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Research indicates the COVID-19 epidemic changes people's health and diet, However, this has not yet been well discussed in Taiwan, especially in college students. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of distance learning on college students' dietary patterns, sleep quality and perception of stress during the COVID-19 epidemic in Taiwan. 265 college students from a university in Taichung were recruited in this study. The self-administered online questionnaire was used to investigate the changes in eating behavior, sleep quality, and perception of stress before and one month after distance learning, and further analyzed the relationship among them. The questionnaire contains demographic information, dietary questionnaires (including six categories of food intake behaviors, convenience food intake frequency), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Perceived Stress Scale (Chinese 14-item PSS). The results showed that the proportion of college students to meet the recommended Taiwan Dietary Guidelines amount in vegetables (21.9%), fruits (27.5%), meats and dairy products (15.8%), and nuts and seeds (11.3%) were lower during distance learning. The frequency of convenient food intake was lower during distance learning (13.31 +/- 6.10 points;never to occasionally). During the distance learning period, there was a significant negative correlation between dietary patterns and sleep quality (r = -0.160, p = 0.009), It shows that college students with higher dietary pattern scores have better sleep quality. During the distance learning period, there was a significant positive correlation between sleep quality and perceived stress (r = 0.320, p < 0.001), It shows that college students with higher levels of stress had poorer sleep quality. This study found that the lower the perceived stress of college students, the better their diet and sleep quality;conversely, the higher the perceived stress, the worse their diet and sleep quality. Studies have shown that a healthy, balanced diet can reduce the risk of getting various diseases. Therefore, in the post-epidemic era, it is recommended that schools increase the accessibility and availability of vegetables, fruits, dairy products, nuts and seeds on campus to make it easier for teachers and students to obtain such healthy food in order to achieve the goal of promoting balanced diet.Copyright © 2022 Nutrition Society in Taipei. All rights reserved.
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Background and purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic have led to some psychological disorders and sleep problems that should be taken into account after recovery. After recovering from COVID-19 people are at risk of sleep disorders, depression, and low quality of life and there is paucity of information about this issue. The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of mindfulness and aerobic exercise on depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and sleep quality in recovered COVID-19 patients. Material(s) and Method(s): An intervention field research was performed in 60 male and female patients (mean age: 39.52+/-5.82) recovered from COVID-19 in Kermanshah, Iran. Participants were randomly divided into four groups (n=15): 1) attending mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program, 2) aerobic exercise, 3) combination of MBSR and aerobic exercise, and 4) control group. The study was carried out at four stages: pretest, interventions, post-test, and follow-up test. Dependent variables included depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and sleep quality. Bonferroni Post hoc test in 4*3 mixed ANOVA was used for data analysis. Result(s): In this study, depression and perceived stress reduced in all experimental groups compared to the control group (P= 0.001). Also, sleep quality improved in these groups compared to the control group (P= 0.001). Post hoc tests showed the superiority of combination of MBSR and aerobic exercise compared to other interventions. Conclusion(s): According to current study, combination of MBSR and physical activity shows to be more helpful than mindfulness training and physical activity alone in improving psychological problems and sleep quality after recovering from COVID-19.Copyright © 2023, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.
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In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the burden on healthcare professionals at all levels has increased significantly, especially those who are at the forefront of the fight for patients' lives. Physicians directly caring for COVID-19 patients are exposed to excessive stress and significant biological and psychosocial risk. Objective. To identify the features of the mental state of doctors of various specialties during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and methods. The study included 85 doctors of the Arkhangelsk region: 41 anesthesiologists/intensive care physicians (mean age 32.4+/-5.0 years) and 44 general practitioners (mean age 38.9+/-4.2 years). The study was conducted during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (from May to June 2021). We used the following study methods: questionnaire, psychological testing (K. Maslach and S. Jackson Burnout Inventory (MBI), Beck's Depression Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale, World Health Organisation-Five Well-Being Index), mathematical and statistical processing of empirical data. Results and discussion. Analysis of the results showed that about half of the surveyed general practitioners and only 3 (7.3%) of the anesthesiologists/intensive care physicians had a history of COVID-19, having contracted it while performing professional duties. Manifestations of maladaptation, such as low professional competence, lack of soft skills, aggressiveness, introversion, risktaking, recklessness, and family problems, are more pronounced in anesthesiologists/intensive care physicians. They were more likely to have negative emotions and feelings, were less satisfied with themselves and life in general, and had a lower well-being index than general practitioners. General practitioners overestimated their professional burnout severity and more often complained about their state of health. Correlation analysis of the examination results for anesthesiologists/intensive care physicians allowed us to identify direct relationships between the level of perceived stress, overstrain and depression, low mood, difficulties in relationships with relatives and colleagues, dissatisfaction with various aspects of life, inverse relationships between the level of perceived stress and the well-being index. In general practitioners, direct relationships were established between perceived stress and overexertion, and inverse relationships were established between the level of perceived stress, the well-being index, and the reduction of personal achievements. Conclusion. The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacts anesthesiologists/intensive care physicians more than general practitioners, causing negative emotions and maladaptation. In primary care physicians, the pandemic increases mobilization processes to address emerging professional challenges. Therefore, special attention should be paid to psychological support for anesthesiologists/intensive care physicians.Copyright © 2023, Media Sphera Publishing Group. All rights reserved.
