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1.
BMC Public Health ; 24(1): 1522, 2024 Jun 06.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38844937

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the "supercompensation" effect of preschoolers during the coronavirus disease 2019 lockdown by comparing the changes in physical activity (PA), psychological, and sleep indicators before and after the lockdown. METHODS: A total of 127 children (aged 3-6 years) were recruited. Before and after the lockdown, the children's PA levels were measured using the ActiGraph GT3X+, and their psychological and sleep indicators were measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and Child Sleep Habit Questionnaire (CSHQ), respectively. RESULTS: Regarding PA, the children's total physical activity, low-intensity physical activity, and medium-intensity physical activity (MVPA) were higher after the lockdown than before the lockdown, with significant differences in MVPA (p < 0.05). Regarding psychology, the children's SDQ and multidimensional scores were better after the lockdown than before the lockdown, with a significant difference in SDQ scores (p < 0.05). Regarding sleep, the children's CSHQ scores were better after the lockdown than before the lockdown, with a highly significant difference in CSHQ scores (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: After lockdown, children's PA, psychological, and sleep effects were "supercompensated." In particular, the PA of preschoolers before, during, and after the lockdown may show a "baseline-inhibition-supercompensation" process.


COVID-19 , Exercise , Sleep , Humans , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19/psychology , Child , Male , Female , Child, Preschool , Exercise/psychology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Quarantine/psychology , Communicable Disease Control/methods
2.
BMC Public Health ; 24(1): 1508, 2024 Jun 05.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38840169

BACKGROUND: Mid-March 2020, Belgium went in lockdown to combat the COVID-19-pandemic. Having to provide school-based day care and adapt to online teaching, while all social, cultural and sports events and activities were cancelled, secondary school teachers' physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) may have been affected considerably. This study investigates the impact of the first Belgian lockdown on PA and SB in Flemish secondary school teachers. METHODS: This prospective cohort study was conducted throughout the 2019-2020 school year. PA and SB measured in March/April 2020 were compared with a pre-lockdown measurement in January/February 2020. Other pre-lockdown measurements (September/October 2019 and November/December 2019) and one other during-lockdown measurement (May/June 2020) allowed us to control for confounding. Validated questionnaires were used to assess participants' PA and SB. Generalized linear mixed models were applied in R. RESULTS: Among 624 participants (77·2% females, 43·3 ± 10·3 years), increases were observed for total PA (+ 108 min/week; p = 0·047), moderate PA (+ 217 min/week; p = 0·001), domestic and garden PA (+ 308 min/week; p < 0·0001) and leisure-time PA (+ 131 min/week; p < 0·0001), whereas work-related PA (-289 min/week; p < 0·0001) and active transportation (-38 min/week; p =0·005) decreased. No differences were observed for walking (p = 1·0) and vigorous PA (p = 0·570). Increases were found for total SB (+ 972 min/week; p < 0·0001), work-related SB (+ 662 min/week; p < 0·0001) and leisure-time SB (+ 592 min/week; p = 0·0004), whereas transport-related SB (-290 min/week; p < 0·0001) decreased. CONCLUSION: During the lockdown, we found in our sample that Flemish secondary school teachers showed an increase in SB that was 9 times as high as their PA increase. As a government, education network or school, it is crucial to sensitize, promote, and facilitate sufficient MVPA and/or walking, but likewise to discourage SB during pandemic-induced lockdowns.


COVID-19 , Exercise , School Teachers , Sedentary Behavior , Humans , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/prevention & control , Female , Prospective Studies , Belgium/epidemiology , School Teachers/statistics & numerical data , School Teachers/psychology , Male , Adult , Middle Aged , Quarantine/psychology , Schools , Surveys and Questionnaires
4.
BMC Cardiovasc Disord ; 24(1): 228, 2024 May 09.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38724928

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 virus has had wide-ranging effects on all healthcare systems and a direct impact on all areas of human life in all countries around the world. Therefore, it is necessary to take preventive actions to reduce the prevalence and severity of the complications associated with this disease. The purpose of this study was to explain the dimensions of adopting general self-care behaviors (mask-wearing, social distancing, hand hygiene, and home quarantine) for preventing COVID-19 based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in cardiovascular patients. METHODS: This was a descriptive-analytical study conducted with the participation of 420 patients referring to health and treatment centers of Ahvaz, southwest of Iran, in 2022. Sampling was done using a non-random (convenience) method. The data collection tool was a questionnaire containing items addressing demographic characteristics, questions related to the TPB, and questions dealing with the adoption of everyday self-care behaviors against contracting COVID-19. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods (prevalence, mean, standard deviation, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and linear regression) in SPSS version 25. RESULTS: The results of this study showed that the rate of adoption of self-care behaviors against COVID-19 among cardiovascular patients was moderate. The results also showed that among the constructs of the TPB, Perceived behavioral control, Subjective norms, and Perceived behavioral intention were the most important predictors of adopting self-care behaviors among cardiovascular patients with a change variance of 46%. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study have implications for health and treatment policy makers as well as planners of educational and behavioral interventions aimed at promoting the adoption of self-care behaviors against COVID-19. In this respect, managing and institutionalizing desirable behaviors among cardiovascular patients could be beneficial from economic, social, and health-related aspects.


