Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canadian Armed Forces Veterans who live with chronic pain

2021 ◽  
pp. e20210042
Author(s):  
Manon Choinière ◽  
M. Gabrielle Pagé ◽  
Anaïs Lacasse ◽  
Lise Dassieu ◽  
James M. Thompson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
General Population ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Military Veterans ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Future Health ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces ◽  
To Come

LAY SUMMARY Chronic pain is more frequent in military Veterans than in the general population. The objective of this study was to assess whether the COVID-19 pandemic has had a greater impact on Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Veterans who live with chronic pain compared to non-Veterans. An online survey of Canadian adults with chronic pain was conducted between April and May 2020; 76 respondents reported having served in the CAF and were compared with 76 similar non-Veterans. About two thirds of the Veterans had been living with chronic pain for longer than 10 years. Two thirds reported worsened pain since the pandemic began. Nearly half experienced moderate to severe psychological distress. These changes were similar to those in non-Veterans with chronic pain. A significant number of Veterans and non-Veterans changed their pain treatments due to the pandemic. In summary, the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restriction measures did not have a greater impact in CAF Veterans with chronic pain compared with non-Veterans. However, changes in chronic pain supports are needed to be better prepared for COVID-19 waves to come and future health crises.

Psychological Impacts of COVID-19 During the First Nationwide Lockdown in Vietnam: Web-Based, Cross-Sectional Survey Study (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khanh Ngoc Cong Duong ◽  
Tien Nguyen Le Bao ◽  
Phuong Thi Lan Nguyen ◽  
Thanh Vo Van ◽  
Toi Phung Lam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
General Population ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Event Scale ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND The first nationwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic was implemented in Vietnam from April 1 to 15, 2020. Nevertheless, there has been limited information on the impact of COVID-19 on the psychological health of the public. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of psychological issues and identify the factors associated with the psychological impact of COVID-19 during the first nationwide lockdown among the general population in Vietnam. METHODS We employed a cross-sectional study design with convenience sampling. A self-administered, online survey was used to collect data and assess psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and stress of participants from April 10 to 15, 2020. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) were utilized to assess psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and stress of participants during social distancing due to COVID-19. Associations across factors were explored using regression analysis. RESULTS A total of 1385 respondents completed the survey. Of this, 35.9% (n=497) experienced psychological distress, as well as depression (n=325, 23.5%), anxiety (n=195, 14.1%), and stress (n=309, 22.3%). Respondents who evaluated their physical health as average had a higher IES-R score (beta coefficient [B]=9.16, 95% CI 6.43 to 11.89), as well as higher depression (B=5.85, 95% CI 4.49 to 7.21), anxiety (B=3.64, 95% CI 2.64 to 4.63), and stress (B=5.19, 95% CI 3.83 to 6.56) scores for DASS-21 than those who rated their health as good or very good. Those who self-reported their health as bad or very bad experienced more severe depression (B=9.57, 95% CI 4.54 to 14.59), anxiety (B=7.24, 95% CI 3.55 to 10.9), and stress (B=10.60, 95% CI 5.56 to 15.65). Unemployment was more likely to be associated with depression (B=3.34, 95% CI 1.68 to 5.01) and stress (B=2.34, 95% CI 0.84 to 3.85). Regarding worries about COVID-19, more than half (n=755, 54.5%) expressed concern for their children aged <18 years, which increased their IES-R score (B=7.81, 95% CI 4.98 to 10.64) and DASS-21 stress score (B=1.75, 95% CI 0.27 to 3.24). The majority of respondents (n=1335, 96.4%) were confident about their doctor’s expertise in terms of COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment, which was positively associated with less distress caused by the outbreak (B=–7.84, 95% CI –14.58 to –1.11). CONCLUSIONS The findings highlight the effect of COVID-19 on mental health during the nationwide lockdown among the general population in Vietnam. The study provides useful evidence for policy decision makers to develop and implement interventions to mitigate these impacts. CLINICALTRIAL

scholarly journals Cluster analysis of Canadian Armed Forces veterans living with chronic pain: Life After Service Studies 2016

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-95
Author(s):  
Julian Reyes Velez ◽  
James M. Thompson ◽  
Jill Sweet ◽  
Jason W. Busse ◽  
Linda VanTil
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces

