scholarly journals Training about Mental Disorder and Screening/Assessment Associated with Knowledge/Experience in Public Health Workers in Japan

Author(s):  
Zui Narita ◽  
Kazuo Yamanouchi ◽  
Kazuo Mishima ◽  
Yoko Kamio ◽  
Naoko Ayabe ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Training non-specialist workers in mental healthcare improves knowledge, attitude, skills, and confidence as well as clinical practice and skills. However, still little information is available on what type of mental health training is specifically associated with the improvement of such capacities. Japan reportedly has a poor quality of community mental health, and such information is crucial to improve the mental health service. Methods We studied web-based survey data of 495 public health workers in Japan to examine training types associated with knowledge/experience to support individuals with mental disorders. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between lack of knowledge/experience (outcome) and mental health training (exposure). We fitted three regression models. Model 1 evaluated unadjusted associations. Model 2 adjusted for age and sex. Model 3 adjusted for age, sex, years of experience, mental health full-time worker status, and community population. Results For all training types, the association between lack of knowledge/experience and mental health training attenuated as the model developed (i.e., Model 1 showed the smallest odds ratio). In Model 3, lack of knowledge/experience was significantly associated only with training about mental disorder and screening/assessment (OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.33–0.90: and OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.40–0.97, respectively). Conclusions We believe that the present study provides meaningful information that training about mental disorder and screening/assessment may lead to knowledge/experience of public health workers. Further studies should employ a longitudinal design with a larger sample.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinghua Li ◽  
Jingdong Xu ◽  
Huan Zhou ◽  
Hua You ◽  
Xiaohui Wang ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Background Public health workers at the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) and primary health care institutes (PHIs) were among the main workers who implemented prevention, control, and containment measures. However, their efforts and health status have not been well documented. We aimed to investigate the working conditions and health status of front line public health workers in China during the COVID-19 epidemic. Methods Between 18 February and 1 March 2020, we conducted an online cross-sectional survey of 2,313 CDC workers and 4,004 PHI workers in five provinces across China experiencing different scales of COVID-19 epidemic. We surveyed all participants about their work conditions, roles, burdens, perceptions, mental health, and self-rated health using a self-constructed questionnaire and standardised measurements (i.e., Patient Health Questionnaire and General Anxiety Disorder scale). To examine the independent associations between working conditions and health outcomes, we used multivariate regression models controlling for potential confounders. Results The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and poor self-rated health was 21.3, 19.0, and 9.8%, respectively, among public health workers (27.1, 20.6, and 15.0% among CDC workers and 17.5, 17.9, and 6.8% among PHI workers). The majority (71.6%) made immense efforts in both field and non-field work. Nearly 20.0% have worked all night for more than 3 days, and 45.3% had worked throughout the Chinese New Year holiday. Three risk factors and two protective factors were found to be independently associated with all three health outcomes in our final multivariate models: working all night for >3 days (multivariate odds ratio [ORm]=1.67~1.75, p<0.001), concerns about infection at work (ORm=1.46~1.89, p<0.001), perceived troubles at work (ORm=1.10~1.28, p<0.001), initiating COVID-19 prevention work after January 23 (ORm=0.78~0.82, p=0.002~0.008), and ability to persist for > 1 month at the current work intensity (ORm=0.44~0.55, p<0.001). Conclusions Chinese public health workers made immense efforts and personal sacrifices to control the COVID-19 epidemic and faced the risk of mental health problems. Efforts are needed to improve the working conditions and health status of public health workers and thus maintain their morale and effectiveness during the fight against COVID-19.


2013 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 480-486 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shreedhar Paudel ◽  
Nadege Gilles ◽  
Sigrid Hahn ◽  
Braden Hexom ◽  
Ramaswamy Premkumar ◽  
...  

