RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Globally, COVID-19-related psychological distress is seriously eroding health care workers' mental health and well-being, especially in low-income countries like Nigeria. The use of mobile health (mHealth) interventions is now increasingly recognized as an innovative approach that may improve mental health and well-being. This project aims to develop an mHealth psychological intervention (mPsyI) to reduce COVID-19-related psychological distress among health care workers in Nigeria. OBJECTIVE: Our objective is to present a study protocol to determine the level of COVID-19-related psychological distress among health care workers in Nigeria; explore health care workers' experience of COVID-19-related psychological distress; develop and pilot test mPsyI to reduce this distress; and assess the feasibility of this intervention (such as usability, engagement, and satisfaction). METHODS: A mixed (quantitative and qualitative) methods approach is used in which health care workers will be recruited from 2 tertiary health care facilities in southwest Nigeria. The study is divided into 4 phases based on the study objectives. Phase 1 involves a quantitative survey to assess the type and levels of psychosocial distress. Phase 2 collects qualitative data on psychosocial distress among health care workers. Phase 3 involves development of the mHealth-based psychological intervention, and phase 4 is a mixed methods study to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. RESULTS: This study was funded in November 2020 by the Global Effort on COVID-19 Health Research, and collection of preliminary baseline data started in July 2021. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to report the development of an mHealth-based intervention to reduce COVID-19-related psychological distress among health care workers in Nigeria. Using a mixed methods design in this study can potentially facilitate the adaptation of an evidence-based treatment method that is culturally sensitive and cost-effective for the management of COVID-19-related psychological distress among health care workers in Nigeria. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/36174.
RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study were to assess the sleep quality of undergraduate students in a Nigerian University, to determine its association with psychological distress, and to evaluate some of the factors associated with poor sleep quality among the students. METHODS: It is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among the undergraduate students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. The multistage sampling method was used to select 520 study participants, and a self-administered instrument including a questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality index, General Health Questionnaire, and Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale was administered. RESULTS: Out of 520 students who gave consent to participate in the study, 505 students (97.1%) returned a fully-completed questionnaire. Half of the students (50.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 45.7-54.5%) had poor sleep quality, with a minority (5.7%) taking sleep medications at least once or twice a week. About one-fourth (24.4%; 95% CI, 21.7-27.1%)) had psychological distress. Among the demographic factors, the year of study (χ2=13.80 [P<.01]) had significant association with poor sleep quality. Presence of psychological distress and symptoms of depression and anxiety were also significantly associated with poor sleep quality. The year of study, psychological distress, and anxiety symptoms were significant predictors of poor sleep quality among the students. CONCLUSION: The strong association between psychological distress and quality of sleep further underscores the benefit of advocating for habits that can improve optimal mental health and sleep quality among the undergraduate students.
