Influence of new coronavirus pandemic on behavior and awareness of young nurses and nursing students in Japan

Comparing factors related to perceived control and preventive behaviors from COVID-19 between Japanese and American nursing students: A cross-sectional study

AIM

Higher levels of perceived control are important to maintain health. The difference in factors related to perceived control and preventive behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic between Japanese and American nursing students remains unknown. This study aimed to compare factors related to perceived control and infection preventive behaviors between the two countries.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included nursing students attending four universities in Japan and one in the United States. Using Google Forms, the participants answered a survey comprising sociodemographic data, the Perceived Control and Self-Efficacy Scale, the Perceived Health Competence Scale, and a preventive behavior questionnaire. The data were collected from November 2020 to May 2021. Linear and logistic regressions were used to analyze the factors related to perceived control and preventive behaviors, respectively.

RESULTS

Data from 878 students were analyzed. University/campus emerged as a strong predictor for perceived control and preventive behaviors in both countries, with a positive correlation between perceived control and preventive behaviors. Older age, less frequent alcohol consumption, higher perceived health competence, less frequent work in Japan; and chronic conditions in the United States were associated with frequent preventive behaviors. Younger age was correlated with higher perceived control in Japan, while religion and increased workload were potential factors for American students.

CONCLUSION

Individual factors were pivotal in Japan, whereas interpersonal factors were more likely related to perceived control in the United States. Additionally, in both countries, policy or organizational factors significantly influenced students' preventive behaviors.

Influences of healthcare workers' behaviours towards infection prevention and control practices in the clinical setting: A systematic review

AIM

To systematically evaluate empirical studies investigating the influences of healthcare workers' behaviours towards infection prevention and control practices in the Coronavirus clinical space, and to appraise and synthesise these findings.

DESIGN

A systematic review of the literature.

METHODS

The review used a five-step framework described by Khan et al. (Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 2003, 96 and 118) of Framing questions for a review; Identifying relevant work; Assessing the quality of studies; Summarising the evidence; and Interpreting the findings. Searches were conducted in CINHAL, MEDLINE, PsychINFO, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases to retrieve relevant peer-reviewed literature published in English between 2019 and 2023. Covidence and Joanna Briggs Quality appraisal tools were used for critical assessment. To improve transparent reporting, this review used a Synthesis Without Meta-analysis (SWiM) in systematic review guidelines, as informed by Campbell et al. (BMJ, 2020, 368).

RESULTS

Twenty studies were included in this review, identifying nine themes describing factors influencing HCWs' behaviours towards IPC practices in the coronavirus environment. The overarching influences emerged as knowledge-oriented, person-oriented, and environment-oriented.

CONCLUSION

Healthcare workers' responsibilities at point-of-care involve providing direct care to patients with highly transmissible infections and working in clinical settings that may be ill-designed for IPC practices, increasing the risk of transmission. Given the lack of a definitive solution to eradicate new mutant viruses and that IPC practices are the mainstay of prevention and control of transmissible, measures to improve are imperative. The identified HCWs' domains on behaviours towards IPC are critical in strategies to mitigate risks and further set an opportunity for developing an IPC model congruent with the rapid response required for HCWs during emerging or re-merging mutant virus outbreaks. This is significant, given that HCWs' preparedness with IPC practices at point-of-care is central to patient care, the workforce and community safety.

Association between health anxiety dimensions and preventive behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic among Japanese healthcare workers

Objective

Health anxiety (HA), defined as excessive worry about having a serious medical condition, may affect preventive behaviors during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We examined the distinct role of two dimensions of HA-perceived likelihood (probability dimension) and awfulness of illness (awfulness dimension)-in self-protection, as reflected in preventive behaviors during the pandemic.

Methods

Participants comprised 657 healthcare workers. Data were collected between February 24 and 26, 2021. The Short Health Anxiety Inventory determined the HA dimensions. Adherence to the government's recommendations for COVID-19 preventive behaviors was self-rated. An independent association between each HA dimension and participants' adherence to the recommendations was examined using multivariable regression.

Results

Within the analyzed sample of 560 subjects, severe HA was observed in 9.1 %. The more the participants felt awful, the less frequently they engaged in the recommended preventive behaviors (adjusted odds ratio = 0.993, 95 % confidence interval: 0.989, 0.998, p = 0.003) regardless of their profession, working position, psychological distress, sleep disturbance, and current physical diseases. However, the probability dimension was not associated with their preventive behaviors.

