More than a mask: Possible relationships between lifting of COVID-19 mask requirements and depression symptoms experienced by US adults with disabilities.

BACKGROUND: Lifting of masking restrictions at key periods during the COVID-19 pandemic may have disproportionately negatively impacted the mental health of individuals with disabilities. OBJECTIVE: This study examines the prevalence of depression-related symptoms in individuals with and without disabilities preceding and following the US rollback of COVID-19 masking mandates. METHODS: Pandemic-era data on reported symptoms of depression from the federal Household Pulse Survey from dates surrounding two major announcements on masking relaxations were analyzed. Possible interactions between disability status and type, age grouping, educational attainment, race/Hispanic ethnicity, and sex variables were considered. RESULTS: Following relaxation of major masking restrictions, people with disabilities experienced elevation in depression symptom presence while people without disabilities experienced lessening in these symptoms. Differences between people with and without disabilities were significant. CONCLUSIONS: Direct causation between masking mandate relaxations and changes in symptoms of depression cannot be drawn from the available data. However, when considered with greater vulnerabilities to COVID-19 experienced by many individuals with disabilities and dismissive rhetoric surrounding masking decisions, negative feelings arising from mandate changes may have led to elevations in symptoms of depression in people with disabilities in sharp contrast to people without disabilities who may have felt relief. Findings indicate future public health decision making, even in times of crisis, should be undertaken with as much caution as possible regarding and in partnership with populations already at risk.

Mental health bias in physical care: An integrative review of the literature.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Individuals experiencing mental illness make up a significant portion of the world's population. Individuals with mental illness experience higher rates of morbidity and die on average at least a decade earlier than individuals without mental health disorders. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: Issues of stigma, diagnostic overshadowing, premature closure, inadequate workup, fear and lack of training negatively impact the care of individuals with mental illness. Issues impacting the care of individuals experiencing mental illness cross geographic and care setting boundaries. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Partnerships between physical and mental health practitioners are needed to thoroughly assess and accurately diagnose symptoms experienced by individuals with mental illness. Educational interventions can help prepare practitioners to care for individuals with mental illness. Nurses can better advocate for effective patient care by learning about the phenomenon of diagnostic overshadowing and calling attention to its occurrence. ABSTRACT: Introduction Individuals with mental illness experience significantly higher overall rates of morbidity and mortality than counterparts without mental illness. Misdiagnosis of symptoms emanating from physical illnesses as psychiatric in nature presents one important cause. Aim This integrative review explores research on healthcare professionals' misattribution of physical health symptoms to patients' comorbid psychiatric issues and seeks to identify unifying themes, shared causes, and possible strategies for addressing the issue. Method This review uses Whittemore and Knafl's 2005 integrative review methodology coupled with vetted quality appraisal tools. Results Following a systematic search of allied health, medical, psychological, sociological and general literature, 24 publications employing qualitative, quantitative, mixed and synthesis research methodologies were selected. Each study was appraised according to design, and relevant data were extracted. Discussion Themes of stigmatization, diagnostic overshadowing, incomplete medical examination, insufficient training, and fears experienced by providers and patients emerged. Implications for Practice Increased partnering between physical and mental health practitioners, continuing education, and improving patient-provider communication are key to providing equitable care. Nurses play primary roles in empathizing with patients, advocating for appropriate care and educating others on the dangers of misattributing physical symptoms to psychiatric cause.

Investing in human capital: an academic-service partnership to address the nursing shortage.

The well-documented shortage of nurses and the impact of educational preparation of nurses on patient care outcomes provide a compelling argument for the need to increase the number of registered nurses and to advance their educational preparation. This article describes the application of human capital theory in a creative venture between a health system and a school of nursing that has demonstrated success in addressing these issues. A tuition advancement program was developed to support interested personnel in attaining the associate degree in nursing and to support current RNs in attaining the baccalaureate degree. The venture included support for graduate preparation of nurses interested in becoming faculty.

Comparing the teaching effectiveness of part-time & full-time clinical nurse faculty.

The purpose of this study was to compare the teaching effectiveness of part-time and full-time clinical nursing faculty. Results indicate that students rank part-time faculty as significantly less effective than full-time faculty on each of five categories measured by the Nursing Clinical Teacher Effectiveness Inventory and on the overall scale. These results are supported by the finding that there is no significant difference between student ratings of teacher effectiveness and the self-ratings of the teachers themselves.