Assessment of virtual healthcare: predictors of access and utilization before, during,
and after the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: Societal needs highlighted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in rapid telehealth development and implementation. The broadening of guidelines for practice by regulatory bodies have allowed providers to employ video-capable devices in the virtual delivery of services to physical- and mentalhealth clients located across a broad range of settings. Aim of the study: This study examined use of synchronous, video-based, virtual healthcare before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. This included a comparison of: access for physical and mental health needs; differential assessment of service provision by professionals; consumer satisfaction; and, anticipated future use of virtual healthcare. Material and Methods: An online survey link was sent to three participant groups: college-aged students, adults, and retirement-aged persons. A total of 685 participants, varying in age, gender, ethnicity, and experience using tele-healthcare provided usable data for this study. Results: Half of participants (49.2%; n=337) used virtual healthcare; more people used it during the pandemic (87.2%; n=294) than before (26.4%; n=89). Physical services (86.8%; n=291; primarily physicians) were more common than mental health services (25.6%; n=86; primarily counselors). Access was most common through laptop computers (60.7%; n=204). Participants were satisfied with virtual healthcare experiences (Mdn=5). Almost all participants (94.2%; n=645) believed that virtual healthcare would continue after the pandemic, but only two-thirds (61.3%; n=420) reported they would use virtual healthcare if available in the future. Both previous experience with (p<0.001) and satisfaction with (p<0.001) virtual healthcare positively predicted anticipated future use. Conclusions: Tele-healthcare has experienced significant growth in the COVID-19 era. Emergency policy changes have resulted in services being developed and offered in the medical and mental health realms in conjunction with ongoing empirical evaluations of what does and does not work.

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The Influence of Human–Animal Interactions on Mental and Physical Health during the First COVID-19 Lockdown Phase in the U.K.: A Qualitative Exploration

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18030976 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 976 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Emily Shoesmith ◽

Lion Shahab ◽

Dimitra Kale ◽

Daniel S. Mills ◽

Catherine Reeve ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Online Survey ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Companion Animals ◽

Free Text ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Human Animal ◽

Human Animal Interaction ◽

Animal Interaction ◽

The Impact

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic presents an opportunity to explore the role of animals as sources of emotional and physical support during a period when most of the population is experiencing social and environmental challenges. We investigated how companion animal owners perceived the influence of human–animal interaction on their physical and mental health during the first COVID-19 lockdown phase in the U.K., and what concerns they had regarding their animals at this time. We also explored the impact of participants’ interaction with non-companion animals during this phase. A cross-sectional online survey of U.K. residents aged over 18 was conducted between April and June 2020. The final item of the survey invited open-ended free-text responses, allowing participants to describe any experiences and/or perceptions of their human–animal relationships during the COVID-19 lockdown phase. A qualitative thematic analysis of responses was undertaken. Four main themes related to the following aspects of human–animal interactions during the COVID-19 lockdown phase were identified: the positive impact of animal ownership during the COVID-19 lockdown (e.g., amelioration of wellbeing and mental health), concerns relating to animal ownership during the COVID-19 lockdown (e.g., concerns over animals carrying the COVID-19 virus), grief and loss of an animal during the COVID-19 lockdown and the impact of engaging with non-companion animals during the COVID-19 lockdown. The findings complement and extend previous insights into the impact of human–animal interaction with both companion and non-companion animals. They also highlight the challenges of caring for an animal during the lockdown phase and indicate the need to consider the development of further targeted support strategies, such as “day care” for the companion animals of key workers in this context.

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Public Concerns during the COVID-19 Lockdown: A Multicultural Cross-Sectional Study among Internet Survey Respondents in Three Countries

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10081577 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. 1577

Author(s):

Alona Emodi-Perlman ◽

Ilana Eli ◽

Nir Uziel ◽

Joanna Smardz ◽

Anahat Khehra ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Online Survey ◽

Middle Eastern ◽

Well Being ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Internet Survey ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Culturally Different ◽

