scholarly journals Mental health and conspirasism in health care professionals during the spring 2020 COVID-19 lockdown in Greece

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-44
Author(s):  
Konstantinos N Fountoulakis ◽  
Maria K. Apostolidou ◽  
Marina B. Atsiova ◽  
Anna K. Filippidou ◽  
Angeliki K. Florou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Previous History ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
Stratification Method ◽  
History Of ◽  
History Of Depression

Abstract Introduction: The aim of the study was to investigate mental health and conspiracy theory beliefs concerning COVID-19 among Health Care Professionals (HCPs). Material and Methods: During lockdown, an online questionnaire gathered data from 507 HCPs (432 females aged 33.86±8.63 and 75 males aged 39.09±9.54). Statistical Analysis: A post-stratification method to transform the study sample was used; descriptive statistics were calculated. Results: Anxiety and probable depression were increased 1.5-2-fold and were higher in females and nurses. Previous history of depression was the main risk factor. The rates of the believing in conspiracy theories concerning the COVID-19 were alarming with the majority of individuals (especially females) following some theory to at least some extend. Conclusions: The current paper reports high rates of depression, distress and suicidal thoughts in the HCPs during the lockdown, with a high prevalence of beliefs in conspiracy theories. Female gender and previous history of depression acted as risk factors while the belief in conspiracy theories might act as a protective factor. The results should be considered with caution due to the nature of the data (online survey on a self-selected but stratified sample)

scholarly journals Predictors of healthcare worker burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy V Ferry ◽  
Ryan Wereski ◽  
Fiona E Strachan ◽  
Nicholas L Mills
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Worker ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Previous History ◽  
Multivariate Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Primary Outcome Measure ◽  
General Anxiety ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
History Of ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
History Of Depression

Objective We aim to provide a snapshot of the levels of burnout, anxiety, depression and distress among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design, setting, participants We distributed an online survey via social media in June 2020 that was open to any healthcare worker. The primary outcome measure was symptoms of burnout as measured using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI). Secondary outcomes of depression, anxiety and distress as measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, General Anxiety Scale-7, and Impact of Events Scale-Revised were recorded along with subjective measures of stress. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with burnout, depression, anxiety and distress. Results Of 539 persons responding to the survey, 90% were female, and 26% were aged 41-50 years, 53% were nurses. Participants with moderate-to-severe burnout were younger (49% [206/424] versus 33% [38/115] under 40 years, P=0.004), and more likely to have pre-existing comorbidities (21% versus 12%, P=0.031). They were twice as likely to have been redeployed from their usual role (22% versus 11%; adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.5-3.3, P=0.042), or to work in an area dedicated to COVID-19 patients (50% versus 32%, adjusted OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.4-1.8, P<0.001), and were almost 4-times more likely to have previous depression (24% versus 7%; adjusted OR 3.6, 95% CI 2.2-5.9, P=0.012). A supportive workplace team and male sex protected against burnout reducing the odds by 40% (adjusted OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.5-0.7, P<0.001) and 70% (adjusted OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.2-0.5, P=0.003), respectively. Conclusion Independent predictors of burnout were younger staff, redeployment to a new working area, working with patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection, and being female or having a previous history of depression. Evaluation of existing psychological support interventions is required with targeted approaches to ensure support is available to those most at risk.

mHealth in mental health: What do the users think about it?

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S610-S610
Author(s):  
J.M. Sengelen ◽  
I.C. Banea
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Major Interest ◽  
Major Trend ◽  
Competing Interest ◽  
And Storage

There is currently a major trend for e-health and the first mental health applications for smartphones are now released. Patients and health care professionals are still struggling to position themselves in relation to these new approaches. So, we wanted to know more about the involvement of mental health users and their care providers in mobile health (mHealth) technologies. We needed to understand their expectations and their reluctances. For achieving this purpose, we carried out an online survey for mental health users (n = 108). It turns out that people who responded to this survey are well equipped with smartphones and are experienced in using mobile apps. They expect from professionals an advisory role in relation to e-health. The major interest lies in practical, concrete applications and the main reluctance is about management, transit and storage of data. It is necessary to involve mental health users and health care professionals together in order to develop these new tools. To achieve this, health care professionals must continue to invest themselves in the use and understanding of m-Health tools.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals Psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Pakistani doctors

