Cannabis Use for Medicinal Purposes among Canadian University Students

Objective: The study sought to describe a Canadian sample of university students’ medicinal use of cannabis, including prevalence of cannabis use disorder (CUD) and replacement of traditional treatments with cannabis. Method: A random sample of 4000 university students was asked to complete a cross-sectional web-based survey. The survey was completed by 2212 (average age 23.2 years, SD = 5.2 years), representing a 55.3% response rate. To be eligible, students had to be enrolled in a class on campus and were 18 years or older. Result: Half (52%) of respondents used cannabis at least once in their lifetime, with ∼11% reporting medicinal cannabis use. Recreational motives to use cannabis were common among medicinal users (85%), several (38%) replaced traditional medication with cannabis, and more than a third received authorization by a health care provider. Of the medicinal users, 13.6% met the criteria for CUD. Common ailments for medicinal cannabis use were anxiety, sleep problems, depression, and pain. When mental health–related categories are combined, 78.2% of medicinal users used for at least 1 mental health condition. Conclusions: Medicinal cannabis use occurs among university students. None of the ailments listed by medicinal users meet the Canadian Family Physicians prescribing guidelines, and most are not among those viewed by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine as having strong evidence for therapeutic value. The results raise concerns for health care providers who are authorizing or counselling patients’ considering medicinal cannabis.

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Anxiety and Suicidal Thoughts During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Country Comparative Study Among Indonesian, Taiwanese, and Thai University Students (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.24487 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Iqbal Pramukti ◽

Carol Strong ◽

Yajai Sitthimongkol ◽

Agus Setiawan ◽

Moses Glorino Rumambo Pandin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

University Students ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Care Providers ◽

Sources Of Information ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Suicidal Thoughts ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Thai Students ◽

Thai University

BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the mental health of university students. OBJECTIVE This study examined the psychological responses toward COVID-19 among university students from 3 countries—Indonesia, Taiwan, and Thailand. METHODS We used a web-based, cross-sectional survey to recruit 1985 university students from 5 public universities (2 in Indonesia, 1 in Thailand, and 1 in Taiwan) via popular social media platforms such as Facebook, LINE, WhatsApp, and broadcast. All students (n=938 in Indonesia, n=734 in Thailand, and n=313 in Taiwan) answered questions concerning their anxiety, suicidal thoughts (or sadness), confidence in pandemic control, risk perception of susceptibility to infection, perceived support, resources for fighting infection, and sources of information in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS Among the 3 student groups, Thai students had the highest levels of anxiety but the lowest levels of confidence in pandemic control and available resources for fighting COVID-19. Factors associated with higher anxiety differed across countries. Less perceived satisfactory support was associated with more suicidal thoughts among Indonesian students. On the other hand, Taiwanese students were more negatively affected by information gathered from the internet and from medical staff than were Indonesian or Thai students. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that health care providers in Thailand may need to pay special attention to Thai university students given that high levels of anxiety were observed in this study population. In addition, health care providers should establish a good support system for university students, as the results of this study indicate a negative association between support and suicidal thoughts.

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Health literacy levels of British adults: a cross-sectional survey using two domains of the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ)

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-020-09727-w ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Rebecca M. Simpson ◽

Emma Knowles ◽

Alicia O’Cathain

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Literacy ◽

Health Information ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Health Condition ◽

Population Characteristics ◽

Care Providers ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Health Literacy Questionnaire

Abstract Background A person’s health literacy determines whether they are able to make appropriate health decisions and are able to follow treatment instructions. This is important because low health literacy is associated with mortality and extra costs to the healthcare system. Our aim was to describe the health literacy levels of British adults using a nationally representative population survey, and show how health literacy levels vary by population characteristics. Methods A population based cross-sectional survey including questions from two domains from the Health Literacy Questionnaire™: 1) Understanding health information well enough to know what to do, and 2) Ability to actively engage with health care providers. Both domains are made up of 5 Likert style questions with 5 levels ranging from ‘cannot do or always difficult’ (1) to ‘always easy’ (5). The survey was conducted by NatCen in Britain (2018) as part of the annual British Social Attitudes survey. We used weighted descriptive analyses and regression to explore the relationship between population characteristics and health literacy. Weighted analyses were used to ensure the sample was representative of the British population. Results A total of 2309 responded to the questionnaire. The mean score for ‘understanding information’ was 3.98 (95% CI: 3.94, 4.02) and for ‘ability to engage’ was 3.83 (95% CI: 3.80, 3.87), where 5 is the highest score. 19.4% had some level of difficulty reading and understanding written health information, and 23.2% discussing health concerns with health care providers. The adjusted logistic regression for ‘understanding information’ showed that those with lower health literacy were more likely to be in the most socially deprived quintile (OR 2.500 95% CI: 1.180, 5.296), have a limiting health condition or disability (OR 4.326 95% CI: 2.494, 7.704), and have no educational qualifications (OR 7.588 95% CI: 3.305, 17.422). This was similar for the ‘ability to engage’ domain. Conclusions This study described the distribution of health literacy levels for the British population in 2018. Interventions to improve health literacy will best be targeted at those with lower levels of education, those living in the most deprived areas, and those with a limiting health condition or disability.