Patient Health

(1) Background: this study aimed to evaluate the worries, anxiety, and depression in the public during the initial coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown in three culturally different groups of internet survey respondents: Middle Eastern (Israel), European (Poland), and North American (Canada). (2) Methods: a cross-sectional online survey was conducted in the mentioned countries during the lockdown periods. The survey included a demographic questionnaire, a questionnaire on personal concerns, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4). A total of 2207 people successfully completed the survey. (3) Results: Polish respondents were the most concerned about being infected. Canadian respondents worried the most about their finances, relations with relatives and friends, and both physical and mental health. Polish respondents worried the least about their physical health, and Israeli respondents worried the least about their mental health and relations with relatives and friends. Canadian respondents obtained the highest score in the PHQ-4, while the scores of Israeli respondents were the lowest. (4) Conclusions: various factors should be considered while formulating appropriate solutions in emergency circumstances such as a pandemic. Understanding these factors will aid in the development of strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of stress, social isolation, and uncertainty on the well-being and mental health of culturally different societies.

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Occupational Therapy Practitioners’ Perspectives of Mental Health Practices With Clients in Stroke Rehabilitation

OTJR Occupation Participation and Health ◽

10.1177/1539449218759627 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 38 (3) ◽

pp. 181-189 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Emily K. Simpson ◽

Narissa M. Ramirez ◽

Brittany Branstetter ◽

Aileen Reed ◽

Evan Lines

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Occupational Therapy ◽

Online Survey ◽

Emotional Health ◽

The United States ◽

Health Needs ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Needs ◽

Post Stroke ◽

Mental Health Practices

Following a stroke, depression and anxiety may negatively affect recovery and decrease quality of life. Occupational therapy (OT) practitioners are distinctly qualified to address both the physical and psychosocial sequelae of a stroke, including clients’ mental and emotional health. This study explored the ways in which OT practitioners address the mental health needs of clients post stroke. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was used to collect both survey and focus group data. In all, 754 OT practitioners across the United States completed an online survey, and 10 practitioners participated in focus groups. Practitioners considered their clients’ mental health needs to be a priority (68.17%); however, only 56.64% were satisfied with the care they provided related to mental and emotional health. They identified barriers that included limited time, increased productivity standards, expectations related to physical recovery, and poor educational preparation. Practitioners are motivated to improve their provision of mental health services to clients post stroke. To address the conflict between practice realities and professional values, education programs should better integrate curricular components that focus on physical and mental health.

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Subjective Well-being, Mental Health and Concerns During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence From the Global South

Review of European Studies ◽

10.5539/res.v13n2p72 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 72

Author(s):

Lina Martínez ◽

Valeria Trofimoff ◽

Isabella Valencia

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Life Satisfaction ◽

Positive Emotions ◽

Online Survey ◽

Well Being ◽

Global South ◽

Subjective Well Being ◽

Depression And Anxiety ◽

Current Crisis ◽

Study Results

COVID-19 pandemic is harming many social and economic spheres beyond physical health. The subjective well-being of the population (positive emotions and life satisfaction) and the prevalence of stressors affecting good mental health like worry, depression, and anxiety are increasing worldwide. This analysis presents evidence of subjective well-being and mental health in Colombia, South America, during the current crisis. The data for this analysis comes from an online survey released after one month of quarantine. In total, 941 adults participated in the study. Results show that women are more affected by their well-being and experience more often worry, depression, and anxiety than males. In particular, younger women and from the lower socioeconomic strata. Respondents identify three primary concerns because of the pandemic: i) financial consequences, ii) health (personal and loved one's health), and iii) productivity. Respondents are, on average, more concerned for the health of loved ones than their health. 49% of study participants report having an income reduction as a consequence of the pandemic, but women in all subgroups analyzed are more affected than males. In terms of productivity –working remotely-, educated people, and from 50+ age range, feels more productive working from home. Evidence from this analysis contributes to the broader research of the consequences of COVID-19 on the well-being of the population. Evidence comes from a country in the global South with high population ratings of subjective well-being, happiness, and life satisfaction before the pandemic. 