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 70-74
Author(s):  
Wardah Aslam ◽  
Maryam Habib ◽  
Madiha Habib ◽  
Saeeda Aziz
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Severity Index ◽  
Psychological Status ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Government Hospitals ◽  
Mental Disturbances

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant burden on healthcare system and adversely affected the health care professionals all over the world including Pakistan. Therefore, the short- and long-term effects of this pandemic on mental health of Pakistani medical doctors need to be established. Objective: This study aimed to assess the mental health status and associated factors among doctors exposed to COVID-19 in Pakistan. Methodology: An online survey was carried among doctors working in different government hospitals. A Questionnaire was developed which comprised of three different sections. Mental health was assessed on basis of scoring in three Likert scales including Generalized anxiety disorder -7 scale (GAD-7), Insomnia severity index (ISI-7) and Patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9). Cluster analysis was used, and chi-square test was applied for comparison of characteristics. Results: Study was conducted on 73 specialists /consultants working in different government hospitals of the country. 54.8% of them suffered from subthreshold mental disturbances while 23.3% had mild disorders, 12.3% had moderate disorders and 9.6% suffered from severe mental disturbances. Various factors having significant relationship with psychological status of doctors were identified. Conclusion: COVID-19 outbreak has significantly affected the psychological health of Pakistani doctors. The factors adversely affecting the mental health of our health care professionals need to be addressed by providing psychological support to them.

Stress and Burnout Among Mental Health Staff During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. E2-10
Author(s):  
Joseph Sadek ◽  
Ben MacDonald ◽  
Brooke Streeter
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Acute Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Health Staff ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Care Workers

Purpose: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has deeply altered social and working environments among health care workers. These health care workers are therefore at risk of additional psychosocial strain and ensuing metal health symptoms, which indirectly affects patient care. In this study, we aimed to assess the psychosocial and psychopathological impact of COVID-19 among acute care mental health and addictions staff. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional survey and contains a sample size of 60 mental health and addiction acute care workers recruited from within Nova Scotia Health Authority. The survey was constructed using the online survey system, Opinio, and consisted of three sections: demographic variables (gender, age group and profession); the DASS-21 Questionnaire (which provides dimensional measures of stress, anxiety and depression); and the MBI-HSS (MP) Questionnaire (which measures three dimensions of burnout—emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal achievement). Results: The majority of participants had at least one pathologic score on the DASS-21 and MBI-HSS (MP) sections (75.5% and 93.5%, respectively). The median severity on the DASS-21 and MBI-HSS (MP) were both moderate, with the younger age group (20-35 years) having more significant burnout scores (p = 0.0494). Simple logistic regression showed a significant relationship between burnout severity and pathologic distress, and simple linear regression showed significant correlation between DASS-21 and MBI-HSS (MP) scores, with a R2 value of 0.4633. Conclusion: More planning, programs, resources and further research are needed to support wellness and recovery of all health care professionals who work at the mental health and addictions acute care unit.

scholarly journals FUTURE CHALLENGES IN THE WAKE OF COVID-19 ON MENTAL HEALTH IN PAKISTAN- A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-58
Author(s):  
Seemi Tanvir ◽  
Mariam Babar ◽  
Ayesha Fazal ◽  
Faiqa Fazal
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Previous History ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Poverty Line ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Future Challenges ◽  
History Of

