A Systematic Review of Health Outcomes Among Disaster and Humanitarian Responders

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 635-642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie C. Garbern ◽  
Laura G. Ebbeling ◽  
Susan A. Bartels
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Heat Stroke ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Wide Range

AbstractIntroductionDisaster and humanitarian responders are at-risk of experiencing a wide range of physical and psychological health conditions, from minor injuries to chronic mental health problems and fatalities. This article reviews the current literature on the major health outcomes of responders to various disasters and conflicts in order to better inform individuals of the risks and to inform deploying agencies of the health care needs of responders.MethodsIn March 2014, an EMBASE search was conducted using pre-defined search criteria. Two reviewers screened the resultant 2,849 abstracts and the 66 full-length manuscripts which are included in the review.ResultsThe majority of research on health outcomes of responders focused on mental health (57 of 66 articles). Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression were the most studied diagnoses with prevalence of PTSD ranging from 0%-34% and depression from 21%-53%. Physical health outcomes were much less well-studied and included a wide range of environmental, infectious, and traumatic conditions such as heat stroke, insect bites, dermatologic, gastrointestinal, and respiratory diseases, as well as burns, fractures, falls, and other traumatic injuries.ConclusionsThe prevalence of mental health disorders in responders may vary more and be higher than previously suggested. Overall health outcomes of responders are likely poorly monitored and under-reported. Improved surveillance systems and risk mitigation strategies should be employed in all disaster and conflict responses to better protect individual responders.GarbernSC,EbbelingLG,BartelsSA.A systematic review of health outcomes among disaster and humanitarian responders.Prehosp Disaster Med.2016;31(6):635–642.

Mental health benefits from lifestyle physical activity interventions: A systematic review

2020 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 337-372
Author(s):  
Samantha G. Farris ◽  
Ana M. Abrantes
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Lifestyle Physical Activity

Lifestyle physical activity (LPA) interventions are a promising alternative to structured exercise interventions for addressing mental health problems. The authors conducted a systematic review of the literature on LPA interventions in any population in order to determine (a) the extent to which mental health outcomes were examined and (b) whether benefits in mental health outcomes were observed. Mental health outcomes were defined as depression, anxiety, perceived stress, health-related quality of life, and psychological well-being. A total of 73 articles were identified as LPA intervention, of which 24.7% (n = 18) reported the effect of LPA intervention on mental health outcomes. The most commonly evaluated mental health outcome was depression, and to a lesser extent anxiety and perceived stress. Overall, findings point to promising effects of LPA interventions across common mental health problems. Key areas for future research are discussed in light of emergent limitations in existing published studies.

scholarly journals Child and Family Outcomes Following Pandemics: A Systematic Review and Recommendations on COVID-19 Policies

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (10) ◽  
pp. 1124-1143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa C. Fong ◽  
Grace Iarocci
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
High Stress ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Children And Families ◽  
Family Outcomes

Abstract Objective A systematic review of mental health outcomes and needs of children and families during past pandemics was conducted based on the PRISMA protocol. The objectives were to evaluate the quality of existing studies on this topic, determine what is known about mental health outcomes and needs of children and families, and provide recommendations for how COVID-19 policies can best support children and families. Methods Seventeen studies were identified through a search of PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Results Studies examining child outcomes indicate that social isolation and quarantining practices exert a substantial negative impact on child anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and fear symptoms. Potential risk factors such as living in rural areas, being female, and increasing grade level may exacerbate negative mental health outcomes for children. Studies examining parental and family outcomes indicate that parents experience high stress, anxiety, and financial burden during pandemics. The age of the parent and family socioeconomic status (SES) appeared to mitigate negative outcomes, where older parents and higher SES families had lower rates of mental health problems. Parents’ fear over the physical and mental health of their children, concerns over potential job loss and arranging childcare contributes to elevated stress and poorer well-being. Conclusions Findings from this review suggest current gaps in COVID-19 policies and provide recommendations such implementing “family-friendly” policies that are inclusive and have flexible eligibility criteria. Examples include universal paid sick leave for parents and financial supports for parents who are also frontline workers and are at an elevated risk for contracting the disease.

scholarly journals Smartphone Addiction and Associated Health Outcomes in Adult Populations: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (22) ◽  
pp. 12257
Author(s):  
Zubair Ahmed Ratan ◽  
Anne-Maree Parrish ◽  
Sojib Bin Zaman ◽  
Mohammad Saud Alotaibi ◽  
Hassan Hosseinzadeh
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Smartphone Addiction ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

