Effectiveness of interventions for academic burnout among nursing students: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Nursing students experience higher stress and burnout compared to students in other health professions, with a prevalence rate of as high as 20%. More recently, they have been affected by changes in nursing education due to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as requirements for social isolation and distance learning. Although there are existing studies on interventions that address academic burnout among nursing students, there is no synthesis of randomized trials on this topic. AIM: This study aimed to systematically synthesize studies of interventions for academic burnout among nursing students. METHODS: A systematic search for randomized controlled trials was performed in PubMed, CINAHL, CENTRAL, Web of Science, and Scopus. Eligibility criteria were based on study directness in relation to the Patient, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome (PICO) question. Two review authors independently screened articles for inclusion, collected data from the included studies, and performed risk of bias assessments using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 2.0. A narrative synthesis was performed. This review was registered a priori in PROSPERO (CRD42022350196). RESULTS: Six papers were included in this review. Various interventions were studied: Qigong exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, autogenic therapy and laughter therapy, didactic behavioral sessions focusing on personal and professional development, and coping skills enhancement. The effects of these interventions on academic burnout, depression, and stress among nursing students were short term and their benefits over time remain uncertain. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION: Progressive muscle relaxation and cognitive behavioral interventions demonstrated short-term positive effects on academic burnout, depression, and stress among nursing students. These findings may support the development of individual-level and organizational-level initiatives for nursing students aimed to lessen or prevent academic burnout. Large-scale, high-quality studies on the effect of interventions on academic burden in various settings and cultures are needed.

Rhode Island's Response for COVID-Positive Individuals Experiencing Homelessness and Housing Insecurity: A Qualitative Process Evaluation.

From March-June 2020, Rhode Island utilized a 209-room hotel as a quarantine/isolation (Q/I) facility for COVID-positive individuals experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to explore experiences of key stakeholders in designing and implementing the intervention. Four major themes emerged from the data analysis: 1) the isolative nature of Q/I housing tended to negatively affect residents' mental health, 2) the addition of medical oversight was a key positive development for the intervention, 3) the security presence involved in the response tended to exacerbate residents' mental health challenges, and 4) COVID-19 and this Q/I response highlighted homelessness itself as a public health crisis that must be addressed. Findings from this study may be useful for informing ongoing COVID-19 and future epidemic/pandemic responses, particularly with respect to addressing the needs of people experiencing homelessness.

Adverse Psychiatric and Health Impacts of Restrictive Housing for Adolescents in Juvenile Correctional Settings.

The use of solitary confinement for incarcerated adolescents has been criticized widely, including by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.1-3 Currently, 29 states prohibit the use of punitive solitary confinement in juvenile correctional facilities, and 15 others place time limits on solitary confinement of juveniles.4 However, the use of "restrictive housing," which is broadly defined as an intervention involving removal from the general inmate population, placement in a locked room, or inability to leave the room for the majority of the day, is still commonly practiced. Limited research and guidance exists around this practice and its health impacts on incarcerated adolescents, especially mental health and suicide risk.