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Background: The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the constant transformation of the SARS-COV-2 virus form, exposure to substantial psychosocial stress, environmental change, and isolation have led to the inference that the overall population's mental health could be affected, resulting in an increase in cases of psychosis. Objective(s): We initiated a systematic review to determine the impact of the SARS-COV-2 virus and its long-term effects-in both symptomatic and asymptomatic cases-on people with or without psychosis. We envisioned that this would give us an insight into effective clinical intervention methods for patients with psychosis during and after the pandemic. Method(s): We selected fifteen papers that met our inclusion criteria, i.e., those that considered participants with or without psychiatric illness and exposed to SARS-COV-2 infection, for this review and were retrieved via Google, Google Scholar, MEDLINE, PubMed, and PsychINFO Database. Key Gap: There is a dearth of research in understanding how COVID-19 affects people with or without a prior personal history of psychosis. Result(s): The systematic review summary provides insight into the state of knowledge. Insights from the systematic review have also been reviewed from the salutogenesis model's perspec-tive. There is moderate evidence of new-onset psychosis during the COVID-19 pandemic in which some antipsychotics treated the psychotic symptoms of patients while treating for COVID-19. Suggestions and recommendations are made for preventive and promotive public health strategies. Conclusion(s): The Salutogenesis model and Positive Psychology Interventions (PPI) provide another preventive and promotive public health management approach.Copyright © 2023 Bentham Science Publishers.
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Aim: Adolescents have experienced disruption in their daily routines, including changes in health behaviors such as an increased sedentary behavior and increased smartphone usage. The aim of this study was to assess the association of health behaviors with mental health problems. Method(s): Five cross-sectional surveys (February 2021 to May 2022) were performed during the pandemic assessing physical activity, smartphone usage, depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionaire-9 (PHQ-9)), anxiety symptoms (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale 7 (GAD-7)), sleep quality (Insomnia Severity Index 7 (ISI-7)), and stress (Perceived Stress Scale 10 (PSS-10)). In total, N = 7201 adolescents (age: 14-20 years ((MW +/- SD): 16.63 +/- 1.49 years);70.2% female, 18.8% migration background) participated. Result(s): A strong increase in mobile phone usage as well as a decrease in physical activity as compared to pre-pandemic data were observed (p < 0.001). Compared to the lowest smartphone user group (<1 h/d), the adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for depressive symptoms increased with increasing smartphone usage to 1.98 (3-4 h/d), 3.30 (5-6 h/d), 4.96 (7-8 h/d), and 6.79 (>8 h/d). High utilizers (>8 h/d) were also more likely to experience clinically relevant anxiety, insomnia, or stress symptoms (aORs 3.23-5.75) compared to those using the smartphone less than 1 h/d. Conclusion(s): Results highlight the need for measures to promote responsible smartphone usage as well as to increase physical activity, so as to promote mental health in adolescence.Copyright © 2023
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Background: Stress and depression are common mental health concerns among college students. Factors related to weight status and stigma are associated with poor mental health outcomes. We sought to describe the prevalence of weight dissatisfaction in relation to stress and depression among college students (n = 551). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted via a convenient sample between December 2020 and February 2021. Mean differences in the Perceived Stress Scale-10 scores and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale scores were examined using a one-way analysis of variance. Associations between stress, depression, and weight dissatisfaction were measured by logistic regression. Results: Weight dissatisfied (75.1%) students had significantly higher mean depression scores compared to weight satisfied. The weight dissatisfied students were 1.05 times more likely to be depressed compared to those who were weight satisfied. Significant mean differences in stress and/or depression were found for weight dissatisfied students by gender, race, parental status, marital status, residence, and U.S. citizenship. Weight dissatisfaction was higher than that reported in the literature, possibly due to the influence of social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions: Strategies to reduce the prevalence of weight dissatisfaction for improved mental health should be explored, particularly efforts to reduce weight stigmatization and expand access to mental health care. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of COVID is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)