Background: Smartphones play a critical role in increasing human–machine interactions, with many advantages. However, the growing popularity of smartphone use has led to smartphone overuse and addiction. This review aims to systematically investigate the impact of smartphone addiction on health outcomes. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to carry out the systematic review. Five electronic databases including Medline, Web of Science, PsycINFO, PubMed, and Scopus were searched to identify eligible studies. Eligible studies were screened against predetermined inclusion criteria and data were extracted according to the review questions. This review is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020181404). The quality of the articles was assessed using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies. Results: A total of 27 of 2550 articles met the inclusion criteria. All of the studies were cross-sectional and focused on physical, mental, and neurological health outcomes. The majority of the studies focused on mental health outcomes and consistent associations were observed between smartphone addiction and several mental health outcomes. Anxiety and depression were commonly found to mediate mental health problems. A wide range of physical health sequelae was also associated with smartphone addiction. Furthermore, there was an association between smartphone addiction and neurological disorders. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that there are consistent associations between smartphone addiction and physical and mental health, especially mental health. Social awareness campaigns about smartphone addiction and its impact on physical and mental health are needed. Further studies, especially randomized controlled trials, are warranted to validate the impacts of smartphone addiction.

scholarly journals Psychological resilience, coping behaviours, and social support among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review of quantitative studies

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leodoro J. Labrague
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Resilience ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Meta Analyses ◽  
Coping Behaviours

AbstractBackgroundA wide range of evidence has shown that healthcare workers, currently on the frontlines in the fight against COVID-19, are not spared from the psychological and mental health-related consequences of the pandemic. Studies synthesizing the role of coping behaviours, psychological resilience, and social support in safeguarding the mental health of HCWs during the pandemic is largely unknown.Aim (s)To appraise and synthesize studies examining psychological resilience, coping behaviours, and social support among healthcare workers (HWCs) during the coronavirus pandemic.DesignThis is a systematic review with a narrative synthesis.MethodUsing articles from PubMed, CINAHL, SCOPUS, MEDLINE and PsychINFO, a total of 31 articles were included in the review. Reporting followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta□Analyses statement guidelines.ResultsHealthcare workers were found to have moderate to high levels of psychological resilience and utilized both problem-centred coping (e.g., use of social support, praying) and emotion-centred coping (e.g., use of diversionary activities) to manage the stress-associated with the coronavirus pandemic. Coping behaviours, psychological resilience, and social support were associated with positive mental and psychological health outcomes.ConclusionSubstantial evidence supports the effectiveness of coping behaviours, psychological resilience, and social support to preserve psychological and mental health among HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic.Relevance to PracticeIn order to safeguard the mental health and well-being of HCWs during the pandemic, hospital and nursing administrators should focus on building coping skills, psychological resilience, and social support in HWCs through innovative and theory-based interventions, supportive leadership, and fostering a resilient work environment.

scholarly journals The health effects of flooding: social research results from England and Wales

2006 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 365-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvia Tunstall ◽  
Sue Tapsell ◽  
Colin Green ◽  
Peter Floyd ◽  
Carolyn George
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Social Research ◽  
General Health Questionnaire ◽  
Community Support ◽  
England And Wales ◽  
Insurance Cover ◽  
Wide Range

This paper presents interview survey data by social scientists using established health measures on the health effects of flooding for residents in 30 locations in England and Wales. Firstly, it examines the extent to which flooded residents reported suffering physical and psychological health effects during and after the event. Secondly, it explores the issue of whether these effects were long-lasting by comparisons with the general population and with those at risk but not flooded. In the study, about two thirds of the flood victims were found to have scores on the General Health Questionnaire-12 scale indicative of mental health problems (scores of 4+) at their worst time after flooding. The evidence of the study also suggests that some flood victims suffered long term mental health effects as a result of their experience of flooding. The study examines the influence of a wide range of factors: characteristics of the flood event, types of property, and socio-demographic and the intervening factors such as the extent of family or community support that may explain the health effects of flooding. It finds that a complex set of social and other factors are involved and that some factors susceptible to human intervention such as having adequate flood insurance cover are important factors in the stress experienced by flood victims.

scholarly journals Health Outcomes for Children in Haiti Since the 2010 Earthquake: A Systematic Review

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie Dube ◽  
Madeline Moffatt ◽  
Colleen Davison ◽  
Susan Bartels
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Research Articles ◽  
Publication Type ◽  
Outcomes For Children