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Contested meanings of mental health and well-being among university students

South African Journal of Psychology ◽

10.1177/0081246317731958 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 48 (4) ◽

pp. 453-464 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Vinitha Jithoo

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

University Students ◽

Emerging Adults ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Problems ◽

Care Providers ◽

Health And Well Being

Emerging adults are an important group not only because their opinions and knowledge will determine future attitudes but also because of the emergence of mental health problems during young adulthood. In order to provide relevant support, academics, health care providers as well as policy makers need to be more cognisant of how emerging adults make meaning of their psycho-social developmental context. The objective of the study was to explore how a cohort of 150 university students made meaning of emotional well-being and mental illness, the causes of mental health problems, the negative connotations associated with mental ill health, help-seeking behaviours, and how culture was used as a lens through which mental well-being was understood. The main findings indicate that students struggle to fully understand these concepts mainly because it is shrouded in mystery and complexity and not engaged with freely because of stigma and stereotypical attitudes, and while culture provides a lens to understand the causes and interventions, emerging adults often adopt a level of scepticism and are beginning to vacillate between tradition and modernity. Emerging adults face many barriers to accessing health care services including limited knowledge and stigma related to services, lack of confidentiality, fear of mistreatment, location of facilities, and the high cost of services. Universities and government should actively engage with research evidence to inform policies and programmes to improve the health and well-being of emerging adults.

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Prevalence and risk factors of perceived stress on COVID-19 among health care providers in Dilla Town Health institutions, Southern Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-23476/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Yigrem Ali Chekole ◽

Solomon Yimer ◽

Birhanie Mekuriaw ◽

Semagn Mekonnen

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Southern Ethiopia ◽

Care Providers ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional

Abstract Background: The Coronavirus belongs to large groups of viruses that cause serious health problems including the mental health of the society particularly the health care providers. Understanding the mental health response after a public health emergency might help health care providers and communities to prepare for a population's response to a disaster.Objective: This study aimed to assess the magnitude of perceived stress and risk factors of coronaviruses disease 2019 among healthcare providers in Dilla, Southern Ethiopia 2020.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 244 samples selected with systematic random sampling technique. Data collection was carried out with validated perceived stress scale adapted from the World health organization. Data were coded and entered into Epi-info Version 7 and was exported and analyzed with SPSS version 20. Crude and adjusted OR were analyzed using logistic regression and the level of significance of association was determined at P-value <0.05.Result: The magnitude of perceived stress of coronavirus disease 2019 among participants was 126 (51.6%). Being at the age range of 25-31 years (AOR=2.5, 95%CI, 1.07, 5.90), nurse professionals (AOR= 7.8, 95%CI 2.15, 27.98) and pharmacist professionals (AOR=4.15, 95%CI, 1.01, 17.06) were variables found to have a strongly statistically significant association with perceived stress of Coronaviruses disease.Conclusion: this indicates that early prevention, early identification and intervention of perceived stress of coronaviruses disease among healthcare providers. Particularly, more stress for the frontline healthcare worker nurses, pharmacists and age ranges of 25-31 years.

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The adequacy of health system measures in reducing vulnerability to COVID 19 among the health care providers working in primary health care in Rajasthan, India A Cross sectional Study

10.1101/2020.07.21.20149443 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Arup Kumar Das ◽

Ambey Kumar Srivastava ◽

Saswata Ghosh ◽

Ruchi Bhargava ◽

Rajan Kumar Gupt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

System Level ◽

Care Providers ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Safety Measures ◽

Primary Level ◽

Facility Level

Background This paper examines the role of individual, facility and system level preparedness in reducing the physiological and psychological vulnerability among primary-level health care providers (HCPs) of COVID19 pandemic in Rajasthan, India. Method and Material Online and telephonic interviews are conducted among 274 HCPs working in 24 PHCs (17 rural and 7 urban), across 13 districts of Rajasthan. Five dimensions of vulnerability covering awareness, exposure to infection (daily contact; contact with high risk individuals), physical and mental health conditions, while three aspects of preparedness at individual (personal care) and facility (provider safety; management and supervision) level are measured by employing factor analysis. Generalized ordered logit regression model is used to measure the effect of preparedness on COVID19 related vulnerability. Result: Among the 274 HCPs, majority of the staff are from rural PHCs (76 %), less than 35 years (87%), female (57%) and married (57 %). Almost half have high level exposure to COVID19, with mean contact rate is 90. Overall, 26% have comprehensive knowledge on COVID19, and 32% have any mental health issues. Although more than 70% of HCPs have reported more than one individual level preparedness, mental health measures adopted by the HCPs are comparably low. The facility level preparedness for enhancing safety are high such as social distance (79%) and maintaining record of each visitor (75%). However, management related measures adopted by the PHCs are perceived to be lower than the safety measures. The regression analyses suggest that safety related preparedness is significantly associated with reduction of vulnerability by 50%. The management-level preparedness has statistically no significant effect in explaining the variations in level of vulnerability. Conclusion: The facility-level safety measures, which lowers chances of acquiring infection has a positive effect on reducing vulnerability of COVID19. However, the HCPs do not have adequate preparedness at individual, facility management (PHC) and system level to reduce COVID19 vulnerability. Findings suggest that there is a need for a non-conventional approach of monitoring and supervision, in the absence of such measures there is a chance of moral injury that will make the HCPs at the primary level vulnerable to both physiologically and psychologically.