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Introduction: Stress is associated with multiple adverse health outcomes, including hypertension. The impact of stress on health may be moderated by social support. The distribution of stress, support, and their association with hypertension have not been well described in low-income countries that face severe poverty. Over the past decade, Haiti has suffered massive natural disasters including the 2010 earthquake, cholera outbreak, COVID-19 pandemic, and recurrent civil instability-all of which may act as prolonged stressors.Hypothesis: We assessed the hypotheses that 1) there are high levels of both stress and support in Haiti, and 2) high support would moderate the relationship between high stress and hypertension. Method(s): We measured stress and social support using validated instruments in a population-representative cohort of adults living in urban Port-au-Prince, Haiti between March 2019 and April 2021. Stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Scale, while social support was measured using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. For visualization, continuous scores were categorized using equal-width groups (stress: low (1-5), moderate (6-10), high (11-16);support: low (7-21), low-moderate (22-35), moderate (36-49), moderate-high (50-64), high (65-77)). Linear regression models were used to quantify the associations between: 1) stress and support adjusting for age and sex, 2) blood pressure and stress adjusting for age and sex. A formal moderation analysis was conducted to assess if support moderated the relationship between stress and blood pressure. Result(s): Among 2,817 adults, 59.7% female and the median age was 40 years (IQR 28-55). The majority had an income of less than 1 US dollar a day (69.7%). The median stress score was 8 out of 16 points, and median support score was 61 out of 77 points. Stress was higher with older ages (60+ years versus 18-29 years: +0.79 points, 95% CI 0.51 to 1.08) and in females (+0.85 points, 95% CI +0.65 to +1.06). Support was higher in males (+3.29 points, 95% CI 2.19 to 4.39). Support was inversely associated with stress, adjusting for age and sex (-0.04 points, 95% CI -0.04 to -0.03). Stress was not associated with systolic or diastolic blood pressure after adjustment for age and sex. Support did not moderate the association between stress and blood pressure. Conclusion(s): In this urban cohort of Haitian adults living with chronic civil instability, stress was moderate and support was high. While support was associated with lower stress, it did not moderate the relationship between stress and blood pressure. Despite the high levels of instability in Haiti, participants displayed resiliency through high levels of support, which may be an underutilized resource in reducing stress and long-term negative health outcomes.
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Purpose of Study: College for many is a time of transition. This transition from adolescence to young adulthood can be very stressful. During the COVID-19 pandemic, rates of suicide, depression and anxiety increased in adolescents and young adults. Recently, Wang and colleagues (2020) found that among 2,031 students in a large US university, 48% reported having moderate-to-severe depression, 38% had moderate-to-severe anxiety, and 18% had thoughts of suicide. Effective strategies to help emerging adults cope with stress is critically needed to decrease these alarming data. The primary aim of this study was to compare the effects of aerobic exercise and yoga on college students' perceived levels of stress. A secondary aim of the study was to examine whether athlete status would moderate the effectiveness of either intervention. Methods Used: A sample of 55 college students were recruited via email during the spring of 2022. Students were randomly assigned to complete a single, 20-minute session of either yoga or aerobic exercise. Participant's current and chronic stress levels were recorded both before and after exercise. Chronic stress was measured using Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale and current stress was measured using a modified version of the same scale. To support the second research aim, participants were asked to report if they were a member of a college-affiliated athletic team during the 2021-2022 academic year. Demographic characteristics including age, gender, and ethnicity were also collected. Summary of Results: A 2 (Time) X 2 (Condition) x 2 (Athlete Status) mixed factorial ANOVA was conducted. Results indicated that both aerobic exercise and yoga led to a significant decrease in chronic stress (p=.03), although there were no meaningful differences between the two conditions (p=.075). This pattern of results held for current stress as well, with both groups experiencing an equivalent decrease in current stress (p<.001). Athlete-status did not significantly predict changes in current or chronic stress, nor did it moderate the efficacy of either intervention. Conclusion(s): Taken together, these findings indicate that a small bout of exercise, regardless of type, can help decrease reported stress for college students. They also provide preliminary evidence about the efficacy of exercise as stress reduction for college athletes. Our findings provide further support for using exercise as a practical strategy for coping with stress. (Table Presented).