Conclusion

The awfulness dimension of HA could be a more sensitive marker of preventive behaviors than the probability dimension. Paying particular attention to the awfulness dimension may help optimize self-protection strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic. A two-dimensional understanding of HA may be useful for the maintenance of the healthcare system and public health as well as healthcare workers' own health.

Psychological disorders among Spanish Nursing students three months after COVID-19 lockdown: A cross-sectional study

The COVID-19 pandemic had a notable impact on the psychological well-being of a large part of the population, putting them at risk of developing depressive symptoms, different levels of anxiety disorders, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). One group considered to be at high risk are Nursing students; they were affected as learning strategies changed and clinical practices were cancelled. This study attempts to assess the psychological impact COVID-19 pandemic had on Nursing students and to explore the sociodemographic differences that can be risk factors for mental health disturbance. The psychological impact was evaluated using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The study took place 4 months after the state of alarm was declared over in Spain. From a total sample of 304 Nursing students, 26.7%, 39.8%, and 15.5% showed PTSD, anxiety, and depression symptoms, respectively. Severe levels of psychological impact have been associated with being a female, a smoker, and feeling fear and stress. Having a relative test positive has been linked to lower anxiety levels while being afraid or stressed to higher anxiety levels. Being a female, co-habit with friends and feeling stress have been associated with higher depression levels.

Factors related to mental health effect among nursing students in Japan and the United States during the coronavirus pandemic: A cross-sectional study

In the context of mental health, university students have been considered a vulnerable population. However, limited studies have underscored the association between preventive health behaviour levels and mental health effects among nursing students. The current cross-sectional study provides a comparative analysis of the impact of mental health factors on nursing students in Japan and the United States (US) in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The study consisted of 878 participants, comprising both undergraduate and graduate nursing students from four universities in Japan, and one from the US. Hierarchical logistic regression was used to analyse the participant data in this study. In contrast to the American students, the Japanese students demonstrated significantly lower levels of perceived control and significantly higher levels of preventive health behaviours. Furthermore, Japanese students exhibited significantly higher levels of stress and/or symptoms of depression induced by the social distancing orders compared to the American students (z = -4.218, P < 0.001). However, no difference was observed after adjusting for perceived control, individual factors, socio-economic factors, and preventive behaviours. During the pandemic, risk factors that can worsen mental health among the nursing students included younger age [odds ratio (95%CI) = 0.62 (0.48-0.81)], women [OR = 2.17 (1.02-4.61)], higher preventive health behaviour [OR = 1.05 (1.02-1.08)], lower perceived control [OR = 0.97 (0.94-0.99)], and lower perceived health competence [OR = 0.93 (0.90-0.96)]. Thus, this study recommends establishing training programmes that enhance perceived control and perceived health competence while encouraging preventive behaviour to support the mental health of nursing students, particularly young female students.

Psychological Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Nursing Students: Palestinian Perspective

Introduction

COVID-19 has had an important effect on nursing students, with some having their clinical practice cancelled or suspended and others suffering from the virus.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to assess the psychological status in terms of stress, anxiety, and depression of nursing students during COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

The study was cross-sectional, carried out by a convenience sample of 320 participants of nursing students between May and June 2020. Data collection was performed by "Depression Anxiety Stress-21 Scale" (DASS-21).

Results

The results revealed that 78 (24.3%) of participants reported stress; 121 (37.8%) reported anxiety; and 72 (22.5%) reported depression. Also, grade and socioeconomic status had statistically significant effect on anxiety, stress, and depression. In addition, age had statistically significant effect on depression, place of residence had statistically significant effect on anxiety, and gender had statistically significant effect on stress.

