scholarly journals Information Overload, Wellbeing and COVID-19: A Survey in China

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 62
Author(s):  
Jialin Fan ◽  
Andrew P Smith
Keyword(s):  
General Public ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Information Overload ◽  
Age Distribution ◽  
General Information ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Negative Coping

(1) Psychology must play an important role in the prevention and management of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the present study was to examine associations between the perceptions of information overload and wellbeing in China during the initial phase of COVID-19. (2) Methods: The present research involved a cross-sectional online survey, which controlled for established predictors of wellbeing and the perception of general (not COVID-19-specific) information overload. The setting of the research was China, February 2020. A total of 1349 participants completed an online survey, and the results from 1240 members of the general public who stated that they were uninfected are reported here (55.6% female; 49.4% single; age distribution: 17–25 years: 26%; 26–30 years: 24.3%; 31–40 years: 23.9%; 41–50 years: 16.2%; 51 years+: 9.6%; the most frequent occupations were: 21.5% students; 19.5% teachers; 25.9% office workers; 10.8% managers, plus a few in a wide range of jobs). The outcomes were positive wellbeing (positive affect and life satisfaction) and negative wellbeing (stress, negative affect, anxiety and depression). (3) Results: Regressions were carried out, controlling for established predictors of wellbeing (psychological capital, general information overload, positive and negative coping). Spending time getting information about COVID-19 was associated with more positive wellbeing. In contrast, perceptions of COVID-19 information overload and feeling panic due to COVID-19 were associated with more negative wellbeing. (4) Conclusions: These results have implications for the communication of information about COVID-19 to the general public and form the basis for further research on the topic.

scholarly journals Asthma patients experience increased symptoms of anxiety, depression and fear during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 147997312110296
Author(s):  
Geertje M de Boer ◽  
Laura Houweling ◽  
Rudi W Hendriks ◽  
Jan H Vercoulen ◽  
Gerdien A Tramper-Stranders ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Asthma Patients ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Patients Experience ◽  
Anxiety Depression

Population studies showed a decrease in psychological wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Asthma is associated with a negative effect on anxiety and depression, which might worsen during the COVID-19 lockdown. The aim of the study was to compare fear, anxiety and depression between asthma patients and patients wit hout asthma pre-COVID-19 and during COVID-19 pandemic. This study compares fear, anxiety and depression in asthma patients and controls between pre-COVID-19 and during COVID-19 lockdown with a cross-sectional online survey. Participants were invited to fill out several questionnaires pertaining to fear, anxiety, depression, asthma control and quality of life. Asthma patients (N = 37) displayed, during the course of the pandemic, a clinically relevant increase in anxiety (3.32 ± 2.95 vs. 6.68 ± 3.78; p < 0.001) and depression (1.30 ± 1.15 vs. 3.65 ± 3.31; p < 0.001), according to the hospital anxiety and depression levels (HADS) compared to pre-COVID-19 assessment. This was not seen in controls. Also, asthma patients displayed more anxiety about acquiring COVID-19 disease compared to controls ((5.11 ± 1.99 vs. 3.50 ± 2.79), p = 0.006). Patients with asthma experienced an increase in anxiety and depression levels and were more afraid of acquiring COVID-19 disease compared to controls. Also, patients with asthma were more likely to avoid healthcare facilities due to fear of acquiring COVID-19 disease compared to controls. Therefore, we advise health care workers to address these possible negative effects on mental health by phone or e-consults.

scholarly journals A Cross-National Study of Dementia Stigma Among the General Public in Israel and Australia

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Perla Werner ◽  
Sarang Kim
Keyword(s):  
General Public ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
National Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Subjective Knowledge ◽  
Cultural Aspects ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Cross National

Background: Despite the increasing amount of research on dementia stigma, there is a dearth of cross-national studies conducted on this subject. This is surprising since the experience of stigma is closely associated to socio-cultural aspects. Objective: The present study intended to expand knowledge about the impact of culture on dementia stigma by comparing the level and correlates of stigmatic beliefs about dementia among the general public in Israel and Australia. Methods: A cross-sectional study using an online survey was conducted with two age-matched samples: 447 adults in Israel and 290 adults in Australia. Results: Overall, dementia stigma was moderate in both countries. However, the level of dementia stigma was significantly higher in Australia than in Israel. Lower levels of subjective knowledge and higher levels of ageism were associated with increased levels of stigmatic beliefs in both countries. Gender was a significant correlate of dementia stigma, with male participants reporting higher levels of public stigma than women, although this gender difference was mainly driven by the Australian sample. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that providing knowledge and decreasing ageist attitudes should be key considerations in dementia awareness and stigma reduction campaigns despite the cultural context. In addition, developing gender-specific messages should be considered as a way of improving the effects of such campaigns.