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In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the burden on healthcare professionals at all levels has increased significantly, especially those who are at the forefront of the fight for patients' lives. Physicians directly caring for COVID-19 patients are exposed to excessive stress and significant biological and psychosocial risk. Objective. To identify the features of the mental state of doctors of various specialties during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and methods. The study included 85 doctors of the Arkhangelsk region: 41 anesthesiologists/intensive care physicians (mean age 32.4+/-5.0 years) and 44 general practitioners (mean age 38.9+/-4.2 years). The study was conducted during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (from May to June 2021). We used the following study methods: questionnaire, psychological testing (K. Maslach and S. Jackson Burnout Inventory (MBI), Beck's Depression Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale, World Health Organisation-Five Well-Being Index), mathematical and statistical processing of empirical data. Results and discussion. Analysis of the results showed that about half of the surveyed general practitioners and only 3 (7.3%) of the anesthesiologists/intensive care physicians had a history of COVID-19, having contracted it while performing professional duties. Manifestations of maladaptation, such as low professional competence, lack of soft skills, aggressiveness, introversion, risktaking, recklessness, and family problems, are more pronounced in anesthesiologists/intensive care physicians. They were more likely to have negative emotions and feelings, were less satisfied with themselves and life in general, and had a lower well-being index than general practitioners. General practitioners overestimated their professional burnout severity and more often complained about their state of health. Correlation analysis of the examination results for anesthesiologists/intensive care physicians allowed us to identify direct relationships between the level of perceived stress, overstrain and depression, low mood, difficulties in relationships with relatives and colleagues, dissatisfaction with various aspects of life, inverse relationships between the level of perceived stress and the well-being index. In general practitioners, direct relationships were established between perceived stress and overexertion, and inverse relationships were established between the level of perceived stress, the well-being index, and the reduction of personal achievements. Conclusion. The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacts anesthesiologists/intensive care physicians more than general practitioners, causing negative emotions and maladaptation. In primary care physicians, the pandemic increases mobilization processes to address emerging professional challenges. Therefore, special attention should be paid to psychological support for anesthesiologists/intensive care physicians.Copyright © 2023, Media Sphera Publishing Group. All rights reserved.
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Background: Anxiety and depression levels are significant in caregivers of young people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF) [1]. Literature also shows that perceived self-efficacy (a person's beliefs about their capabilities) is lower in caregivers of children with chronic illness;particularly with increased stress, lack of resources, or ambiguity related to illness course [2,3]. There are few studies looking at the effects of the pandemic on self-efficacy in caregivers and children. Given the national distress, school closures, and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, our team aimed to investigate effects on caregivers of young PwCF (<=18) at our CF center, particularly their perceived stress, anxiety, and self-efficacy. Method(s): An anonymous survey using REDCap was developed to look at descriptive features of caregiver demographics, number of children in the home with CF, and perceptions related to COVID-19 and how it affected their lifestyle. Caregivers completing the survey rated their current stress, anxiety, and depression levels. The PROMIS self-efficacy tool, a validated measure of perceived self-efficacy, was incorporated into the survey. Most response options were on a Likert scale. The survey was available electronically through hyperlink and a QR scan code. Result(s): Of 17 caregivers who responded to our initial survey, 82% reported that COVID-19 had significantly affected their lives, 41% experienced financial hardship, 53% were feeling "more" or "much more" anxious, 76% were feeling angrier, and 94% reported "more" or "much more" stress than before the pandemic (Figure 1). Many respondents were worried about spreading illness to their children or being unable to care for their child. Perceived self-efficacy scores were average to high in most caregivers, indicating confidence in their abilities to manage difficult situations. Respondents were more likely to be female and well educated and have private insurance. (Figure Presented) Figure 1. Responses to difference in current perceived stress level before and durring the pandemic Conclusion(s): This is the first known descriptive study to look at effects of a worldwide pandemic on caregivers of young PwCF. It also is one of few studies examining caregiver perceived self-efficacy in CF. It was limited by the number of responses, skewed demographics of those who responded, and being administered at a single CF center. We found that caregivers of PwCF at our center are experiencing higher rates of stress, anxiety, and anger. This did not seem to affect their perceived self-efficacy, although therewas no pre-pandemic measurement.We learned thatwe need to find ways to reach a larger demographic and those who are underrepresented. This study shows the need to better understand caregiver emotional distress, especially during times of ambiguity. Understanding caregiver stress and perceived self-efficacy has the potential to provide insight for the medical team on supportive ways to abate negative outcomes in young PwCFCopyright © 2022, European Cystic Fibrosis Society. All rights reserved