Conclusion

The study confirmed an alarming number of nursing students who experienced anxiety, stress, and depression. This study serves as an evidence concerning nursing students' mental health issues as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Determinants of the Impact of Fatigue on the Health of Polish Nursing Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

(1) Lockdown-related fatigue occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic is a complex problem that can be experienced in different social groups. The objective of the current study is to attempt to identify socio-demographic and lifestyle-related factors that determine the impact of fatigue on health in general as well as in physical, cognitive, and psychosocial terms and to determine whether, and to what extent, these were predictors of fatigue in nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) The study was conducted by the diagnostic poll method between 20 March and 15 December 2021 among 894 nursing students at six Polish universities. To collect the data, a validated Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) was used. (3) Students from the age group of ≤20 experienced a significantly greater impact of fatigue on health in general as well as in physical and cognitive terms. The study demonstrated a significant negative relationship between the year of study and the impact of fatigue on health in general terms (r = −0.12; p < 0.0001) and the analyzed health terms, on physical (r = −0.12; p < 0.0001), cognitive (r = −0.10; p < 0.002), and psychosocial (r = −0.07; p < 0.041). In predicting the impact of fatigue on health in general and physical terms, it was the variable related to a reduction in physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic that had the greatest contribution, while for the cognitive and psychosocial functions, it was the number of meals consumed per day. (4) It is recognized that action is needed to reduce the impact of fatigue on student health by modifying the predictors related to student lifestyles.

Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour to explain junior nurses’ and final‐year student nurses’ intention to care for COVID‐19 patients in China: a multisite cross‐sectional study

Aim

To explore junior nurses' and final‐year student nurses' intention to care for COVID‐19 patients amidst the Delta COVID‐19 variant outbreak in China using the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) as a framework.

Background

The COVID‐19 pandemic has intensified global nursing shortage. Junior nurses and final‐year student nurses represent the backbone of the future frontline nursing workforce. The TPB is a valid theoretical model for predicting nurses' caring behaviours.

Methods

A 47‐item self‐administered questionnaire was disseminated online to a convenience sample of 547 junior nurses and final‐year student nurses located in 13 regions across mainland China.

Results

Approximately 63.4% of the participants intended to care for COVID‐19 patients voluntarily and 65.6% by non‐voluntary assignment. The TPB model significantly predicted 45% of the variance in behavioural intention, subjective norms being the strongest predictor. Gender, vaccination status and ethical perceptions regarding frontline work significantly correlated with the intention to provide care.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the importance of social, organisational and family support underpinning future junior nurses' professional commitment in times of public health crisis.

Implications for nursing management

Pandemic‐tailored workplace training programmes for nurses/student nurses that emphasize on self‐care and ethical issue discussions are warranted. Hospital managers should collaborate with community partners to offer additional family support for nurses in need.

Path analysis of the association between self-compassion and depressive symptoms among nursing and medical students: a cross-sectional survey

Background

Nursing and medical students are suffering from high rates of depressive symptoms. Mental health benefits students’ learning, growth and professional development. Exploring psychological resources to prevent depression is emphasized recently, and self-compassion is shown to be inversely associated with depressive symptoms. However, the mechanism through which self-compassion contributes to decreased depressive symptoms is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to explore and examine a model detailing the potential paths between self-compassion and depressive symptoms.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted and convenient sampling was used. Among the 1800 nursing and medical students targeted from two universities in East and North China, 1341 completed the questionnaires, and 1127 valid questionnaires were analyzed comprising 566 and 561 from medical and nursing students, respectively. Data in May 2020 and July 2020 were collected through Patient Health Questionnaire, self-compassion scale, resilience scale, Life Orientation Test and Perceived Stress Scale. Then, path model analysis was conducted to analyze the data.

Results

Finally, this study included 1125 valid questionnaires after excluding two extremes of study variables. Participants consisted of 50.2% medical students and 49.8% nursing students. The model showed an acceptable fit to the data. After controlling for the demographics, self-compassion was directly and indirectly associated with decreased depressive symptoms by increasing resilience and optimism and reducing perceived stress among nursing and medical students. Resilience and optimism were directly and indirectly associated with decreased depressive symptoms by reducing perceived stress among nursing students and indirectly associated with decreased depressive symptoms among medical students.

Conclusions

The study provides evidence that self-compassion significantly influences the decrease in depressive symptoms by increasing resilience and optimism and reducing perceived stress. These findings suggested that programs enhancing students’ self-compassion, resilience, and optimism simultaneously can help decrease depressive symptoms and improve mental health in education and healthcare institutes. These findings may facilitate the designing of educational programs for preventing depressive symptoms and promoting mental health among nursing and medical students.