Emotional status of children aged 7 to 17 of health workers and in the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional comparative study in Belgium.

Background: We assessed the mental health of children and adolescents aged 7 to 17 and their parents immediately after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: A survey online was conducted in Belgium between May 29th and August 31st 2020. Results: (1) Anxious and depressive symptoms were self-reported by one out of four children and hetero-reported by parents for one out of five children; (2) Anxiety scores were higher in children compared to adolescents; (3) Social introversion scores were significantly higher in adolescents compared to children; (4) No significant differences for anxio-depressive symptoms were found between healthcare worker parents and the other parents. Children's self- or hetero-reported symptoms were not found to be connected to parents' professional activities. Conclusions: This cross-sectional survey adds evidence to the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on children's and adolescents' emotional state, in particular on their levels of anxiety and depression.

Objectif: Nous avons évalué la santé mentale d'enfants et d'adolescents âgés de 7 à 17 ans et de leurs parents immédiatement après la première vague de la pandémie de COVID-19. Méthodologie: Une enquête en ligne a été réalisée en Belgique entre le 29 mai et le 31 août 2020. Résultats: (1) Les symptômes anxieux et dépressifs étaient auto-déclarés par un enfant sur quatre et hétéro-déclarés par les parents pour un enfant sur cinq ; (2) Les scores d'anxiété étaient plus élevés chez les enfants par rapport aux adolescents ; (3) Les scores d'introversion sociale étaient significativement plus élevés chez les adolescents par rapport aux enfants ; (4) Aucune différence significative pour les symptômes anxio-dépressifs n'a été trouvée entre les parents travailleurs de la santé et les autres parents. Les symptômes auto- ou hétéro-déclarés par les enfants ne se sont pas avérés être liés aux activités professionnelles des parents. Conclusions: Cette enquête transversale ajoute des preuves de l'impact de la pandémie de COVID-19 sur l'état émotionnel des enfants et des adolescents, en particulier sur leurs niveaux d'anxiété et de dépression.

Dyadic psychosocial interventions for patients with cancer and their caregivers: an update.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Cancer causes significant impacts on patients and their caregivers. Cancer is also associated with multiple physical and emotional challenges for the patient-caregiver dyad. This patient-caregiver dyad should be considered as a unit of care by healthcare providers and supported through dedicated psychological interventions. RECENT FINDINGS: Twelve studies that tested dyadic interventions aiming to support patient-caregiver dyads were identified from the period April 2020 to December 2021. Studies were predominantly randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and single-arm pilot studies. Half of the interventions were online. Interventions were mostly focused on dyadic adjustment and appeared to be acceptable, feasible and globally effective. However, effects were evident predominantly on individual rather than dyadic outcomes. The interventions targeted either individual psychological outcomes, such as depression and anxiety, and are reported to be effective or various individual outcomes and also appeared to be effective. However, there was a large heterogeneity in quality and sample sizes across all intervention types. SUMMARY: Dyadic psychological interventions may be an effective support for patient-caregiver dyads dealing with multiple physical and emotional challenges. Online interventions and the variability of intervention types may respond to dyads specific needs, but though need to be rigorously evaluated through powered RCTs.

Child, adolescent, and parent mental health in general population during a year of COVID-19 pandemic in belgium: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to evaluate the mental health status of children, adolescents and their parents during the first year of COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium. METHOD: Analysis compared results before and during the second national lockdown, which started on November 2nd 2020. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between May 2020 and April 2021. RESULTS: Two hundred and eighteen adults and 273 children fully completed the survey. Almost one in five children (17.9%) presented moderate-to-severe scores of depression. Adolescents presented a higher level of depression than children (p = 0.007). The rate of moderate-to-severe depression scores (10.8% to 21%, p = 0.007) and internalized symptoms increased during the second lockdown (p < 0.001). Parents' depression (p < 0.001) and anxiety (p = 0.027) levels also increased during the second lockdown. Logistic regression showed that the use of psychotropic medication in parents and parents' depression scores were risk factors for children to have worse depression scores. CONCLUSION: The second lockdown appears to worsen the effects of the pandemic on children's and parents' mental health. There is a need to implement specific interventions targeting both children/adolescents and their parents to support them during lockdown periods and improve mental health outcomes.

Efficacy of a dyadic intervention to improve communication between patients with cancer and their caregivers: A randomized pilot trial.

OBJECTIVE: Cancer-related communication is critical for patients' and caregivers' adaptation to illness. This randomized pilot study was conducted to test the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a specific dyadic intervention to improve communication. METHODS: A four weekly-session intervention was developed to reinforce cancer-related patient-caregiver communication. Patients receiving treatment for any diagnosed cancer, and their caregivers, were recruited from two oncology clinics in Belgium. Sixty-four patient-caregiver dyads were assigned randomly to intervention and waitlist groups. Cancer-related dyadic communication, dyadic coping and emotional distress were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. RESULTS: The intervention attrition rate was 6 %. Linear mixed models were performed on 60 dyads. Significant two-way group × time interaction indicated improvement in participants' cancer-related dyadic communication frequency (ß = -1.30; SE = 0.31; p = .004), self-efficacy (ß = -10.03; SE = 3.90; p = .011) and dyadic coping (ß = -5.93; SE = 2.73; p = .046) after the intervention. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the brief dyadic communication intervention is feasible and acceptable, and show preliminary evidence of efficacy. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Encouraging patients and caregivers to discuss personal cancer-related concerns may improve their ability to cope with the illness together.

Mental Health Outcomes in Healthcare Workers in COVID-19 and Non-COVID-19 Care Units: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Belgium.

BACKGROUND: The literature shows the negative psychological impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak on frontline healthcare workers. However, few are known about the mental health of physicians and nurses working in general hospitals during the outbreak, caring for patients with COVID-19 or not. OBJECTIVES: This survey assessed differences in mental health in physicians and nurses working in COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 medical care units. DESIGN: A cross-sectional mixed-mode survey was used to assess burnout, insomnia, depression, anxiety, and stress. SETTING: A total of 1,244 physicians and nurses from five general hospitals in Belgium, working in COVID-19 care units (CCU), non-COVID-19 care units (NCCU), or both (CCU + NCCU) were informed of the study. PARTICIPANTS: Six hundred forty-seven healthcare workers participated in the survey (response rate = 52%). MEASUREMENTS: Validated instruments were used to assess the outcomes: the PFI (burnout/professional fulfillment), the ISI (insomnia), and the DASS-21 (depression, anxiety, and stress). RESULTS: Results showed high prevalence of burnout, insomnia, depression, and anxiety among participants. After adjusting for confounders, multivariate analysis of variance showed no differences between CCU, NCCU, and CCU + NCCU workers. Univariate general linear models showed higher level of burnout, insomnia, and anxiety among nurses in comparison to physicians. Being a nurse, young, isolated, with an increased workload were risk factors for worse mental health outcomes. LIMITATIONS: The mental health of the tested sample, before the outbreak, is unknown. Moreover, this cross-sectional design provides no information on the evolution of the mental health outcomes over time. CONCLUSION: Directly caring for patients with COVID-19 is not associated with worse mental health outcomes among healthcare workers in general hospitals. High prevalence of burnout, insomnia, depression, and anxiety among physicians and nurses requires special attention, and specific interventions need to be implemented. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT04344145.