Top resources and tools for physician management of chronic pain in the Canadian Armed Forces

2021 ◽  
pp. e20210039
Author(s):  
Paul Dhillon ◽  
Nickie Mathew ◽  
Richard Lee ◽  
Eric Juneau ◽  
Robert Dale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Continuous Medical Education ◽  
Prescription Practices ◽  
The Past ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces ◽  
Busy Clinician ◽  
Primary Care Clinicians ◽  
Canadian Military ◽  
New Evidence

LAY SUMMARY Diagnosis and management of chronic pain in Canada by primary care clinicians is a challenging and changing field with new approaches, evidence, and tools emerging in the past few years. For a busy clinician, it is vital to integrate and become aware of new tools that can improve the care delivered to patients. This article summarizes new evidence-based tools, key guidelines and research, algorithms, and simplified prescription practices, in addition to continuous medical education resources that will allow busy clinicians to rapidly be brought up to speed on the latest in chronic pain management in the Canadian military context.

scholarly journals Gender differences in barriers to mental healthcare for UK military veterans: a preliminary investigation

2021 ◽  
pp. bmjmilitary-2020-001754
Author(s):  
Lauren Rose Godier-McBard ◽  
G Cable ◽  
A D Wood ◽  
M Fossey
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Military Veterans ◽  
Preliminary Investigation ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Free Text ◽  
The Impact

IntroductionLimited UK research focuses on female military veterans’ gender-related experiences and issues when accessing civilian mental healthcare support. This study sought to illuminate a preliminary understanding of any gender differences in barriers that may discourage them accessing mental healthcare support.MethodsA total of 100 participants completed an open online survey of UK triservice veterans who identified as having experienced postmilitary mental health problems. They completed a 30-item Barriers to Access to Care Evaluation scale and were asked to elaborate using free-text questions. Resulting quantitative data were analysed for gender-related differences, while the qualitative text was thematically explored.ResultsWhile stigma, previous poor experience of mental healthcare and a lack of trust in civilian providers were found to act as barriers to postmilitary support for both men and women, significantly more women reported that their gender had also impacted on their intention to seek help. Women also commented on the impact of gender-related discrimination during service on their help-seeking experiences.ConclusionsWhile efforts are being made by the UK Ministry of Defence to reduce barriers to mental healthcare for those still serving in the Armed Forces, it has been more difficult to provide a similar level of support to the veteran population. With little veteran research focusing on the specific experiences of women, this study suggests that female veterans encounter specific access barriers and issues related to their gender. Further research is therefore needed to ensure these findings are addressed.

Retrospective cohort study of outpatient mental health visits in children and youth in Canadian military families

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alyson L. Mahar ◽  
Heidi Cramm ◽  
Isabel Garces ◽  
Alice B. Aiken ◽  
Simon Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
General Population ◽  
Military Families ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Children And Youth ◽  
Health Services Use ◽  
Physician Visits ◽  
Outpatient Mental Health ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces

LAY SUMMARY This study tried to answer the question “Do children and youth in military families have a greater risk of emotional and behavioural problems than children and youth in the general population?” The authors used routinely collected health data from children and youth in Canadian Armed Forces families who relocated to Ontario, matched to data from children and youth in non-military families. They compared outpatient mental health services use, such as physician visits, and the reasons for those visits, such as depression. They found that children and youth in military families were more likely to visit a physician for specific mental health diagnoses than children and youth in the general population. More programming and resources supporting the mental health and well-being of children and youth in military families may be needed.

scholarly journals The Impact of Resilience and Extraversion on Psychological Distress, Loneliness, and Boredom During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Follow-Up Study Among the General Population of Tyrol, Austria

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franziska Tutzer ◽  
Beatrice Frajo-Apor ◽  
Silvia Pardeller ◽  
Barbara Plattner ◽  
Anna Chernova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
General Population ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Negative Association ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Resilience Scale ◽  
The Impact

