancy (ORa = 0.053). Higher psychological violence would affect unwanted pregnancy; however, the association was insignificant (p = 0.056). CONCLUSION: The study findings showed that having children and taking contraceptives are associated with a reduced pregnancy. Additionally, psychological violence was found to be related to current pregnancy status and unplanned pregnancy. During a pandemic, vulnerable women should be identified and given adequate care, knowledge, and awareness regarding their reproductive health.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Autonomy involves making independent decisions and creating lasting and equitable power relationships within families. Many factors, dependent on both the woman and her partner, can influence self-dependence, and subsequent decision-making, exerting a protective or triggering effect on its development. Therefore, the primary objective of the study was to assess autonomy in a sample of Lebanese women. The secondary objective was to evaluate the association between socioeconomic status, psychological factors, and autonomy. METHODS: A web based cross-sectional online study was conducted between June 8 and August 1, 2020. The questionnaire developed on Google Forms was distributed through social media and WhatsApp groups, using the snowball technique. The Women's Autonomy Index (WAI) was created using three items adapted from a previous study. In addition, the Composite Abuse Scale Revised-Short Form (CASR-SF) was used to assess three domains of abuse: physical, sexual, and psychological. The Perceived stress scale short version to measure stress perception, the Lebanese Anxiety Scale to measure anxiety and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to assess depression. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 25 was used for data analysis. Linear regressions were performed, taking the Women's Autonomy Index as the dependent variable. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 369 Lebanese women. University education level (beta = 1.263), alcohol consumption (beta = 0.586), intermediate income level (beta = 0.702), high income (beta = 0.911), employment (beta = 0.559), and older age (beta = 0.033) were significantly associated with higher WAI. Living in South Lebanon (beta = - 0.668) and being Druze (beta = - 323) were associated with lower WAI. Significantly higher mean scores of anxiety and perceived stress were found among women with low autonomy. CONCLUSION: In Lebanon, the autonomy of women depends on several personal and partner-related characteristics (education, socioeconomic status, age), in addition to the cultural (geographic and religious) environment. Furthermore, low autonomy is associated with higher perceived stress and anxiety and probable depression and domestic abuse.