Nurses' mental health from early COVID-19 pandemic to vaccination.

AIMS: The influence of the COVID-19 vaccine and the evolution of the pandemic over time on nurses' mental health have not been thoroughly examined. This study aimed to explore the changes in nurses' mental health from the early pandemic to the early vaccination period over a 1-year time span and examine vaccination and coping mechanisms as predictors of nurses' poor mental health and burnout. METHODS: Three cross-sectional surveys were conducted: Early-pandemic (n = 320), pre-vaccination (n = 228), and early-vaccination cohorts (n = 292). FINDINGS: About 72% of nurses in the early-vaccination cohort were fully vaccinated with two doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. There were significant decreases in moderate/severe anxiety and moderate/severe depression for the early-vaccination cohort compared to the other cohorts. In multivariate analyses, vaccination had almost three-fold higher odds of moderate/severe anxiety (Odds Ratio [OR] = 2.87; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 1.28-6.44). High resilience, family functioning, and spirituality were associated with two- to five-fold lower odds of poor mental health and burnout. CONCLUSIONS: Although nurses in the early-vaccination cohort had lower anxiety and depression than earlier cohorts, COVID-19 vaccination had minimal associations with nurses' mental health. Coping mechanisms and organizational support appear to be important predictors of nurses' poor mental health and burnout. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The evidence gathered over 1 year of the pandemic may be helpful for a better understanding of the challenges facing frontline nurses and preparing for future healthcare crises. As a part of the preparedness plan for the future, evidence-based interventions that raise frontline nurses' resilience, as well as family and spiritual support, should be considered.

COVID-19: Update on Health Care Workers' Mental Health and Coping During the Pandemic.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, health care workers experienced much higher symptoms of anxiety or depression than during the prepandemic period. As coping mechanisms, high resilience, spirituality, and satisfaction with family functioning were associated with 2- to 3-fold lower odds of anxiety or depression. Health care organizations may consider implementing evidence-based and practical supportive measures to help health care workers maintain good mental health during and after the pandemic.

Adherence to colorectal cancer and polyps screening recommendations among filipino-americans.

This cross-sectional study explored the perceptions and behaviors toward colorectal cancer screening and the predictors of adherence to colorectal cancer and polyps screening recommendations among Filipino-Americans. A total of 188 participants were recruited from community churches in southern California from September to November 2011. About half of the participants were found to be adherent to the screening recommendations. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed the following significant predictors of adherence: having a relative with colon or rectal cancer (odds ratio [OR] = 6.17), having heard of fecal occult blood test (OR = 4.58), strong agreement with benefit of screening in reducing worry about cancer (OR = 2.81), age ≥ 65 years (OR = 2.64) and very easy communication with providers (OR = 2.43). Patient awareness of colorectal cancer screening and its benefits through effective patient-provider communication were significant modifiable predictors of adherence to colorectal cancer and polyps screening recommendations. Nurses could have a major impact in improving screening behaviors through patient education in increasing patient awareness and benefits of cancer screening.

Randomized controlled trial of graduate-to-undergraduate student mentoring program.

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of graduate-to-undergraduate student mentoring on anxiety, self-efficacy, academic performance, and satisfaction with nursing as a career choice among students enrolled in a nursing fundamentals course during the first semester of a baccalaureate nursing program. The nursing students assigned to the experimental group received up to 20 hours of mentoring by registered nurses who were enrolled in a graduate nursing program at the same university. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Baccalaureate Student Self-efficacy Questionnaire, nursing fundamentals course performance scores, and satisfaction with nursing as a career choice were measured. One-way analysis of covariance was used for data analysis. The experimental group (n = 34) had lower trait anxiety (P = .01), higher academic performance (P = .04) and satisfaction with nursing as a career choice (P = .002) at the end of the semester compared with the control group (n = 17). There were no statistically significant differences in state anxiety and self-efficacy between two groups. Mentoring by experienced nurses appears to reduce anxiety, foster academic success, and enhance professional satisfaction among beginning nursing students.

Medium-term post-Katrina health sequelae among New Orleans residents: predictors of poor mental and physical health.

AIMS: To assess the medium-term post-Katrina mental and physical health of New Orleans residents and to determine demographic, social and environmental factors that predict poor mental and physical health. BACKGROUND: Major disasters can have a negative impact on the health of survivors for prolonged periods. Although the initial and short-term impacts of Hurricane Katrina have been well described, the medium-term impacts have not been studied as thoroughly. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. METHODS: A convenience sample (n = 222) of residents in Gentilly area of New Orleans completed questionnaires between 16 and 18 December 2006. Multivariate logistic regression and multiple regression models were employed to determine predictors of poor mental and physical health. RESULTS: Poor mental health was reported by 52% of the respondents. Pre-Katrina depression [odds ratio (OR) = 19.1], post-Katrina depression (OR = 7.2), poor physical health (OR = 5.6), feeling unsafe from crime (OR = 4.3) and female gender (OR = 2.6) were significant predictor variables of poor mental health. Twenty-four percent of the variance in number of days of poor mental health was explained by the independent variables (R(2) = 0.24; p < 0.001). Poor physical health was reported by 48% of the respondents. Poor mental health (OR = 3.9), lack of money to buy food (OR = 2.7) and pre-Katrina arthritis (OR = 2.6) were significant predictor variables of poor physical health. Twenty-three percent of the variance in number of days of poor physical health was explained by the independent variables (R(2) = 0.23; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately half of the New Orleans residents continue to experience poor mental and physical health 15 months after Katrina. The results support focusing post-Katrina efforts to protect residents from crime, improve mental health services to the depressed and improve food supply to the poor. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Identifying predictors of poor mental and physical health may help clinicians and policy makers to focus their efforts in ameliorating the post-disaster health sequelae.