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a contagious disease that has shaken the mankind. Up till 30th June 2020, about 10.1 million people have been affected across 188 countries around the world. Deterioration of mental health is long-term effect of a pandemic. Methods for the control of COVID-19 have provoked fear, anxiety and frustration. Developed countries might be able to handle them but for a developing country it may prove an economic “Death Warrant”. Pakistan is one of countries that have been fighting with COVID-19, with about 24% of the population living below the national poverty line and aftermaths of this pandemic still awaits. We intend to assess impact of COVID-19 on mental health in Pakistan to contribute towards the prevention of anticipated complications by getting a more clear picture. METHODOLOGY: Online literature search was carried out from Jan 2020 to Jun 2020, using Google Scholar, Science Direct and PubMed with the help of key words. This resulted in retrieval of 151 articles after removing duplicated ones. Articles with incomplete information, case reports, case series, letters or editorials were also excluded. After shortlisting, seven articles were finally selected for the review. RESULTS: This review observed that mental illnesses have been potentiated by COVID-19 due to its multi-dimensional manifestations especially on the economic growth of the country. Health care professionals and those having previous history of any psychological disabilities are the easy targets. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 disease management and preventive measures to provide psychological support must go hand in hand.

Disaster Management in Rural and Remote Primary Health Care: A Scoping Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 362-369
Author(s):  
Katie A. Willson ◽  
Gerard J. FitzGerald ◽  
David Lim
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Disaster Management ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Rural And Remote ◽  
Primary Health

AbstractObjective:This scoping review aims to map the roles of rural and remote primary health care professionals (PHCPs) during disasters.Introduction:Disasters can have catastrophic impacts on society and are broadly classified into natural events, man-made incidents, or a mixture of both. The PHCPs working in rural and remote communities face additional challenges when dealing with disasters and have significant roles during the Prevention, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery (PPRR) stages of disaster management.Methods:A Johanna Briggs Institute (JBI) scoping review methodology was utilized, and the search was conducted over seven electronic databases according to a priori protocol.Results:Forty-one papers were included and sixty-one roles were identified across the four stages of disaster management. The majority of disasters described within the literature were natural events and pandemics. Before a disaster occurs, PHCPs can build individual resilience through education. As recognized and respected leaders within their community, PHCPs are invaluable in assisting with disaster preparedness through being involved in organizations’ planning policies and contributing to natural disaster and pandemic surveillance. Key roles during the response stage include accommodating patient surge, triage, maintaining the health of the remaining population, instituting infection control, and ensuring a team-based approach to mental health care during the disaster. In the aftermath and recovery stage, rural and remote PHCPs provide long-term follow up, assisting patients in accessing post-disaster support including delivery of mental health care.Conclusion:Rural and remote PHCPs play significant roles within their community throughout the continuum of disaster management. As a consequence of their flexible scope of practice, PHCPs are well-placed to be involved during all stages of disaster, from building of community resilience and contributing to early alert of pandemics, to participating in the direct response when a disaster occurs and leading the way to recovery.

Roles of Psychological Distress and Social Support in the Relationship Between Childhood Maltreatment and Perceived Needs for Mental Health Care

2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052110063
Author(s):  
Tingting Gao ◽  
Songli Mei ◽  
Muzi Li ◽  
Carl D’ Arcy ◽  
Xiangfei Meng
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Childhood Maltreatment ◽  
Perceived Needs ◽  
Perceived Need ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Relationship

Childhood maltreatment is a major public health issue worldwide. It increases a range of health-risk behaviors, psychological and physical problems, which are associated with an increased need for mental health services in adulthood. Identification of mediating factors in the relationship between maltreatment and seeking mental health care may help attenuate the negative consequences of childhood maltreatment and promote more appropriate treatment. This study aims to examine whether the relationship between childhood maltreatment and perceived need for mental health care is mediated by psychological distress and/or moderated by social support. Data from the Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health 2012 are analyzed. A total of 8,993 participants, who had complete information on childhood maltreatment and diagnoses of mental disorders or psychological distress, are included in this study. Structural equation modeling and the PROCESS macro were used to identify relationships among childhood maltreatment, perceived needs for mental health care, and psychological distress. Hierarchical linear regression was then used to verify the moderated mediation model. We found that psychological distress partially mediated the effect of childhood maltreatment on perceived needs for mental health care in adulthood. Social support played an important role in terms of moderating the relationship between maltreatment and perceived needs for care. For those with a history of childhood maltreatment, those who perceived a low level of social support were more likely to have higher levels of psychological distress and perceived need for mental health care. This is the first study to identify the separate and combined roles of psychological distress and social support in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and perceived need for mental health care. Selective prevention strategies should focus on social support to improve mental health services among people with a history of childhood maltreatment.