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Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic precipitated a swift transition to online learning in medical and health sciences. This study investigated the associations of previous experience with online learning, current confidence with online learning, and resilient coping skills with perceived stress reported by pharmacy students during the emergency transition to online learning. Methods: Undergraduate pharmacy students (N=113, response rate = 41%) completed an online, self-report, cross-sectional survey during April-June 2020. Measures included Likert items measuring prior experience and current comfort levels with online learning, the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS), and the Perceived Stress Scale 10-Item Version (PSS-10). Experience, comfort with online learning, reported scores, and internal consistency for the BRCS and PSS-10 were summarized. A linear regression model examined the associations of prior experience with online education, gender, and resilient coping with perceived stress. Results: Of the 113 respondents (78% female, mean age 22.3 years), > 50% had only occasional prior experience with online learning, coursework, and examinations, but 63% expressed confidence with online learning. Mean PSS-10 and BRCS scores were 23.8 and 13.3, respectively, and both scales demonstrated good internal consistency (α > 0.80). BRCS score was the single predictor of the PSS-10 score (r2 = 0.18, p < 0.001). Female gender was not a significant predictor (p = 0.11). A multiple regression model explained moderate variation in perceived stress (adjusted R2 = 0.19). Conclusion: PSS-10 and BRCS scores indicated moderate levels of stress and coping skills among students during online teaching. Most students had some prior exposure to online learning, coursework, and examinations. Higher resiliency scores, but not prior online learning experience, predicted lower perceived stress.
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Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the psychiatric distress, including stress, anxiety, and depression levels, among COVID-19 positive patients who were admitted between 01 July 2020 to 31 August 2020 to the COVID-19 isolation ward of the Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences, Saifai, Etawah India. Participants included 100 patients, with 55 males and 45 females. The majority of admitted patients (81%) were illiterate. Out of 100 patients, 83 were married, 16 were unmarried, and only 1 was a widow. Method(s): Levels of anxiety, depression, and stress level were noted in admitted patients using Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) depression assessment, and Perceived Stress Scale 4 (PSS-4) assessment techniques, respectively. Result(s): Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) depression assessment results showed minimal, mild, and moderate depression in 9, 25, and 66 patients, respectively, with a 10.6 median score of PHQ-9. Mild, moderate, and severe anxiety (GAD-7 score) was present in 22, 28, and 50 of the patients surveyed. The mean Perceived Stress Scale 4 (PSS-4) was also analyzed, and it reported 6.1 values. The results of the study demonstrated that the patients had a high label of psychiatric distress, but still, admitted patients believe that they will come out from this pandemic condition. Conclusion(s): Although patients claimed psychiatric distress and mental health illness, they still denied the requirement of any mental health professionals to minimize stress levels and were satisfied with the medical facilities available in a hospital located in a rural area.Copyright © 2022 Bentham Science Publishers.
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The global pandemic of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) declared in March 2020 has created unprecedented challenges for healthcare professionals and organizations. A significant impact has been physical and psychological stress on nurses working in acute care environments. Stress-related growth may occur concurrently with the experience of negative psychological responses as another facet of coping and adjustment to the stressful event. The primary aim of this study was to describe the degree to which nurses reported stress, anxiety, and stress-related growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. This article discusses the study methods, which included a cross-sectional design with an online survey sent to nurses in a hospital system. Results demonstrated that, of the 1,009 participants in the final analysis, almost 70% reported anxiety symptoms, with 38% having scores at the moderate or severe level. Growth scores were low. Our discussion considers cultural implications of the findings and implications for practice that underscore the need for proactive interventions to mitigate the psychological burden of the pandemic on nurses and the need to implement routine screening of nurses for anxiety. © 2023.