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Video-Based Communication and its Association with Loneliness, Mental Health and Quality of Life among Older People during the COVID-19 Outbreak

10.20944/preprints202104.0520.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Tore Bonsaksen ◽

Hilde Thygesen ◽

Janni Leung ◽

Mary C. Ruffolo ◽

Mariyana Schoultz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Mental Health ◽

Older People ◽

Online Survey ◽

Age Groups ◽

Psychological Outcomes ◽

Age Group ◽

Communication Tools ◽

Study Results

The aim of the study was to examine the use of video-based communication and its association with loneliness, mental health and quality of life in older adults (60-69 years versus 70+ years) during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Norway, UK, USA and Australia during April/May 2020, and 836 participants in the relevant age groups were included in the analysis. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between use of video-based communication tools and loneliness, mental health and quality of life within age groups, while adjusting by sociodemographic variables. Video-based communication tools were found to be more often used among participants aged 60-69 years (60.1%), compared to participants aged 70 or above (51.8%, p < 0.05). Adjusting for all variables, use of video-based communication was associated with less loneliness (β = -0.12, p < 0.01) and higher quality of life (β = 0.14, p < 0.01) among participants aged 60-69 years, while no associations occurred for participants in the oldest age group. The use of video-based communication tools was therefore associated with favorable psychological outcomes among participants in their sixties, but not among participants in the oldest age group. The study results support the notion that age may influence the association between use of video-based communication tools and psychological outcomes amongst older people.

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Resilience, well-being, depression symptoms and concussion levels in equestrian athletes

Journal of Public Mental Health ◽

10.1108/jpmh-08-2020-0110 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Annika McGivern ◽

Stephen Shannon ◽

Gavin Breslin

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Online Survey ◽

Well Being ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Content Type ◽

Mental Health Support ◽

History Of

Purpose This paper aims to conduct the first cross-sectional survey on depression, Resilience, well-being, depression symptoms and concussion levels in equestrian athletes and to assess whether past concussion rates were associated with depression, resilience and well-being. Design/methodology/approach In total, 511 participants from Canada, Republic of Ireland, UK, Australia and USA took part in an international cross-sectional, online survey evaluating concussion history, depression symptoms, resilience and well-being. Findings In total, 27.1% of athletes met clinically relevant symptoms of major depressive disorder. Significant differences were shown in the well-being and resilience scores between countries. Significant relationships were observed between reported history of concussion and both high depression scores and low well-being scores. Practical implications Findings highlight the need for mental health promotion and support in equestrian sport. Social implications Results support previous research suggesting a need for enhanced mental health support for equestrians. There is reason to believe that mental illness could still be present in riders with normal levels of resilience and well-being. Originality/value This study examined an understudied athlete group: equestrian athletes and presents important findings with implications for the physical and mental health of this population.

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Perceived Stress, Stressors, and Mental Distress Among Doctor of Pharmacy Students

Social Behavior and Personality An International Journal ◽

10.2224/sbp.2013.41.9.1457 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 41 (9) ◽

pp. 1457-1468 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Gemma P. Geslani ◽

Claude J. Gaebelein

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Online Survey ◽

Mental Distress ◽

Stressful Events ◽

Pharmacy Students ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Quality Of Life Scale ◽

Stress Levels ◽

Doctor Of Pharmacy

We conducted an online survey to assess stress levels, stressors, coping strategies, and mental distress among first year professional Doctor of Pharmacy students at St. Louis College of Pharmacy. We used the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS10) to measure perceived stress and the Health-related Quality of Life Scale (HRQOL-14) to assess physical and mental health. Self-reported stress levels among our respondents were elevated, significantly higher than among other populations as reported in previous studies, and exceeded the threshold benchmarked as being unhealthy. Mental health scores were negatively correlated with stress levels, exceeded the threshold for frequent mental distress, and were significantly higher than in comparison groups as reported in previous studies. Examinations were ranked the most stressful events and spending time with family ranked as the most effective stress reliever. Further specific investigation is needed to identify probable contributors to distress and to solicit recommendations to help students alleviate their stress and strengthen their mental health.

