Psychosocial predictors of anxiety and depression in a sample of healthcare workers in Botswana during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multicenter cross-sectional study

Physical Activity Reduces Depression among Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Jordan

Aims

This study aimed to assess mental health status by measuring depression and investigating the effect of physical activity in lessening the mental health burden among HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan.

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused distress and depression among healthcare workers and drastic disruptions in social, economic, and health systems worldwide.

Methods

A cross-sectional online study through google forms involved HCWs across Jordan for two months. The 10-item short form of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale Revised (CESD-R10) was used to assess depressive symptoms.

Results

The total sample was 295, females were 50.5% with mean age of 33.1 (>80% less than 40 years old), married 51.9%, 63% were physicians, 88.1% had contact with patients, and 64.7% were smokers. Depression symptoms were perceived by 59.3% of the total samples (53.1).

Conclusion

During the COVID-19-induced nationwide lockdown in Jordan, HCWs who engaged in enough physical exercise reported fewer depressive symptoms. Promoting physical exercise among HCWs may lead to better results for their mental health. Various clinical implications support promoting designated time and space for physical activity at work.

Anxiety and depression among patient's companions during admission to the ICU in the Omicron wave of COVID-19: A cross-sectional study in Aleppo University Hospital

BACKGROUND

After the COVID-19 pandemic, anxiety and depression have reached high levels, especially after the last wave, Omicron. Healthcare workers in contact with COVID-19 patients or those who come in contact with them may exhibit high levels of anxiety and depression. Therefore, we aimed to assess anxiety and depression symptoms among ICU companions of COVID-19 patients.

METHODS

From 30 November 2021 to 1 March 2022, sixth-year medical students at Aleppo University Hospital conducted interviews with the companions of COVID-19 patients who they brought their patient to the ICU centre as part of a cross-sectional quantitative study using the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 tools to gauge their level of anxiety and depression among companions of COVID-19 patients. The data were analyzed using the SPSS program. In addition, logistic regression models were used to study possible factors of anxiety and depression symptoms during COVID-19.

RESULTS

The total number was 997 participants in contact with COVID-19 patients. The mean score of the depression assessment tool (PHQ-9) in our questionnaire was 9.5 with a range of 0 to 27. At the same time, the anxiety assessment tool (GAD-7) had a mean score of 9.1, ranging from 0 to 21. A binary logistic regression was used to predict the relationship between depression and anxiety and various factors. We found that the companions with medical specialties were substantially less likely to develop anxiety than other companions [AOR = 0.459; 95%CI (0.23-0.9)], in addition females were substantially higher likely to develop depression than males [AOR = 1.322; 95%CI (0.992-1.762)]. 45.4% of companions had moderate to severe anxiety, in additon 50.8% of companions had moderate to severe depression.

CONCLUSION

Our research reveals that moderate to severe anxiety and sadness are present in roughly half of the COVID19 patients' companions. Females, people with children, and hard workers were more inclined to feel anxious than others, and those who are not in the medical field were more likely to suffer from depression than others, thus it is critical to assist these groups during the present outbreaks (Omicron and Monkeybox).