Worry from contracting COVID-19 infection and its stigma among Egyptian health care providers

A prospective study of the effect of COVID-19 on psychiatric symptoms and sleep problems from infection to 9-month follow-up

Diverse psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have been reported for 6 months after infection. We conducted a prospective study to evaluate the psychological impact of COVID-19 infection in newly diagnosed cases that were followed up at 1, 6, and 9 months after infection. 137 people were recruited and divided into four groups based on the COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines. They were evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Post-traumatic stress disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), and Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90). We found that 9 months after infection, patients continued to report poor sleep (74.5%), PTSD (78.3%), somatization (17%), anxiety (17%), aggression (5.7%), phobic anxiety (4.7%), psychoticism (1.9%), paranoid (3.8%), and obsessive-compulsive (9.4%) symptoms, as well as depression and interpersonal sensitivity. The most significant risk factors for psychiatric complications were older age, level of education, smoking, hospitalization duration, hypertension, and critical severity. The negative mental health effects of COVID-19 persist after hospital discharge, and many patients continue to experience moderate-to-severe issues that may endure for 9 months. Notably, there was a progressive improvement in these symptoms over that time.

Ensuring Continuity of Tuberculosis Care during Social Distancing through Integrated Active Case Finding at COVID-19 Vaccination Events in Vietnam: A Cohort Study

COVID-19 significantly disrupted tuberculosis (TB) services in Vietnam. In response, the National TB Program (NTP) integrated TB screening using mobile chest X-rays into COVID-19 vaccination events. This prospective cohort study evaluated the integrated model's yield, treatment outcomes, and costs. We further fitted regressions to identify risk factors and conduct interrupted time-series analyses in the study area, Vietnam's eight economic regions, and at the national level. At 115 events, we conducted 48,758 X-ray screens and detected 174 individuals with TB. We linked 89.7% to care, while 92.9% successfully completed treatment. The mean costs per person diagnosed with TB was $547. TB risk factors included male sex (aOR = 6.44, p < 0.001), age of 45-59 years (aOR = 1.81, p = 0.006) and ≥60 years (aOR = 1.99, p = 0.002), a history of TB (aOR = 7.96, p < 0.001), prior exposure to TB (aOR = 3.90, p = 0.001), and symptomatic presentation (aOR = 2.75, p < 0.001). There was a significant decline in TB notifications during the Delta wave and significant increases immediately after lockdowns were lifted (IRR(γ1) = 5.00; 95%CI: (2.86, 8.73); p < 0.001) with a continuous upward trend thereafter (IRR(γ2) = 1.39; 95%CI: (1.22, 1.38); p < 0.001). Similar patterns were observed at the national level and in all regions but the northeast region. The NTP's swift actions and policy decisions ensured continuity of care and led to the rapid recovery of TB notifications, which may serve as blueprint for future pandemics.

Effects of first year COVID-19 pandemic on urology practice in three major Arab Countries: Sub-Analysis of a survey by Arab association of urology research group

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic on March 11, 2020. The health care system faced tremendous challenges in providing ethical and high-quality care. The impact of COVID-19 on urological practices varied widely worldwide, including in Arab countries. This study aimed to compare the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on urology practice in Egypt, the KSA, and the UAE during the first year of the pandemic.

METHODS

This sub-analysis assessed the demographics and COVID-19's effects on urological practice in terms of adjustments to hospital policy, including outpatient consultations, the management of elective and urgent surgical cases, and the continuation of education across the three countries. The availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) and urologists' emotional, physical, and verbal intimidation during COVID-19 were also compared.

RESULTS

Regarding the impact on hospital policy, consultations replaced by telemedicine were significantly higher in the KSA (36.15%), followed by the UAE (33.3%), then Egypt (10.4%) (P = 0.008). Elective cases requiring ICU admission were 65.1% in Egypt, 45.2% in the KSA, and 58.2% in the UAE and were performed only in high-risk patients. PPE was freely available in 20.8% of the Egyptian hospitals compared to 83.3% in the KSA and 81.8% in the UAE. Online courses were significantly higher in Egypt (70.8%), followed by the UAE (53%) and the KSA (41.7%) (P = 0.02). Emotional intimidation was higher than verbal intimidation, representing 80%, 75.9%, and 76% in the UAE, KSA, and Egypt, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This sub-analysis outlined significant hospital policy changes across the three Arab countries. Exposure to emotional, verbal, and physical intimidation was observed. The development of teleconsultations and online platforms for educational purposes was observed.