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. e024059 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Caulfield ◽  
Deniz Vatansever ◽  
Gabriel Lambert ◽  
Tine Van Bortel

ObjectiveTo assess existing literature on the effectiveness of mental health training courses for non-specialist health workers, based on the WHO guidelines (2008).DesignA systematic review was carried out, complying with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist.Data sourcesAfter examination of key studies in the literature, a comprehensive search was performed within the following electronic databases on 31 May 2017: PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL (using EBSCOHost interface), Cochrane, Web of Science.Eligibility criteriaSearches were conducted for articles published in English from January 2008 to May 2017, using search terms related to mental health, training, community care and evaluation/outcome, following the Participants, Interventions, Comparators and Outcomes process for evidence-based practice.OutcomesData were collected across the following categories: trainees (number and background), training course (curriculum, teaching method, length), evaluation method (timing of evaluation, collection method and measures assessed) and evaluation outcome (any improvement recorded from baseline). In addition, studies were assessed for their methodological quality using the framework established by Liuet al(2016).Results29 studies with relevant training courses met the inclusion criteria. These were implemented across 16 countries since 2008 (over half between 2014 and 2017), with 10 in three high-income countries. Evaluation methods and outcomes showed high variability across studies, with courses assessing trainees’ attitude, knowledge, clinical practice, skills, confidence, satisfaction and/or patient outcome. All 29 studies found some improvement after training in at least one area, and 10 studies found this improvement to be significant.ConclusionsTraining non-specialist workers in mental healthcare is an effective strategy to increase global provision and capacity, and improves knowledge, attitude, skill and confidence among health workers, as well as clinical practice and patient outcome. Areas for future focus include the development of standardised evaluation methods and outcomes to allow cross-comparison between studies, and optimisation of course structure.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42016033269


2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald E. Brannen ◽  
Robert Barcus ◽  
Mark A. McDonnell ◽  
Andrea Price ◽  
Corey Alsept ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectivePsychological assessment after disasters determines which survivors are acutely distressed or medically compromised and what kind of assistance is needed (whether practical or psychological). A mental health triage tool can help direct more people to the appropriate type of help. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the Fast Mental Health Triage Tool (FMHT) and the Alsept-Price Mental Health Scale (APMHS) among public health workers and Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers in conducting mental health triage. Both tools screen for ability to follow simple commands, chronic medical conditions, mental health conditions and services, occult injuries, and traumatic events in the past year. Both were designed for use in disasters where mental health resources are scarce and survivors are already medically triaged.MethodsVolunteers (n = 204) and workers (n = 66) were randomized into 3 groups, with 79 participating. Fifty-nine raters completed 20 each of 1180 mental health clinical vignettes of disaster survivors.ResultsThe survey presenting the vignettes was highly reliable at 0.771; the study model was parallel between baseline and treatment; and the interclass correlation among the raters was high at 0.852. Each rater triaged the same cases, but the rater was randomly assigned to use FMHT, APMHS, or no tool or scale. Between-subject effect for the tools used was significant (P = .039). The FMHT was significantly better than no tool in correct mental health triage, 67.3% to 51.5% (P = .028).ConclusionThe incorporation of a temporal component should be evaluated for potential inclusion in existing mental health triage systems. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2013;7:20-28)


2010 ◽  
Vol 4 (S1) ◽  
pp. S55-S62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jodi B.A. McKibben ◽  
Carol S. Fullerton ◽  
Robert J. Ursano ◽  
Dori B. Reissman ◽  
Kathleen Kowalski-Trakofler ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBackground: We examined the relation of sleep disturbance and arousal to work performance, mental and physical health, and day-to-day functioning in Florida Department of Health (FDOH) employees 9 months after the 2004 Florida hurricane season.Methods: FDOH employees were contacted via e-mail 9 months after the 2004 hurricanes. Participants (N = 2249) completed electronic questionnaires including measures of sleep disturbance, arousal, work performance, physical health, mental health, day-to-day function, hurricane injury, and work demand.Results: More than 18% of FDOH employees reported ≥25% reduced work performance and 11% to 15.3% reported ≥7 “bad” mental or physical health days in the past month. Sleep disturbance and elevated arousal were strongly associated with impaired work performance (odds ratios [ORs] 3.33 and 3.34, respectively), “bad” mental health (ORs 3.01 and 3.64), “bad” physical health (ORs 3.21 and 2.01), and limited day-to-day function (ORs 4.71 and 2.32), even after adjusting for sex, race, age, education, and marital status.Conclusions: Among public health workers exposed to the 2004 hurricanes, sleep disturbance and arousal were associated with personal and work impairment. Future research should continue to examine the effect of repeated exposure to disasters in first responders.(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2010;4:S55-S62)


2016 ◽  
Vol 131 (1) ◽  
pp. 208-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Reisinger Walker ◽  
Jennie Kwon ◽  
Delia L. Lang ◽  
Richard M. Levinson ◽  
Benjamin G. Druss

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