COVID-19 Pandemic and Maternal Psychological Wellbeing During the Malaysian Movement Control Order: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: COVID-19 pandemic had resulted in nationwide lockdown as a disease control measure. Potential harm to self and baby due to COVID-19 infection as well as uncertainties about delivery are among contributors to maternal anxiety. We aimed to assess the prevalence of psychological distress among pregnant women during the Malaysian Movement Control Order (MCO).Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between May and June 2020 in a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A self-administered electronic questionnaire was distributed which included the following; (1) Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS 21), (2) Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (SWEMWBS), (3) MCO effect questionnaire, and (4) newly designed COVID-19 pregnancy-related anxiety. Chi-square test and logistic regression were performed to determine significant associations whilst mean scores comparison were conducted through Mann-Whitney-U-test.Results: Four hundred and fifteen women were included in the final analysis. The prevalence of psychological distress among our cohort was 14.7%; with a two-fold increase of risk among the non-Malays (AOR 1.98, 95% CI 1.00–3.89) whilst a greater number of social support showed a protective effect (AOR 0.51, 95%CI 0.28–0.92). Malay ethnicity (p < 0.001) alongside greater household income (p = 0.014) were positive predictors of a higher sense of maternal wellbeing. Multiparous women and those of higher economic status experienced the more negative effect of the MCO. Around 88% of our women reported a higher level of COVID-19 pregnancy-related anxiety. Younger (p = 0.017) and first-time mothers (p = 0.039) were more likely to be anxious. Although adequate maternal knowledge on COVID-19 was associated with a greater sense of maternal wellbeing (p = 0.028), it was also linked to a higher level of COVID-19 related anxiety (AOR 3.54, 95% 1.29–9.70).Conclusion: There was a relatively low prevalence of psychological distress among expectant mothers in Malaysia during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Expectant mothers should receive accurate and reliable information on the effect of COVID-19 on pregnancy to relieve some maternal anxiety. Maternal health screening is important to identify individuals who would benefit from extra support and mental health intervention, especially in prolonged lockdown.

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Psychological Impact on Parents of University Students During COVID-19 Movement Control Order (MCO)

Journal of Cognitive Sciences and Human Development ◽

10.33736/jcshd.2895.2021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 145-156

Author(s):

Juslina Omar ◽

Azreen Friddy ◽

Anne Tasha Serun ◽

Hemma B. Rayandran ◽

Julie Reeni Remash ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

University Students ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Movement Control ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Psychological Distress Scale ◽

Control Order ◽

Distress Scale ◽

Self Administered Questionnaire

The Malaysian Government has announced the Movement Control Order (MCO) starting 18th March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide. This study attempts to assess the level of psychological distress among parents of university students stranded on campus and out campus during MCO; and to identify the stressors causing psychological distress among parents. It is a cross sectional study using an online self-administered questionnaire done at a public university in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Psychological distress was determined by using Kessler’s Psychological Distress Scale (K10). The study has shown significant associations between parents’ psychological distress with three stressors which consist of worrying about their child’s food supply, child’s future, and child’s mental health.

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The Psychological Impact of Movement Restriction during the COVID-19 Outbreak on Clinical Undergraduates: A Cross-Sectional Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17228522 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (22) ◽

pp. 8522

Author(s):

Aida Kalok ◽

Shalisah Sharip ◽

Abdul Muzhill Abdul Hafizz ◽

Zulkifli Md Zainuddin ◽

Mohamad Nasir Shafiee

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Government Support ◽

Mental Wellbeing ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Movement Restriction ◽