Social stigma during COVID-19: A systematic review

Objectives

Stigmatization was reported throughout the COVID pandemic for COVID-19 patients and close contacts. The aim of this systematic review was to comprehensively examine the prevalence and impact of stigmatization during COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

English articles were searched using online databases that included PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science up to 24 August 2022. A two-step screening and selection process was followed utilizing an inclusion and exclusion criteria and then data was extracted from eligible articles. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist was followed, and the risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

Results

Seventy-six studies were eligible for inclusion. Twenty-two studies reported the prevalence of social stigma due to COVID-19 infection with social isolation being the most commonly reported stigma. There were 20 studies that reported the majority of participants experienced stigma due to COVID-19 infection, which was as high as 100% of participants in two studies. Participants in 16 studies reported blaming from others as the second most common type of stigma, with various other types reported such as psychological pressure, verbal violence, avoidance, and labeling. The most common effect of the stigma was anxiety followed by depression, and then reduction of socialization.

Conclusion

Findings from the present review have identified that COVID-19-related stigma studies have generally focused on its prevalence, type, and outcome. Greater awareness of this topic may assist with improving public education during pandemics such as COVID-19 as well as access to support services for individuals impacted by stigmatization.

COVID-19 and Its Impact on Healthcare Workers: Understanding Stigma, Stress, and Quality of Life

BACKGROUND

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has negatively impacted public health systems worldwide and created anxiety and stress among communities, resulting in the stigmatization of patients infected with the virus. Stigmatization of individuals who are sick or thought to be infected has a long history and can lead to discrimination and prejudice. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of COVID-19-related stigma in Jordan, assess the relationship between stigma and the quality of life (QoL) in healthcare workers, and identify possible measures to decrease stressful events. Understanding the psychological effects of healthcare workers' jobs and reducing their burden is essential to improving medical outcomes and the QoL of patients.

METHODOLOGY

This cross-sectional study was conducted in three primary hospitals in Amman, Jordan, from July to December 2021. Healthcare workers were recruited through convenience sampling and completed a self-administered questionnaire, which included demographic information, a validated COVID-19 stigma questionnaire, work conditions during the pandemic, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 Items (DASS-21) questionnaire to measure depression, anxiety, and stress, and the EUROHIS-QOL questionnaire to assess the QoL. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including chi-square tests and post hoc analysis. The study was approved by the institutional review board, and participation was voluntary and confidential.

RESULTS

The study was conducted among 683 healthcare workers in Jordan, with 77.7% based in the capital city, Amman. Most of the participants were between 18 and 30 years of age, and slightly more than half were female. The study found that 38.1% of healthcare workers would not take the COVID-19 vaccine once it became available. More than half (56%) reported experiencing stress, 61% reported anxiety, and 65% reported depression during the pandemic. Internal medicine specialties and frontline nurses reported the highest levels of stress, and healthcare workers with greater exposure to COVID-19 patients reported higher levels of anxiety and stress. Only 3% of participants reported experiencing stigmatization (p=0.043), with low-income participants reporting it more frequently. Stigmatization was significantly correlated with feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Healthcare workers' mental well-being has been affected negatively by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in depression, anxiety, and stress. Widespread mental surveillance for healthcare workers is crucial to protect healthcare workers from psychological issues and to improve the healthcare service provided to patients. Stigma among healthcare workers can be a major factor that may increase depression, anxiety, and stress.

Stress load of Chinese nurses in Fangcang Shelter Hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic: A latent profile analysis

The Omicron wave of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected Shanghai, China, from March to June 2022. Numbers of Fangcang Shelter Hospitals (FSHs) were conversed from stadiums and exhibition centers to tackle the pandemic. This study aimed to identify the stress load profiles of nurses working in FSHs and explore the characteristics and factors influencing stress load profiles. Totally, 609 out of 700 FSH nurses (with an effective response rate of 87%) participated in an online survey investigating their socio-demographic information, work-related stressors, and stress load. Results of the latent profile analysis identified four classes of stress load, which were labeled as the low (Class 1), mild (Class 2), moderate (Class 3), and high (Class 4) stress load class. Maternity status and self-perceived health condition were significantly different between the four stress load classes by comparisons using the Chi-square test and the Kruskal-Wallis test. The contributors to the stress load profiles were determined by the multinomial logistic regression analysis, including age, education, maternity status, self-perceived health condition, working time in FSHs, and the four dimensions of work-related stressors. Participants who were less healthy (OR = 0.045, 95% CI:0.012,0.171), worked longer time in FSHs (OR = 40.483, 95% CI: 12.103,135.410), faced with more workload (OR = 3.664, 95% CI: 1.047,12.815), and worse working environment (OR = 12.274, 95% CI: 3.029,49.729) were more likely to be classified to the high stress load class. The task arrangement and working environment for FSH nurses should be optimized, and psychological training should be conducted routinely.

Prevalence of depression, anxiety, stress and its relationship with knowledge about COVID-19 in medical and laboratory medicine students of Umm-Al-Qura University: a cross-sectional survey

Introduction

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has continued relentlessly for over one and half years now, causing a threat to life, fear of falling sick, helplessness, anxiety, depression and, pessimism about the future. There has been an increasing concern over student mental health in higher education. Our study was designed to measure current mental health status and its relationship with sociodemographic variables and level of knowledge about COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia.