Background: The Covid-19 pandemic and related measures represent an enormous burden on mental health. The aim of this study was to investigate longitudinal changes in psychological distress, loneliness, boredom, and resilience over the course of the pandemic and to examine the associations between resilience and extraversion at baseline (summer 2020) and psychological distress, loneliness, and boredom at 5-month-follow-up.Methods: Residents of Tyrol (≥18a) completed an online survey on psychological distress, loneliness, boredom, resilience, and extraversion by using the Brief-Symptom-Checklist, the Three-Item Loneliness Scale, the Multidimensional State Boredom Scale-Short Form (MSBS-SF), the Resilience Scale, and the Extraversion subscale of the Big Five Inventory.Results: Of the 961 baseline participants, 384 took part in the follow-up survey. The percentage of study participants with striking psychological distress remained the same. Similarly, resilience did not change from baseline to follow-up, whereas the number of those experiencing moderate loneliness increased significantly. In contrast, at follow-up, severe loneliness was detected in significantly less people. Boredom decreased significantly over time. A moderate negative association was detected between baseline resilience and psychological distress, loneliness, and boredom at follow-up, and a weak but still significant negative association between extraversion and these outcomes.Discussion: These findings indicate that a subset of the general population consistently suffers from high levels of psychological distress and point to the protective effects of resilience and extraversion in this context. They reemphasize the importance of prevention and mitigation strategies to address these public health problems.

scholarly journals Prevalence of comorbid chronic pain and mental health conditions in Canadian Armed Forces active personnel: analysis of a cross-sectional survey

CMAJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. E528-E536 ◽  
Author(s):  
Everett Vun ◽  
Sarah Turner ◽  
Jitender Sareen ◽  
Natalie Mota ◽  
Tracie O. Afifi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mental Health Conditions ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces

scholarly journals Psychological Impacts of COVID-19 During the First Nationwide Lockdown in Vietnam: Web-Based, Cross-Sectional Survey Study

10.2196/24776 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (12) ◽  
pp. e24776
Author(s):  
Khanh Ngoc Cong Duong ◽  
Tien Nguyen Le Bao ◽  
Phuong Thi Lan Nguyen ◽  
Thanh Vo Van ◽  
Toi Phung Lam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
General Population ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Event Scale ◽  
The Impact

Background The first nationwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic was implemented in Vietnam from April 1 to 15, 2020. Nevertheless, there has been limited information on the impact of COVID-19 on the psychological health of the public. Objective This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of psychological issues and identify the factors associated with the psychological impact of COVID-19 during the first nationwide lockdown among the general population in Vietnam. Methods We employed a cross-sectional study design with convenience sampling. A self-administered, online survey was used to collect data and assess psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and stress of participants from April 10 to 15, 2020. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) were utilized to assess psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and stress of participants during social distancing due to COVID-19. Associations across factors were explored using regression analysis. Results A total of 1385 respondents completed the survey. Of this, 35.9% (n=497) experienced psychological distress, as well as depression (n=325, 23.5%), anxiety (n=195, 14.1%), and stress (n=309, 22.3%). Respondents who evaluated their physical health as average had a higher IES-R score (beta coefficient [B]=9.16, 95% CI 6.43 to 11.89), as well as higher depression (B=5.85, 95% CI 4.49 to 7.21), anxiety (B=3.64, 95% CI 2.64 to 4.63), and stress (B=5.19, 95% CI 3.83 to 6.56) scores for DASS-21 than those who rated their health as good or very good. Those who self-reported their health as bad or very bad experienced more severe depression (B=9.57, 95% CI 4.54 to 14.59), anxiety (B=7.24, 95% CI 3.55 to 10.9), and stress (B=10.60, 95% CI 5.56 to 15.65). Unemployment was more likely to be associated with depression (B=3.34, 95% CI 1.68 to 5.01) and stress (B=2.34, 95% CI 0.84 to 3.85). Regarding worries about COVID-19, more than half (n=755, 54.5%) expressed concern for their children aged <18 years, which increased their IES-R score (B=7.81, 95% CI 4.98 to 10.64) and DASS-21 stress score (B=1.75, 95% CI 0.27 to 3.24). The majority of respondents (n=1335, 96.4%) were confident about their doctor’s expertise in terms of COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment, which was positively associated with less distress caused by the outbreak (B=–7.84, 95% CI –14.58 to –1.11). Conclusions The findings highlight the effect of COVID-19 on mental health during the nationwide lockdown among the general population in Vietnam. The study provides useful evidence for policy decision makers to develop and implement interventions to mitigate these impacts.

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