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Prevalence of depression and its associated factors among the doctors working in a private medical college, Trichy- a cross sectional study

International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health ◽

10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20204737 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (11) ◽

pp. 4410

Author(s):

Sathasivam Ponnan ◽

N. Mareeswaran ◽

Thalha . ◽

T. Tamizhan

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Care Providers ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Tertiary Teaching ◽

Study Participants

Background: Stress is one among the leading health problem throughout the world. Stress due to family problems and work related are often encountered. Among the various professionals, health care providers are found to be more depressed than others. This study was conducted with an objective to study the socio demographic characters of the study participants, to study the depression status of the study participants and to study the association between various factors and depression.Methods: This descriptive cross sectional study done among the doctors working in a tertiary teaching hospital. A total of 150 participants were included in this study. Simple random sampling method was used to identify the study participants.Results: Around 76% of the participants belongs to the age group of 20-30 years of age. 71.3% of the study population were junior residents. Nearly 64% were found to be depressed among which 8% were found to be on severely depressed. Statistical significant association was found between factors like designation and time spending with family with depression.Conclusions: Since stress and burnout became the leading mental health problems, and health care providers posing as a vulnerable group by virtue of their profession. Hence behavioral therapy sessions and stress management programs are to be conducted frequently to screen as well to relieve from the mental health issues.

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Anxiety and Suicidal Thoughts During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Country Comparative Study Among Indonesian, Taiwanese, and Thai University Students

Journal of Medical Internet Research ◽

10.2196/24487 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (12) ◽

pp. e24487

Author(s):

Iqbal Pramukti ◽

Carol Strong ◽

Yajai Sitthimongkol ◽

Agus Setiawan ◽

Moses Glorino Rumambo Pandin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

University Students ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Care Providers ◽

Sources Of Information ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Suicidal Thoughts ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Thai Students ◽

Thai University

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the mental health of university students. Objective This study examined the psychological responses toward COVID-19 among university students from 3 countries—Indonesia, Taiwan, and Thailand. Methods We used a web-based, cross-sectional survey to recruit 1985 university students from 5 public universities (2 in Indonesia, 1 in Thailand, and 1 in Taiwan) via popular social media platforms such as Facebook, LINE, WhatsApp, and broadcast. All students (n=938 in Indonesia, n=734 in Thailand, and n=313 in Taiwan) answered questions concerning their anxiety, suicidal thoughts (or sadness), confidence in pandemic control, risk perception of susceptibility to infection, perceived support, resources for fighting infection, and sources of information in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results Among the 3 student groups, Thai students had the highest levels of anxiety but the lowest levels of confidence in pandemic control and available resources for fighting COVID-19. Factors associated with higher anxiety differed across countries. Less perceived satisfactory support was associated with more suicidal thoughts among Indonesian students. On the other hand, Taiwanese students were more negatively affected by information gathered from the internet and from medical staff than were Indonesian or Thai students. Conclusions Our findings suggest that health care providers in Thailand may need to pay special attention to Thai university students given that high levels of anxiety were observed in this study population. In addition, health care providers should establish a good support system for university students, as the results of this study indicate a negative association between support and suicidal thoughts.

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Attitude of Future Health Care Providers Regarding Treatment and Management of Mental Health Disorders

Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International ◽

10.9734/jpri/2020/v32i2830867 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 20-27

Author(s):

Muhammad Shahid Iqbal ◽

Salah-Ud-Din Khan ◽

Muhammad Zahid Iqbal

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Mental Health Disorders ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Care Providers ◽

Future Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Future Health Care ◽

Health Disorders

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the attitude of future health care providers regarding the treatment and management of mental health disorders (MHDs). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sampling method. A self-developed and pre-validated tool was used to collect data from students studying in three health care faculties of a university in Malaysia. The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Version 24.0 was used to analyze the data. Results: Out of the total study participants, males were 104 (36.6%) and females were 180 (63.4%) in the study. For the race variable the Malays students were 7 (2.5%), Chinese students 212 (74.6%), Indians students 60 (21.2%), and others 5 (1.7%). Conclusion: Overall positive attitude was observed among the studied cohort of future health care providers.

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