Suicidal ideation in an ethnically mixed, highland Guatemalan community

2021 ◽  
pp. 136346152097693
Author(s):  
Carla Pezzia ◽  
Luisa M. Hernandez
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Ethnic Identity ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Mental Health Care ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Indigenous Populations ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Survey Responses

Reported suicide rates in Latin America remain low, but there is evidence to suggest they may be increasing, particularly among indigenous populations. To better understand who may be at risk for suicide, we examined the prevalence of suicidal ideation and explored factors contributing to suicidal thoughts in an ethnically mixed, highland Guatemalan community. The data presented in this article are from a mixed methods ethnographic field project conducted over 15 months from 2010 to 2011 in Panajachel, Guatemala. We surveyed a random sample of 350 community members. Survey questions included standardized modules from the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview, as well as questions on experiences of violence and mental health care. We also conducted semi-structured interviews with 13 self-selected survey participants with current suicidal ideation. These interviews included questions regarding survey responses, experiences of mental illness, and access to mental health care. A total of 55 survey participants (N = 350; 15.7%) scored positive for suicidality. Ethnic identity, gender, psychiatric illness, and experiences of violence were all correlated to suicidal ideation. Qualitative interview data highlight distinctions between genders within prominent themes of religion, family, experiences of violence, and seeking resources. Three key findings emerged from our research that are relevant to the literature: 1) ethnic identity may be both a critical risk and a protective factor for suicide in some indigenous people; 2) intersections between violence and gender highlight different patterns in suicidal ideation; and 3) high rates of suicidal ideation and other psychiatric comorbidities underscore the need for greater access to mental health services.

scholarly journals Knowledge, attitudes and behaviours towards vaccination: a survey of university students in Europe

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Callegaro ◽  
L Chinenye Ilogu ◽  
O Lugovska ◽  
S Mazzilli ◽  
A Prugnola ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Medical Students ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
High Level ◽  
Coverage Rates ◽  
The University ◽  
Vaccination Knowledge

Abstract Background Immunisation programs are still facing substantial challenges in achieving target coverage rates. This has been attributed to the growing negative individual vaccination attitudes and behaviours. Most of the current studies assessing vaccination knowledge, attitude and beliefs targets adults. However, young people represent future parents and health care professionals. The objective of this study was to investigate vaccination knowledge attitudes and behaviours among university medical and non-medical students in Europe. Methods We performed a cross-sectional online survey between April and July 2018. The study participants were students attending different faculties at the University of Antwerp, Belgium and the University of Pisa, Italy. We described sample characteristics. The effect of risk factors was tested with univariate and multivariate logistic regressions. Results A total of 2079 participants completed the survey including 873 medical students and 1206 from other faculties. The average of vaccination knowledge, attitudes, and confidence was respectively 5.51 (SD: 1.41), 4.66 (SD: 0.14) and 5.28 (SD: 0.57) on the 6-points scale. Our respondents demonstrated a high level of awareness with respect to their vaccination history. In total, 67.7% (n = 1407) reported to have received at least one vaccine in the previous five years; only 6.0% (n = 35) did not receive any vaccine in the previous 10 years. According to logistic regression analysis Italian students had significantly higher knowledge, attitude and confidence scores than Belgium respondents. Students of medicine scored significantly higher compared to non-medical students. Conclusions In order to reduce the gaps in vaccinations knowledge between non-medical and medical students we should plan educational interventions. In this way the number of future sceptical parents could be decreased. Further studies are required to explain the differences between countries. Key messages Young adults are the parents and the health care professionals of the future, for this reason their vaccination knowledge attitudes and behaviours should be carefully monitored. European non-medical students have lower vaccinations knowledge, attitudes and confidence compared with medical student. In order to fill these gaps, we should plan educational interventions.

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