scholarly journals Examining relationships between sleep posture, waking spinal symptoms and quality of sleep: A cross sectional study

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e0260582
Author(s):  
Doug Cary ◽  
Angela Jacques ◽  
Kathy Briffa
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
General Information ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Quality Of Sleep ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Obstructive Sleep ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Sleep Posture

Introduction Research with a focus on sleep posture has been conducted in association with sleep pathologies such as insomnia and positional obstructive sleep apnoea. Research examining the potential role sleep posture may have on waking spinal symptoms and quality of sleep is however limited. The aims of this research were to compare sleep posture and sleep quality in participants with and without waking spinal symptoms. Methods Fifty-three participants (36 female) were, based on symptoms, allocated to one of three groups; Control (n = 20, 16 female), Cervical (n = 13, 10 female) and Lumbar (n = 20, 10 female). Participants completed an online survey to collect general information and patient reported outcomes and were videoed over two consecutive nights to determine sleep posture using a validated classification system including intermediate sleep postures. Results Participants in the symptomatic groups also reported a lower sleep quality than the Control group. Compared to Control group participants, those in the Cervical group had more frequent posture changes (mean (SD); 18.3(6.5) versus 23.6(6.6)), spent more time in undesirable/provocative sleep postures (median IQR; 83.8(16.4,105.2) versus 185.1(118.0,251.8)) minutes and had more long periods of immobility in a provocative posture, (median IQR: 0.5(0.0,1.5) versus 2.0 (1.5,4.0)). There were no significant differences between the Control and Lumbar groups in the number of posture changes (18.3(6.5) versus 22.9(9.1)) or the time spent in provocative sleep postures (0.5(0.0,1.5) versus 1.5(1.5,3.4)) minutes. Discussion This is the first study using a validated objective measure of sleep posture to compare symptomatic and Control group participants sleeping in their home environment. In general, participants with waking spinal symptoms spent more time in provocative sleep postures, and experienced poorer sleep quality.

scholarly journals Health Literacy in Female – Association with Socioeconomic Factors and Effects on Reproductive Health

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-132
Author(s):  
Milena Maricic ◽  
Radmila Amanovic Curuvija ◽  
Milos Stepovic
Keyword(s):  
Health Literacy ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Social Action ◽  
Health Knowledge ◽  
General Information ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Functional Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Wide Range

AbstractThe aim of the study is to assess the health literacy of women who are using health services within the Gynecology Obstetric Clinic “Narodni Front” in Belgrade. Testing of health literacy was conducted as a cross-sectional study in the period October-November 2012. As instruments of research the following questionnaires are used: Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults and General information questionnaire of respondents who referred to the demographic, social and economic characteristics of respondents, self-assessment of health, use of health services, health knowledge and behavior in the area of reproductive health. Inadequate health literacy level is registered in every ten respondents. The education level of the respondents proved to be a significant predictor of health literacy. Demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the patients (age, occupation, marital status) as well as self-evaluation of the health status were not significantly related to the health literacy. Health literacy respondents did not significantly dependent on risk behaviors related to reproductive health. The level of health literacy is consistent with the knowledge of subjects in the field of protection of reproductive health. Health literacy as the ability to function within the health care system is equally certain by individual characteristics and skills, characteristics of the health and education systems as well as a wide range of social and cultural factors. Health literacy is more systematic than individual problem, so it requires a broader social action.

scholarly journals Trust in genomic data sharing among members of the general public in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia

2019 ◽  
Vol 138 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 1237-1246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Milne ◽  
◽  
Katherine I. Morley ◽  
Heidi Howard ◽  
Emilia Niemiec ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Sharing ◽  
General Public ◽  
Personal Experience ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Public Attitudes ◽  
Genomic Medicine ◽  
Genomic Data ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Usa

Abstract Trust may be important in shaping public attitudes to genetics and intentions to participate in genomics research and big data initiatives. As such, we examined trust in data sharing among the general public. A cross-sectional online survey collected responses from representative publics in the USA, Canada, UK and Australia (n = 8967). Participants were most likely to trust their medical doctor and less likely to trust other entities named. Company researchers were least likely to be trusted. Low, Variable and High Trust classes were defined using latent class analysis. Members of the High Trust class were more likely to be under 50 years, male, with children, hold religious beliefs, have personal experience of genetics and be from the USA. They were most likely to be willing to donate their genomic and health data for clinical and research uses. The Low Trust class were less reassured than other respondents by laws preventing exploitation of donated information. Variation in trust, its relation to areas of concern about the use of genomic data and potential of legislation are considered. These findings have relevance for efforts to expand genomic medicine and data sharing beyond those with personal experience of genetics or research participants.

scholarly journals Perception among Healthcare Professionals of the Use of Social Media in Translating Research Evidence into Clinical Practice in Mangalore

