Psychological and Physical Changes Caused by COVID-19 Pandemic in Elementary and Junior High School Teachers: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This study aimed to determine psychological and physical differences in elementary and junior high school teachers during COVID-19. This questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 427 teachers in Tokyo, Japan (between 15 and 30 October 2020). The questionnaire explored school type (elementary and middle schools), sex, age, and COVID-19 changes (psychological changes, physical changes, impact on work, and infection control issues perceived to be stressed). Post hoc tests for I cannot concentrate on work at all, found a significant difference for no change-improved and male teacher in elementary school female teacher in junior high school (p = 0.03). Regarding stress situation due to implementation of COVID-19 infection control, there were significant differences for disinfection work by teachers between male teachers in elementary school female teachers in junior high school (p = 0.04) and female teachers in elementary school female teachers in junior high school (p = 0.03). COVID-19 produced differences in psychological and physical changes between male and female teachers in elementary and junior high schools. Some experienced psychological and physical stress, whereas others showed improvement. Given that teachers' mental health also affects students' educational quality, it is important to understand and improve teachers' psychological and physical circumstances and stress.

Causes of anxiety among teachers giving face-to-face lessons after the reopening of schools during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus infections are spreading rapidly worldwide, and primary and middle schools are closed in many countries. After the state of emergency was lifted in Japan, schools have reopened, and teachers are conducting face-to-face classes while maintaining safety precautions. This study aimed to assess the factors contributing to infection-related anxiety and educational anxiety among teachers conducting face-to-face classes during the COVID-19 pandemic after schools reopened. METHODS: This questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 263 primary and middle school teachers in the Shinagawa area of Tokyo (October 10-30, 2020). The questionnaire assessed the type of school (primary or middle school), sex, age, and factors contributing to infection-related anxiety and educational anxiety that arose from the pandemic. The levels of anxiety and the factors contributing to anxiety were assessed using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very anxious). RESULTS: In an analysis of the data of 237 participants excluding the missing data, many teachers reported feeling infection- and education-related anxiety. A majority of the participants were women (n = 152, 64.1%), and the mean age of the participants was 39.8 ± 11.3 years. A stepwise multiple regression analysis identified six factors for infection-related anxiety as significant (R2 = 0.61, p < 0.001). Among these variables, the largest partial regression coefficient value was reported for the following reason: "I feel anxious because we cannot ensure the safety of teachers themselves or of their families" (ß = 0.37, p < 0.001). For educational anxiety, four of six reasons were identified as significant (R2 = 0.64, p < 0.001). Among these, "anxiety about the students' home situations" (ß = 0.41, p < 0.001) and "delay in education (students' side)" (ß = 0.27, p < 0.001) had stronger associations with anxiety compared to the others. CONCLUSION: In-person education during the COVID-19 pandemic has caused teachers to experience anxiety. This report provides useful information by highlighting the reasons for infection-related anxiety and educational anxiety that teachers experience in face-to-face classes during a pandemic. Even if the coverage of a COVID-19 vaccine becomes widespread worldwide, we will still be combating COVID-19 infections for at least a few years. Given concerns regarding such infections, to ensure students' right to education, it is essential to understand why teachers feel anxious and to determine appropriate measures to decrease such anxiety.

Factors Associated With Medication Compliance in Elderly Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The average age of patients with type 2 diabetes in Japan is over 70 years. Elderly patients tend to have poor medication compliance, therefore, it is important to understand their individual situations to improve medication compliance, the treatment of their diabetes, and their quality of life (QOL). This study aimed to identify factors associated with medication compliance in elderly type 2 diabetic patients. A cross-sectional study based on questionnaires was conducted on type 2 diabetes patients aged 65 years or older. The participants were recruited from patients who visited three dispensing pharmacies in the Shinagawa area of Tokyo between March 1 and September 30, 2019. The questionnaire consisted of patient information (sex, age, medication compliance status, knowledge of drug effects, and side effects), 12-Item Short Form Survey quality of life rating scale (SF-12), and Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ). Factors related to medication compliance were then evaluated. In all, there were 47 respondents: 31 males and 16 females. Four factors were found to be associated with medication compliance in elderly type 2 diabetic patients: medication storage (P = 0.01), knowledge of drug effects (P < 0.001), knowledge of side effects (P = 0.026), and physical functioning: (PF) (P = 0.045), a subscale of SF-12. Furthermore, the strength of the association between these four factors and medication compliance was calculated using Cramer's V coefficient of association. Knowledge of drug effects was the most strongly associated (knowledge of drug effects: V = 0.559; knowledge of side effects: V = 0.464; medication storage: V = 0.451; PF: V = 0.334). Because diabetes mellitus has no subjective symptoms and treatment effects are not felt to a great extent, it is difficult to motivate patients to consistently adhere to medication. When pharmacists provide medication guidance to elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, it is important to provide sufficient information to ensure they fully understand the drug effects to maintain medication compliance.