Depression, Anxiety and Coping Responses among Iranian Healthcare Professionals during the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak.

Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the effects of different coping strategies on the mood states (anxiety and depression) of healthcare providers in the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Method : From February to April 2020, we asked medical staff in 4 referral hospitals in Iran to voluntarily complete online questionnaires including: Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-2) questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) and the Coping Strategies Questionnaire-28. Univariate and multiple logistic regressions were applied to identify the associations of coping strategies and mood states. Results: 258 people filled out the online questionnaire. Of them, 39.9% and 39.1% reported anxiety and depression, respectively, with age as a risk factor. Overall, participants used more emotion-based coping strategies. Anxiety and depression were associated with applying more of emotion-based and less of problem-based coping mechanisms. The findings remained stable even after adjustment for confounding variables including age, gender and direct contact with COVID-19 patients. Conclusion: Providing social support to health workers, planning to reduce their perceived stigma, and educating them about how to use more effective coping mechanisms can be beneficial in reducing the psychological impact on this segment of the population in the event of COVID-19.

Evaluating Awareness of Pediatricians and General Practitioners on Transformation of the Health System in Iran.

In orders to promote the level of healthcare in societies, governments try to have different policies to transform the health system. The aim of this study was to measure the level of awareness of practitioners in Iran, after initiating the new transformation of the health system in the country, starting from May 2014. This is a descriptive-cross-sectional study, which was inducted in October 2014. The study population consists of 208 physicians who attended the 26th International Congress of Pediatrics in Tehran, Iran. Data was collected using a self-structured questionnaire, which was estimated as both reliable and valid. Two hundred and eight questionnaires were returned. The results showed that 79.1% of the practitioners were aware of the new health system. Indeed 48.3% of the participants believed that the system was successful. 57.7% of physicians were completely aware of the time of the new system settlement in the country, while the rest had either no idea or did not know the exact date. The participants suggested a few items promote the health system in the country; among them, decreasing the direct payment between patients and physicians was suggested most frequently. According to the results obtained from the study, it is suggested that health care administrators have a detailed plan for health care workers prior to settlement of a new health policy installment, in order to succeed in settlement of a program.

Parenting Self Efficacy in Mothers of Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder vs. Normal Children.

OBJECTIVES: The main purpose of this study was to compare parenting self efficacy between mothers of children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and mothers of normal children. METHOD: One hundred twenty mothers including 60 mothers of children with ADHD and 62 mothers of normal children were selected. In each group the participants were allocated between three subgroups of preschool, first and second grade of primary school. The participants were evaluated for ADHD symptom severity and parenting self efficacy, using Conner's Parents Rating Scales-Revised Short (CPRS-R:S) and Berkeley Parenting Self-efficacy scale. Data were analyzed using independent sample T test, Chi square, Pearson and Spearman correlation and stepwise linear regression statistical analysis when appropriate. RESULTS: The results of this study did not show any significant difference between self efficiency in mothers of children with ADHD and mothers of normal children in preschool and first grade of primary school. However, between group differences were significant in mothers of children in second grade of primary school. The most associated factors with parenting self efficacy were Children's age, and education level. CONCLUSION: No difference was observed in self efficacy of parents of ADHD children and parents of normal children in pre-school and first grade of primary school. However, parenting self efficacy was significantly lower in parents of the second grade ADHD children compared to the normal group. Increment in age and education level of children with ADHD may be associated with lower level of parenting self efficacy.