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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has placed an unprecedented physical and mental burden on healthcare workers who are frequently at high risk of infection, particularly in low-income countries. Particularly, allergists who are frequently exposed to the airway and respiratory diseases. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of anxiety, depression, and stress, as well as changes in daily and occupational activities among healthcare professionals due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Colombia. Method(s): An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted between February and June 2021. The survey incorporated validated mental health tools such as the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and the Perceived Stress Scale-10. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with severe mental health outcomes. Result(s): Among 1345 healthcare workers the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress were 75.61%, 59.18%, and 53.09%, respectively. Anxiety (OR:1.44;95%CI:1.16-1.8), depression (OR:1.74;95%CI:1.27-2.37), and stress (OR:1.51;95%CI:1.18-1.94) were more frequent in women, and individuals who expressed fear of a negative outcome (death, sequelae) (OR:2.25;95%CI:1.60-3.25), (OR:1.49;95%CI:1.03-2.16) and (OR:2.36;95%CI:1.69-3.29) respectively. Allergists were morelikely to report symptoms of anxiety (76.47%), depression(43.14%), and stress (49.02%). Age was negatively associated with anxiety (OR:0.98;95%CI:0.98-0.99), stress (OR:0.98;95%CI:0.97-0.99), and depression (OR:0.97;95% CI:0.96-0.98). Reduction in consultations and surgeries (OR:1.01;95%CI:1.0-1.01) was positively associated with anxiety. Due to the pandemic, most specialists expected to incorporate drastic long-term (>1 year) changes in their clinical setting and daily activities. Conclusion(s): The prevalence of anxiety, depression, and stress is higher among Colombian healthcare workers compared to previous reports. Further research regarding these psychological outcomes is needed to achieve early mental health intervention strategies.
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Background: Stress amidst the COVID-19 pandemic is becoming more prevalent. This paper aimed to describe the validation process of the Malay Perceived Stress Scale modified for COVID-19 (PSS-10-C) amongst Malaysian youths. Methods: The cross-sectional validation study design was employed in this study. In Phase I, the scale was translated into Malay by using the forward-backward method. In Phase 2, principal axis factoring and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted in Study 1 (n = 267) and Study 2 (n = 324), respectively. Results: A two-factor solution, comprising 'distress' and 'coping' domains was derived (cumulative variance = 65.2%) in Phase 2. Concurrent validity evaluated via the Beck Hopelessness Scale revealed a moderate positive correlation (0.528). In Study 2 (n = 324), the confirmatory factor analysis showed that the two-factor model achieved acceptable model fit indices, including χ2/df ratio = 2.57; root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.07; 95% CI = 0.05, 0.09; Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI) = 0.95 and Normed Fit Index (NFI) = 0.94. The Cronbach's alpha scale score was 0.855 for the study samples. Conclusion: The Malay PSS-10-C is a valid and reliable scale to be used amongst Malaysian youths.
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Introduction: Health care providers are vital resources for every country. Their health and safety are crucial not only for continuous and safe patient care, but also for control of any outbreak. Mental workload is a broad multidimensional construct. It refers to a subjective experience of the costs incurred by a physician in performing patient. Mental demand, physical demand, temporal demand, effort, performance and frustration levels are the important dimensions on workload. Recognizing the degree to which we are affected and making strategies to make life better is important. Objective(s): To assess the mental workload status of doctors who are catering to mainly industrial workforce and what is its dimension which is putting a toll on them and the degree of stress they are experiencing, and to correlate between workload and stress levels. Material(s) and Method(s): A cross sectional study was carried out in ESIC Medical College and Hospital, from September 1 to December 31 ,2020. Both online and offline survey questionnaires were used to collect the data from doctors working in ESIC hospital, which was started after clearance from IEC and consent from participants. Workload was assessed using NASA task load index which contains 6 dimensions. This was assessed using a scale graded from 0 to 10 and stress levels were assessed using perceived stress scale. Result(s): A total of 104 participants responded to the survey of which 40(38.5%) were female and 64(61.5%) were male. The proportion of participants with high mental demand were 68(65.4%), physical demand 44(42.3%), effort demand 74(71.2%), frustration 40(38.5%), performance demand 8(7.7%) and temporal demand 44(42.3%). The proportion of participants with higher levels of workload were 90(86.5%), among whom, females were 37.8 % and males were 62.2 %. The perceived stress scale showed 2(1.9%) of participants were in low stress (score 0-13) And 80(76.9%) were in moderate stress (score 14-26) and 22(21.2%) were in high stress (score 27-40). Among participants with high stress levels 45.5 % were females and 54.5% were males. The calculated overall workload mean scores was 66.23+15.383 and perceived stress was 22.01+5.55 which is positively correlated and statistically significant. Conclusion(s): A considerate proportion of doctors' experience high workload and stress levels. Doctors being frontline workers are more vulnerable for mental health problems which are still underreported and is expected to be very considerate. There is a need to implant ways to decrease the stress levels of doctors and for better patient care.