Cross Sectional

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia and the subsequent closure of all educational institutions. We aimed to examine the psychological impact of the MCO among clinical undergraduates. A cross-sectional study was conducted using self-reported questionnaires that were distributed online using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS 21), Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (SWEMWBS), and the newly designed MCO effect questionnaire. Seven hundred seventy-two students completed the survey. The prevalence of psychological distress was 52.8%, with around 60% of respondents reporting disruption to their daily lives. Older (p = 0.015) and more senior students (p < 0.001) were less likely to be anxious than their younger and junior counterparts, respectively. A greater number of social support (three or more) was linked to a lower score of depression (p = 0.005) and stress (p = 0.045). Undergraduates who received family support demonstrated lower depression scores (p = 0.037) and higher mental wellbeing (p = 0.020) compared to those without. Government support was independently associated with a lesser risk of depressive symptoms (Adjusted odds ratio, AOR 0.68; 95% confidence interval, CI 0.47–0.99) and a greater sense of mental wellbeing (AOR 1.54; 95% CI 1.06–2.22). The present finding provides evidence of a high prevalence of psychological distress among clinical undergraduates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Appropriate social support is important in alleviating anxiety and stress and promoting greater mental wellbeing amongst students during the nationwide quarantine.

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Effect of the Movement Control Order on the Incidence of Complicated Appendicitis During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences ◽

10.21315/mjms2021.28.5.13 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 28 (5) ◽

pp. 130-136

Author(s):

Hamzah Sukiman ◽

◽

Abdul Malek Mohamad ◽

Muhammad Firdaus Nasution Raduan ◽

Mohd Nur Afiq Mohd Yasim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Length Of Stay ◽

Movement Control ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Complicated Appendicitis ◽

Delayed Presentation ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Surgical Morbidity ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Prolonged Length ◽

Control Order

Background: Appendicitis is common and delayed presentation results in complicated appendicitis with increased morbidity. This study investigates the effect of the Movement Control Order (MCO) during the COVID-19 pandemic on the presentation and severity of appendicitis. Methods: A cross-sectional study including 193 patients diagnosed with appendicitis was conducted at four hospitals in Pahang, Malaysia. Those who presented between 1 February 2020 and 17 March 2020 were included in the pre-MCO group and those between 18 March 2020 and 30 April 2020 in the MCO group. The definitions of simple and complicated appendicitis were based on the Sunshine Appendicitis Grading Score. The primary outcome was the incidence of complicated appendicitis, and the secondary outcomes were length of stay, a composite of surgical morbidities and a composite of organ failure. Results: A total of 105 patients in the pre-MCO group and 88 in the MCO group were analysed. The incidence of complicated appendicitis was 33% and it was higher in the MCO than in the pre-MCO group (44% versus 23%, P = 0.002). The MCO period was independently associated with complicated appendicitis in the logistic regression (P = 0.001). It was also associated with prolonged length of stay (3.5 days versus 2.4 days, P < 0.001) and higher overall surgical morbidity (19% versus 5%, P = 0.002). Conclusion: The MCO imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a higher incidence of complicated appendicitis and surgical morbidity.

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Association of psychological distress and religious coping tendencies in parents of children recently diagnosed with cancer: A cross‐sectional study

Pediatric Blood & Cancer ◽

10.1002/pbc.28991 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

J. Gregory Dolan ◽

Douglas L. Hill ◽

Jennifer A. Faerber ◽

Laura E. Palmer ◽

Lamia P. Barakat ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Religious Coping ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional

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Comparison of predicted psychological distress among workers between artificial intelligence and psychiatrists: a cross-sectional study in Tsukuba Science City, Japan

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046265 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. e046265

Author(s):

Shotaro Doki ◽

Shinichiro Sasahara ◽

Daisuke Hori ◽

Yuichi Oi ◽

Tsukasa Takahashi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neural Network ◽

Artificial Intelligence ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Explanatory Variables ◽

The Neural Network ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Total Data