AbstractBackgroundHaiti remains the poorest country in the Americas and one of the poorest in the world. Children in Haiti face many health concerns, some of which were exacerbated by the 2010 earthquake. This systematic review summarizes published research conducted since the 2010 earthquake, focusing on health outcomes for children in Haiti, including physical, psychological, and socioeconomic well-being.MethodsA literature search was conducted identifying articles published from January 2010 through May 2016 related to pediatric health outcomes in Haiti. Two reviewers screened articles independently. Included research articles described at least one physical health, psychological health, or socioeconomic outcome among children less than 18 years of age in Haiti since the January 2010 earthquake.ResultsFifty-eight full-length research articles were reviewed, covering infectious diseases (non-cholera [N=12] and cholera [N=7]), nutrition (N=11), traumatic injuries (N=11), mental health (N=9), anemia (N=4), abuse and violence (N=5), and other topics (N=3). Many children were injured in the 2010 earthquake, and care of their injuries is described in the literature. Infectious diseases were a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among children following the earthquake, with cholera being one of the most important etiologies. The literature also revealed that large numbers of children in Haiti have significant symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), peri-traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety, and that food insecurity and malnutrition continue to be important issues.ConclusionsFuture health programs in Haiti should focus on provision of clean water, sanitation, and other measures to prevent infectious diseases. Mental health programming and services for children also appear to be greatly needed, and food insecurity/malnutrition must be addressed if children are to lead healthy, productive lives. Given the burden of injury after the 2010 earthquake, further research on long-term disabilities among children in Haiti is needed.DubeA,MoffattM,DavisonC,BartelsS.Health outcomes for children in Haiti since the 2010 earthquake: a systematic review.Prehosp Disaster Med.2018;33(1):77–88.

scholarly journals The mental health impact of the covid-19 pandemic on healthcare workers, and interventions to help them: a rapid systematic review

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley Elizabeth Muller ◽  
Elisabet Vivianne Hafstad ◽  
Jan Peter William Himmels ◽  
Geir Smedslund ◽  
Signe Flottorp ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Sleeping Problems

Background: The covid-19 pandemic has heavily burdened, and in some cases overwhelmed, healthcare systems throughout the world. Healthcare workers are not only at heightened risk of infection, but also of adverse mental health outcomes. Identification of organizational, collegial and individual risk and resilience factors impacting the mental health of healthcare workers are needed to inform preparedness planning and sustainable response. Methods: We performed a rapid systematic review to identify, assess and summarize available research on the mental health impact of the covid-19 pandemic on healthcare workers. On 11 May 2020, we utilized the Norwegian Institute of Public Health's Live map of covid-19 evidence, the visualization of a database of 20,738 screened studies, to identify studies for inclusion. We included studies reporting on any type of mental health outcome in any type of healthcare workers during the pandemic. We described interventions reported by the studies, and narratively summarized mental health-related outcomes, as study heterogeneity precluded meta-analysis. We assessed study quality using design-specific instruments. Results: We included 59 studies, reporting on a total of 54,707 healthcare workers. The prevalence of general psychological distress across the studies ranged from 7-97% (median 37%), anxiety 9-90% (median 24%), depression 5-51% (median 21%), and sleeping problems 34-65% (median 37%). Seven studies reported on implementing mental health interventions, and most focused on individual symptom reduction, but none reported on effects of the interventions. In most studies, healthcare workers reported low interest in and use of professional help, and greater reliance on social support and contact with family and friends. Exposure to covid-19 was the most commonly reported correlate of mental health problems, followed by female gender, and worry about infection or about infecting others. Social support correlated with less mental health problems. Discussion: Healthcare workers in a variety of fields, positions, and exposure risks are reporting anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and distress during the covid-19 pandemic, but most studies do not report comparative data on mental health symptoms. before the pandemic. There seems to be a mismatch between risk factors for adverse mental health outcomes among healthcare workers in the current pandemic and their needs and preferences, and the individual psychopathology focus of current interventions. Efforts to help healthcare workers sustain healthy relationships to colleagues, family and friends over time may be paramount to safeguard what is already an important source of support during the prolonged crisis. Expanding interventions' focus to incorporate organizational, collegial and family factors to support healthcare workers responding to the pandemic could improve acceptability and efficacy of interventions. Other: The protocol for this review is available online. No funding was received.