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Purpose: Previous evidence suggests that increased mindfulness is associated with lower levels of pain and less psychological stress among chronic musculoskeletal pain patients. However, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on knee osteoarthritis outcomes and its correlation to facets of mindfulness has not been clearly delineated. Therefore, we examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical and psychological outcomes in knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients and tested whether this relationship is mediated by mindfulness. Method(s): Cross-sectional analysis was performed on baseline data from a randomized trial for knee OA. We measured COVID-19 impact (Epidemic-Pandemic Impacts Inventory [EPII]), mindfulness (Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire [FFMQ]), pain and physical function (Western Ontario and McMaster University Index [WOMAC]), and psychological symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS], Perceived Stress Scale). Pearson's correlation coefficients estimated associations between the COVID-19 pandemic's impact, mindfulness, and physical and psychological factors. We evaluated whether mindfulness mediated associations between the COVID-19 pandemic impacts and psychological health. Result(s): A total of 40 diverse knee OA patients were included in the analysis, age 66+/-8 years;60% women;43% non-white;body mass index 31+/-7 kg/m2. Table 1 summarizes correlations. Higher negative COVID-19 impact was associated with higher anxiety (p<0.05, r=0.41) and depressive symptoms (p<0.05, r=0.38). Mindfulness did not mediate the association, shown in Figure 1. However, higher total mindfulness was associated with lower WOMAC-pain (r=-0.36, p<0.05, r=-0.32, p<0.05), less depressive (p<0.01, r =-0.49) and anxiety symptoms (p<0.05, r = -0.38). Conclusion(s): Higher negative COVID-19 impact is associated with worse psychological wellbeing in knee OA patients. Consistent with our previous findings, higher levels of mindfulness are associated with less pain, depression, and anxiety. This cumulative evidence warrants longitudinal studies exploring how mind-body therapies aiming to cultivate mindfulness may impact the well-being of patients with knee OA. [Formula presented] [Formula presented]Copyright © 2023
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Background: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a growing recognition of its psychiatric implications. Anxiety, stress and sleep disorders are the main issues faced by healthcare professionals but less is known on the general population. We sought to determine the prevalence of neuro-psychiatric disorders, pain and fatigue in COVID-19 patients compared to healthy controls. The secondary outcome was to define the determinants of such disorders. Method(s): This single centre, prospective, observational, cohort study enrolled adult patients referring to the postCOVID-19 outpatient clinic of our University hospital from January 2021 to June 2021. Anthropometrical and functional respiratory data were collected, pain and fatigue were evaluated through a VAS scale while stress, anxiety, quality of sleep and the impact of the event were evaluated through questionnaires: perceived stress scale, ZUNG 1971, Pittsburgh and impact of events scale. Result(s): 301 cases and 115 controls were enrolled. The COVID-19 group had a higher prevalence of stress (scale points 18 vs 3, p<0.01), anxiety (ZUNG score 39 vs 21, p<0.01), and poor sleep (68.1% vs 6.1%, p<0.01). Alongside they had a significantly higher VAS pain score (2 vs 0, p<0.001) and VAS fatigue (3 vs 0, p<0.001). Female gender was the only feature that could predict fatigue, pain, anxiety, poor sleep quality and post-traumatic stress disorder syndrome. COVID-19 severity wasn't associated with any psichological sequelae. Conclusion(s): In an outpatient setting, stress, anxiety, sleep quality, pain and fatigue should be assessed in the holistic view of post-COVID-19 patients, especially in females.
ABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to explore the associations between visual outcomes of ocular injury patients in a tertiary hospital unit with clinical and demographic variables and to evaluate the psychosocial impact of the injury on the patients. An 18-month prospective study of 30 eye-injured adult patients was conducted in the General University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, a tertiary referral hospital. All severe eye injury case information was prospectively collected between February 1, 2020 and August 31, 2021. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was labelled not poor (>0.5/10 or >20/400 on the Snellen scale, <1.3 in LogMAR scale) and poor (≤0.5/10 or ≤20/400 on the Snellen scale, ≥1.3 on the LogMAR equivalent). Data regarding participants' perceived stress levels, by using Perceived Stress Scale 14 (PSS-14), were collected prospectively, one year after study end. Out of 30 ocular injury patients selected, 76.7% were men and most of them were self-employed and private or public sector workers (36.7%). Not poor final BCVA was related to not poor initial BCVA [odds ratio (OR) 1.714;P=0.006]. No statistical associations were found between visual outcome and demographic or clinical factors, but not poor final BCVA was associated with improved self-reported psychological condition of the sufferers, as examined by a questionnaire sheet developed to collect information for study purpose (8.36/10 vs. 6.40/10;P=0.011). No patient reported job loss or changed work status following the injury. Not poor initial BCVA was a significant predictor for not poor final visual outcomes (OR 1.714;P=0.006). Patients with not poor final BCVA expressed higher levels of positive psychology (8.36/10 vs. 6.40/10;P=0.011) and less fear of eye injury repetition (64.0 vs. 100.0%;P=0.286). Not poor final BCVA was associated with low PSS-14 scores one year after study end (77.3 vs. 0.0%, P=0.003). Collaboration between ophthalmologists, mental health professionals and primary care team may be important in order to help patients to cope with the psychosocial burden sequel to eye trauma. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Experimental & Therapeutic Medicine is the property of Spandidos Publications UK Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The practice of mindfulness, formalised in the structuring of well-known protocols such as Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), have proven to be very effective in reducing stress related to chronic conditions (Cherkin et al., 2016;Johns et al., 2015) and of depression (Hilton et al, 2017;Schumer, Lindsay, & David Creswell, 2018). However, these protocols generally require a high level of engagement for participants, which is why, in the present exploratory study, we opted to evaluate the implementation of a shor and less intensive Mindfulness-based protocol, but which showed good results on health-related outcomes, even with a single session (Howarth, Smith, Perkins-Porras, & Ussher, 2019). The overall objective of this exploratory study was to develop and evaluate the implementation of a short-term, Mindfulness-based intervention conducted in telemedicine, compared with usual care alone, on the symptoms associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Stress Disorder (PTSD) of persons who have previously tested positive for COVID-19, admitted to a resuscitation and/or intensive care unit and then in pulmonary rehabilitation following negativization. Method(s): The present pilot randomised controlled trial compared the impact of a Mindfulness-based brief intervention conducted in telemedicine (n=20) for a period of 5-6 sessions of 45 minutes each, for a total commitment of 3 weeks, to a wait-list control (n=20), involving people who have been previously tested positive for COVID-19, admitted to intensive care or reanimation and subsequently in respiratory rehabilitation following negativization. The General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Impact of Event Scale (IES), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), State Shame and Guilt Scale-8, Peritraumatic Perceptions of Fear and life threat, Psychological General Well-being Index (PGWBI), respiratory functions, oxygen saturation, haemogasanalysis were detected at baseline, 3 weeks, and 3 months. Descriptive analyses were conducted with respect to clinical and socio-demographic variables, as well as the primary and secondary outcomes. All statistical analyses were conducted according to an intention-to-treat system. In addition, using linear mixed models, intra- and inter-group comparisons were carried out on the primary and secondary outcome indices. The analyses were considered statistically significant for p<.005. Moreover, semi-structured interviews conducted according to the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach detected the participants' emotional experiences, expectations, and beliefs about their experience of illness. Themes that emerged and recurring themes during the course and interviews were analysed from a qualitative point of view, distinguishing the data emerged from the participants' interviews and those from the carers. Result(s): This pilot study found that the Experimental Group pursued improvements in terms of symptoms related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the secondary outcomes outlined above over the course of the three surveys. Furthermore, with regard to the parameters pertaining to respiratory function, spirometry and arterial and venous haematochemical examinations, these were not inferior to those achieved by the Control Group. From the qualitative analysis part, it was possible to detect the presence of descriptive, linguistic, and conceptual comments. Relevant was the theme of contact with death and the emotional experiences associated with it, which emerged in different keys in both patients and caregivers. It is also useful to note the reported progressive change of perspective on how the patient deals with the remaining symptoms of COVID-19 during the proposed sessions. Conclusion(s): This study showed the potential of an affordable and widely accessible Mindfulness-based brief intervention in clinical practice, offering a view of hospital-territory continuity following the acute phase of COVID-19 disease.