ObjectivesPsychological distress is a worldwide problem and a serious problem that needs to be addressed in the field of occupational health. This study aimed to use artificial intelligence (AI) to predict psychological distress among workers using sociodemographic, lifestyle and sleep factors, not subjective information such as mood and emotion, and to examine the performance of the AI models through a comparison with psychiatrists.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingWe conducted a survey on psychological distress and living conditions among workers. An AI model for predicting psychological distress was created and then the results were compared in terms of accuracy with predictions made by psychiatrists.ParticipantsAn AI model of the neural network and six psychiatrists.Primary outcomeThe accuracies of the AI model and psychiatrists for predicting psychological distress.MethodsIn total, data from 7251 workers were analysed to predict moderate and severe psychological distress. An AI model of the neural network was created and accuracy, sensitivity and specificity were calculated. Six psychiatrists used the same data as the AI model to predict psychological distress and conduct a comparison with the AI model.ResultsThe accuracies of the AI model and psychiatrists for predicting moderate psychological distress were 65.2% and 64.4%, respectively, showing no significant difference. The accuracies of the AI model and psychiatrists for predicting severe psychological distress were 89.9% and 85.5%, respectively, indicating that the AI model had significantly higher accuracy.ConclusionsA machine learning model was successfully developed to screen workers with depressed mood. The explanatory variables used for the predictions did not directly ask about mood. Therefore, this newly developed model appears to be able to predict psychological distress among workers easily, regardless of their subjective views.

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A cross‐sectional study of infection control measures against COVID‐19 and psychological distress among Japanese workers

Journal of Occupational Health ◽

10.1002/1348-9585.12259 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 63 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yoshino Yasuda ◽

Tomohiro Ishimaru ◽

Masako Nagata ◽

Seiichiro Tateishi ◽

Hisashi Eguchi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Infection Control ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Control Measures ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Infection Control Measures ◽

Japanese Workers

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Prevalence and Associated Factors of Psychological Distress Among Secondary School Students in Mekelle City, Tigray Region, Ethiopia: Cross-Sectional Study

Psychology Research and Behavior Management ◽

10.2147/prbm.s252779 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol Volume 13 ◽

pp. 473-480

Author(s):

Haftom Gebremedhin ◽

Berhanu Bifftu ◽

Mikiyas Tulu Lebessa ◽

Aemro Weldeyes ◽

Tesfay Tsegay Gebru ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Secondary School ◽

Associated Factors ◽

Secondary School Students ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

School Students ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Tigray Region ◽

Mekelle City

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Prevalence of Depression and Anxiety amongst Cancer Patients in a Hospital Setting: A Cross-Sectional Study

Psychiatry Journal ◽

10.1155/2016/3964806 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Anish Khalil ◽

Muhammad Faheem ◽

Ammad Fahim ◽

Haran Innocent ◽

Zainab Mansoor ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cancer Patients ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Hospital Setting ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Mental Wellbeing ◽

Anxiety And Depression ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional

Background. The biomedical care for cancer has not been complemented by psychosocial progressions in cancer care.Objectives. To find the prevalence of anxiety and depression amongst cancer patients in a hospital setting.Design and Setting. This cross-sectional study was conducted at the tertiary care hospitals Shifa International Hospital Islamabad and Nuclear Medicine, Oncology, and Radiotherapy Institute [NORI].Patients and Methods. 300 patients were interviewed from both the outpatient and inpatient department using The Aga Khan University Anxiety and Depression Scale (AKUADS).Main Outcome Measures. Using a score of 20 and above on the AKUADS, 146 (48.7%) patients were suffering from anxiety and depression.Results. When cross tabulation was done between different factors and the cancer patients with anxiety and depression, the following factors were found out to be significant with associatedpvalue < 0.05: education of the patient, presence of cancer in the family, the severity of pain, and the patient’s awareness of his anxiety and depression. Out of 143 (47.7%) uneducated patients, 85 (59.4%) were depressed, hence making it the highest educational category suffering from depression and anxiety.Conclusion. The prevalence of anxiety and depression amongst cancer patients was high showing that importance should be given to screening and counseling cancer patients for anxiety and depression, to help them cope with cancer as a disease and its impact on their mental wellbeing.Limitations. The frequency of female patients in our research was higher than those of male patients.

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