scholarly journals The Mental Health Outcomes of Food Insecurity and Insufficiency in West Africa: A Systematic Narrative Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 146
Author(s):  
Kenneth Ayuurebobi Ae-Ngibise ◽  
Winifred Asare-Doku ◽  
Jennifer Peprah ◽  
Mohammed Nuhu Mujtaba ◽  
Diane Nifasha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
West Africa ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Emotional Instability ◽  
Food Insufficiency ◽  
African Countries

(1) Background: Food insufficiency is a global pandemic affecting many people, especially those residing in developing countries. African countries have been affected by food insufficiency, which is mostly caused by drought or wars. Famine or food insufficiency has been reported to have an impact on the psychological health and quality of life of people affected. This review assessed the mental health outcomes of famine and food insufficiency in West Africa. (2) Methods: A search of the published literature was conducted using PubMed, PsycExtra, Medline, and PsycINFO databases. The search was limited to papers published in English between the years 2010 and 2020. Two reviewers independently screened the titles and abstracts of the retrieved papers using pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria and a third reviewer resolved conflicts. Data were extracted and appraised using a data extraction form and an appraisal checklist. (3) Results: A total of 81 papers were identified through the journal databases search. Out of the seven papers that met the inclusion criteria, six papers used cross-sectional designs and one paper used an experimental design. The six papers used quantitative approach for data collection, while the one paper used a qualitative technique. The evidence synthesized from this review indicated that exposure to food insecurity or insufficiency is associated with increased psychological distress including anxiety, sleeplessness, intellectual disability, general mental, and emotional instability. (4) Conclusions: This review strongly highlights the need for further research across the sub-region. It further suggests that famine and food insufficiency are associated with significant mental health problems in adults and impacts the cognitive and intellectual development of children. Although there is paucity of literature about famine and its impact on mental health in West Africa, these findings are important for developing social policy initiatives for increasing food supply and mental health interventions for all ages.

The social and psychological health outcomes of team sport participation in adults: An integrative review of research

2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (8) ◽  
pp. 832-850 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Høstrup Andersen ◽  
Laila Ottesen ◽  
Lone Friis Thing
Keyword(s):  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Sport Participation ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Team Sport ◽  
Exercise Participation ◽  
The Social ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
Key Issues

Aim: The aim of this article was to review the international scientific research literature about the social and psychological health outcomes associated with participation in team sport and to synthesise the key issues about team sport as a health-promoting activity. Methods: The methodological framework guiding the review process is the integrative research review. A search of 10 key electronic databases was conducted to identify both quantitative and qualitative studies addressing the social and/or psychological health outcomes from participation in a team sport. A total of 6,097 publications were identified and 17 studies met the inclusion criteria. Results: A wide range of different positive social, psychological, and psychosocial health outcomes associated with team sport participation were identified in the studies, with emotional social support, sense of belonging, higher self-esteem, social network, and social interaction being the most frequently reported health benefits. In addition, three key issues influencing the psychological and social health outcomes of team sport participation as a health-promoting activity were identified: (1) team sport versus individual sport, (2) competitive versus non-competitive structure, and (3) commitment and continuation. Conclusions: There is consistent evidence that participation in a team sport is associated with improved social and psychological health independent of the type of team sport, age, somatic, or mental health problems. The findings indicate that team sport could be more efficient in promoting health and ensuring exercise participation and continuation than individual sport. However, when utilising team sports for health purposes, precautions must be taken with regard to their inherent competitive nature.

Mental health of perpetrators of intimate partner violence

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 221-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristina Sesar ◽  
Arta Dodaj ◽  
Nataša Šimić
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Health Problems ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Wide Range

PurposeIntimate partner violence (IPV) represents a widespread social and public health problem. Researchers have been shown association between IPV and mental health problems. The purpose of this paper is to present a review of the literature on relationship between wide ranges of mental health problems.Design/methodology/approachResearch papers related to mental health problems among IPV perpetrators and published in leading academic journals in UK and abroad from 1987 to 2017 were identified and reviewed.FindingsAlthough there were some equivocal findings, the authors found that most of the available research suggests that there is a variety of psychological health problems among IPV perpetrators. Specifically, there was evidence of a significant relationship between anger problems, anxiety, depression, suicidal behaviour, personality disorders, alcoholism or problem gambling and perpetration of IPV. Results from analysed studies identified high rates of co-morbid disorders in IPV perpetrators.Practical implicationsThe findings highlight the need for treatment services to undertake screening and assessment of wide range of psychological difficulties to be able to provide best treatment approaches.Originality/valueTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first systematic review that has included studies evaluating various psychological health problems among perpetrators of IPV.

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