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Bhaskaran Unnikrishnan ◽  
Priya Rathi ◽  
Daivik Shah ◽  
Abhay Tyagi ◽  
Anish V. Rao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Information Overload ◽  
Research Output ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Privacy Concern ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Use Of Social Media

Introduction. Social media has a potential to bring about major changes in the healthcare system. Objective. To find out the pattern of use of social media among healthcare professionals (HCPs) and perception, facilitators, and barriers of using social media, to translate evidence into clinical practice. Method. We conducted a cross-sectional study among 196 HCPs of institutions attached to a university using a self-administered questionnaire. Result. 97.3% used social media; however, only 63.4% used it for research. YouTube was the most preferred media. Majority of people believed that social media enables wide range of evidence over the shorter span of time, poses a threat to privacy, and cannot replace face to face interaction. Perceived barriers were the privacy concern, unprofessional behavior, lack of reliability, and information overload. Conclusion. There is a need for the development of appropriate guidelines for sharing the research output among various stakeholders using social media.

Understanding Client Empowerment: An Online Survey of Social Workers Serving People with Mental Health Issues

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 335-350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jialiang Cui ◽  
Limin Mao ◽  
Grenville Rose ◽  
Christy E Newman
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Policy Support ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mental Health Issues ◽  
Wide Range

Abstract This study explored how social workers located in Sydney and Hong Kong conceptualised client empowerment. Further, it investigated these professionals’ perceived facilitators and barriers to their empowerment practices, based on an ecological framework. A cross-sectional online survey was used, where the original Empowerment Scale for clients with mental health issues was adapted to measure conceptualisation of client empowerment from social workers’ perspectives. Eighty-three social workers serving people with mental health issues (MHIs) in Sydney and eighty in Hong Kong responded. A two-factor model was generated suggesting that practitioners tend to conceptualise client empowerment into two aspects: a relation-based dimension and a resource-oriented one. Compared with their Sydney counterparts, the Hong Kong practitioners considered resource-oriented empowerment as more integral to client empowerment (t(161) = 4.17, p &lt; 0.001). Several key factors were found to be independently associated with endorsement of the two-factor client-empowerment model by practitioners: perceived less support from medical specialists but more support from teams serving the same client, perceived benefits of social work training and, finally, beliefs in the importance of social workers’ role in client empowerment. The study highlights the multiple dimensions of client empowerment and a wide range of inter-professional and sociostructural factors enabling social workers’ practices that support empowerment. Our paper highlights the role of professional empowerment as a stepping stone to enable their client-empowerment practices through policy support and inter-professional collaboration.

scholarly journals What symptoms best predict severe distress in an online survey of UK health and social care staff facing COVID-19: development of the two-item Tipping Point Index

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. e047345
Author(s):  
Chris R Brewin ◽  
Michael A P Bloomfield ◽  
Jo Billings ◽  
Jasmine Harju-Seppänen ◽  
Talya Greene
Keyword(s):  
Predictive Value ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Severe Depression ◽  
Tipping Point ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Severe Anxiety

ObjectivesCOVID-19 has altered standard thresholds for identifying anxiety and depression. A brief questionnaire to determine when individuals are at a tipping point for severe anxiety or depression would greatly help decisions about when to seek assessment or treatment.DesignData were collected as part of the Frontline-COVID Study, a cross-sectional national online survey with good coverage of health and social care settings. New questionnaire items reflecting when coping was actually breaking down were compared with standard measures of severe anxiety and depression. Data were collected between 27 May and 23 July 2020.SettingThe majority of participants worked in hospitals (53%), in nursing or care homes (15%), or in other community settings (30%).ParticipantsOf 1194 qualifying respondents, 1038 completed the six tipping point items. Respondents included nurses, midwives, doctors, care workers, healthcare assistants, allied healthcare professionals and other non-medical staff. Over 90% were white and female.Main outcome measuresThreshold for severe anxiety according to the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 or moderately severe depression according to the Patient Health Questionnaire-9.ResultsAnswering yes to one of two simple questions (‘Over the last week have you been often feeling panicky or on the point of losing control of your emotions?’, ‘Over the last week have you felt complete hopelessness about the future?’) demonstrated very high sensitivity (0.95, 95% CI 0.92 to 0.97) and negative predictive value (0.97, 95% CI 0.95 to 0.98). Answering yes to both questions yielded high specificity (0.90, 95% CI 0.87 to 0.92) and positive predictive value (0.72, 95% CI 0.67 to 0.77). Results were replicated in two random subsamples and were consistent across different genders, ethnic backgrounds, and health or social care settings.ConclusionsAnswering two simple yes/no questions can provide simple and immediate guidance to assist with decisions about whether to seek further assessment or treatment.

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