Method

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among laboratory medicine students of Makkah city, Saudi Arabia from October, 2020 to January, 21. A semi-structured questionnaire was circulated through mail and What’s App. Data collected included sociodemographic details and level of knowledge towards the COVID-19 among the students. Depression anxiety and stress-21 item (DASS 21) was used to assess psychological status.

Result

Our study reported 51.4% depressive symptoms, 57.9% anxiety symptoms, and 48.5% stress in the study participants. History of being hospitalized with COVID-19 and ICU reported high anxiety (p = 0.0003) and depression scores (p = 0.04). Respiratory droplet as a mode of transmission revealed higher scores on anxiety subscale (p = 0.007), whereas surface contamination reported high score of stress (p = 0.004) and anxiety (p = 0.002). Knowing that COVID-19 can also clinically present with gastrointestinal symptoms was found to show high stress (p = 0.005) and anxiety (p = 0.01) scores than any other way of clinical presentation.

Conclusion

COVID-19 is likely to cause negative effect on the psychological health of students.

Level and relationships of academic skills and family functions with academic performance during Covid 19 pandemic

Background

The research indicates that academic skills and family function may influence academic achievement. The Covid 19 epidemic has impacted regular academic and family function. However, there is a dearth of studies evaluating the relevance of academic skills and family function on college students' academic achievement. This research was done to determine the levels and relationships between academic achievement and study skills and family functions. Two hundred seventy-nine college students were assessed with Sociodemographic and academic proforma, Study Skills Assessment Questionnaire (SSAQ), and The McMaster Family Functioning Scale (MFFS).

Results

Results revealed that the mean score of SSAQ and MFFS were 179.92 and 17.88, respectively. Multiple regression analysis showed that the score of reading skills and the MFFS score statistically significantly predicted the score of the exam.

Conclusions

On the basis of this study's results, it is possible to conclude that reading skills and family functioning may influence academic success.

Management of the COVID-19 pandemic: challenges, practices, and organizational support

BACKGROUND

Health organizations currently face tremendous challenges in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. To do this, successful and proven scientific practices and support are needed.

AIM

This study aimed to explore the challenges, practices, and organizational support dealt with by nursing managers in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHOD

A qualitative content analysis study evaluated 35 nursing managers in five university hospitals through a semi-structured interview. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research were used for this qualitative study.

RESULTS

Three main themes emerged: Challenges include the development of a COVID-19 crisis management plan, a shortage in nursing staff, and psychological problems. Practices include; changes in work schedules for nursing staff, the exchange process, hospital preparation, and training and education. And organizational support includes both support at an organizational level and support at an individual level.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed that nursing managers are faced with many challenges in the management of COVID-19, requiring good practices and organizational support. This study offers evidence for nursing managers to expect problems that may arise during the pandemic.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The COVID-19 pandemic requires the development of an integrated plan, and this plan must be disseminated to the hospital's nursing and medical teams to better equip them for the current and future crises.

Mental burden among Chinese undergraduate medical students: A prospective longitudinal study before, during, and after the COVID-19 outbreak

BACKGROUND

Increasing evidence indicated a clear association between COVID-19 pandemic and mental health. This study aimed to assess the dynamic change of mental burden during and after the COVID-19 outbreak and related predictive factors among Chinese undergraduate medical students.

METHODS

This longitudinal survey was conducted among Chinese undergraduate medical students before, during, and after the COVID-19 outbreak. We focused on COVID-19 related mental burdens including psychological distress, stress reaction, and insomnia symptoms, and defined the sum score of the three specific mental burden indexes as the overall mental burden index. The prevalence of specific and overall mental burdens and their changing patterns at two phases of the pandemic (during vs. after the COVID-19 outbreak) were measured. In addition, multinomial logistic regressions were used to assess the associations between the psychosocial status before the pandemic and specific and overall mental burden changing patterns.

RESULTS

Our findings showed that the prevalence of overall mental burden increased (from 27.46 to 37.28%) after the COVID-19 outbreak among the 863 Chinese undergraduate medical students who participated in the surveys at baseline, during, and after the COVID-19 outbreak. Specifically, the prevalence of stress reaction symptoms decreased (from 10.90 to 3.60%), while the rates of psychological distress (from 28.06 to 37.95%) and insomnia symptoms (from 12.54 to 20.71%) increased. Participants, with obsessive-compulsive symptoms, somatic symptoms, internet addiction, childhood adversity, stressful life events, and being neurotic were found to have a higher risk of developing mental burden in at least one survey (during or after the COVID-19 outbreak). Healthy family function and being extravert were found to positively impact mental burden.

CONCLUSION

Psychological distress, stress reaction and insomnia symptoms have been prevalent among Chinese undergraduate medical students during the COVID-19 outbreak, and the prevalence of overall mental burden increased after the COVID-19 outbreak. Some students, especially those with the risk factors noted above, exhibited persistent or progression symptoms. Continued mental health care was in demand for them even after the COVID-19 outbreak.