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“The Food Matches the Mood”: Experiences of Eating Disorders in Bipolar Disorder

Qualitative Health Research ◽

10.1177/1049732320956267 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 100-112

Author(s):

Claire McAulay ◽

Lisa Dawson ◽

Jonathan Mond ◽

Tim Outhred ◽

Stephen Touyz

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Bipolar Disorder ◽

Qualitative Interviews ◽

Clinical Group ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Research Attention ◽

Illness Onset ◽

Mental Health Interventions ◽

Almost All ◽

Historic Trauma

Approximately 33% of those with bipolar disorder (BD) have a comorbid eating disorder (ED). However, the trajectory of these conditions has received little research attention. Nine participants who met criteria for BD and an ED participated in qualitative interviews exploring experiences of illness onset, the interaction of these conditions, and service provision. Almost all participants in the sample reported minimal to no screening of ED problems, despite their health professionals’ frequent discussion of obesity. Findings suggested that ED features were diverse and evolved over time. Mania and depression were connected to ED features such as overeating and restricting, but this differed between and within participants. Most participants disclosed historic trauma which they considered central to their mental health concerns. This clinical group appears to be underserviced. Clinicians and researchers should routinely screen for ED features when treating and diagnosing BD to inform their physical and mental health interventions.

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Quality of Life, Physical and Mental Health of Family Caregivers of Dependent People with Complex Chronic Disease: Protocol of a Cohort Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17207489 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (20) ◽

pp. 7489

Author(s):

Raquel Marfil-Gómez ◽

Marta Morales-Puerto ◽

Álvaro León-Campos ◽

José Miguel Morales-Asencio ◽

Juan Carlos Morilla-Herrera ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Family Caregivers ◽

Personal Autonomy ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Study Results ◽

New Diagnosis ◽

Complex Chronic Disease ◽

Prospective Longitudinal

Background: informal caregivers have a high risk of suffering from diseases derived from the chronic stress to which they are subjected for their dedication to the care of their relatives. Such stress has a direct influence on the person cared for, mainly affecting the quality of their care. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to assess the association of caregiving on physical and mental perceived health in family caregivers of dependent adults with complex chronic diseases. Methods: a prospective longitudinal cohort study, with a follow-up period of 36 months (HUELLA cohort). The exposed cohort will be formed by family caregivers of dependent patients with complex chronic pathologies. The unexposed cohort will be taken from the general population adjusted for age, sex and health. Outcome variables will include attendance to health services, consumption of psychoactive drugs, dedication to care (only in exposed cohort), concession of the Act on Promotion of Personal Autonomy and Care for dependent persons (exposed only), perceived physical and mental health, depression level, burden level and new diagnosis of chronic pathology of the caregiver during the study. Results: the expected results will be applicable and will incorporate improvements to the usual health system clinical practice, providing feedback to professionals dedicated to the provision, planning and design of services to family caregivers, as well as to groups and organizations of caregivers. Conclusions: investments in preventing low-quality informal care are key, mainly through early identification and interventions to support caregivers who suffer from stress, anxiety or depression.

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Smartphone Addiction and Associated Factors among Postgraduate Students in an Arabic Sample: A Cross-sectional Study.

10.21203/rs.3.rs-135808/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Asem Alageel ◽

Rayyan Alyahya ◽

Yasser Bahatheq ◽

Norah Alzunaydi ◽

Raed Alghamdi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Associated Factors ◽

Online Survey ◽

Adult Adhd ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Self Report ◽

Smartphone Addiction ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Postgraduate Students

Abstract Background:Smartphone addiction and other behavioral addictions have been established to accompany social, physical, and mental health issues. In this article, we will be investigating the prevalence of smartphone addiction among postgraduate students as well as assessing its relationship to social demographics, depression, ADHD, and nicotine dependence.Objectives:· The prevalence of smartphone addiction among middle eastern postgraduate students.· Ascertain the associated factors of smartphone addiction.· Measure the incidence of MDD, ADHD, insomnia, and nicotine addiction among postgraduate students with smartphone addiction.Methods:A Cross-sectional online survey, a self-questionnaire is divided into six sections; Socio-demographics, the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS) Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression (PHQ9). Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) the Fagerstrom Test for Cigarette Dependence Questionnaire (FTCd) and the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1)Results:51.0% of the participants had smartphone addiction. There’s a significant association between high smartphone use and MDD (p=0.001). 41.5% of smokers are addicted to smartphones (p=0.039). Smartphone addicts have about two times the risk of developing insomnia (OR= 2.113) (P= 0.013). Smartphone addicts had a significant risk of developing ADHD symptoms (OR =2.712) (P <0.001). Conclusion:Confirming several studies, we found a positive association between Insomnia, Depression, Adult ADHD, and Smartphone addiction. Therefore, we encourage the scientific community to study the impacts of smartphone addiction and the mental health of post-graduate students.

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