COVID-19 , Cardiovascular Diseases , Health Behavior , Self Care , Humans , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/psychology , Male , Female , Middle Aged , Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology , Cardiovascular Diseases/therapy , Cardiovascular Diseases/diagnosis , Cardiovascular Diseases/psychology , Cardiovascular Diseases/prevention & control , Iran/epidemiology , Aged , Adult , SARS-CoV-2 , Quarantine/psychology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Hand Hygiene , Masks , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
5.
Sci Rep ; 14(1): 10429, 2024 05 07.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38714776

When updating beliefs, humans tend to integrate more desirable information than undesirable information. In stable environments (low uncertainty and high predictability), this asymmetry favors motivation towards action and perceived self-efficacy. However, in changing environments (high uncertainty and low predictability), this process can lead to risk underestimation and increase unwanted costs. Here, we examine how people (n = 388) integrate threatening information during an abrupt environmental change (mandatory quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic). Given that anxiety levels are associated with the magnitude of the updating belief asymmetry; we explore its relationship during this particular context. We report a significant reduction in asymmetrical belief updating during a large environmental change as individuals integrated desirable and undesirable information to the same extent. Moreover, this result was supported by computational modeling of the belief update task. However, we found that the reduction in asymmetrical belief updating was not homogeneous among people with different levels of Trait-anxiety. Individuals with higher levels of Trait-anxiety maintained a valence-dependent updating, as it occurs in stable environments. On the other hand, updating behavior was not associated with acute anxiety (State-Anxiety), health concerns (Health-Anxiety), or having positive expectations (Trait-Optimism). These results suggest that highly uncertain environments can generate adaptive changes in information integration. At the same time, it reveals the vulnerabilities of individuals with higher levels of anxiety to adapt the way they learn.


Anxiety , COVID-19 , Humans , COVID-19/psychology , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19/epidemiology , Female , Male , Adult , Anxiety/psychology , Uncertainty , SARS-CoV-2/isolation & purification , Middle Aged , Motivation , Young Adult , Quarantine/psychology , Pandemics/prevention & control , Adolescent
6.
BMC Public Health ; 24(1): 1311, 2024 May 14.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38745185

INTRODUCTION: Although COVID-19 has entered the endemic phase, individuals infected with COVID-19 are required to adhere to home quarantine measures. By exploring the public's knowledge and attitude towards recommended home quarantine measures, their readiness in containing potential COVID-19 outbreak can be determined. This study aimed to assess the public knowledge and attitude towards home quarantine instructions and their association with history of COVID-19 infections. METHODS: This was a web-based cross-sectional study conducted among the public in Malaysia between August to October 2022. All Malaysian adults over 18 years of age were included. Knowledge on home quarantine instructions and COVID-19 warning signs were measured using "True," "False," or "I'm not sure", while attitude towards home quarantine instructions was measured using a five-point Likert Scale. The questionnaire was initially constructed in English and then translated into the national language, Bahasa Malaysia. Face and content validation were performed. The internal consistency of the questionnaire was found to be satisfactory. RESULTS: 1,036 respondents were analyzed, comprised mostly of females (743, 71.6%) with a history of COVID-19 (673, 64.9%). In the knowledge domain, more than 80% of the respondents answered 9 out of 11 home quarantine instructions statements correctly. 457 (44.1%) were unaware or unsure about the minimum distance of the infected individual's bed from the rest of the occupants in a shared bedroom. The respondents reported relatively weaker knowledge in identifying uncommon warning signs of COVID-19 deterioration, including anuria (162, 44.5%), ingestion problems (191, 52.5%), and immobility (195, 53.6%). In the attitude domain, more than 90% of respondents answered correctly in 8 out of 9 questions. Respondents with a previous history of COVID-19 infections had better knowledge than COVID-19 infection-naïve individuals towards both home quarantine instructions and COVID-19 warning signs. CONCLUSION: Most respondents had good knowledge and attitude towards home quarantine instructions, with those previously infected with COVID-19 showing greater awareness of uncommon warning signs. However, there was a notable lack of awareness regarding physical distancing within shared rooms, appropriate disinfectant use and mobility limitation within the household. This study highlights the knowledge gaps to be improved in future educational campaigns.


COVID-19 , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Quarantine , Humans , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/psychology , Malaysia/epidemiology , Male , Female , Quarantine/psychology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Adult , Middle Aged , Surveys and Questionnaires , Young Adult , Adolescent , SARS-CoV-2
7.
Span J Psychol ; 27: e14, 2024 May 20.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38766779

Within teletherapy, email interventions have been studied scarcely. For this reason, this exploratory study aims to characterize the assistance provided by email in a university telepsychology service and to compare the data with the assistance provided by telephone in the same service and period. For this purpose, the records of 81 users assisted via email during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Spain were analyzed. The data were compared with those of the 338 users assisted by telephone in the same period. Despite its many limitations, results indicate high satisfaction with the email modality. Users express that they prefer a preference for using email when they do not feel safe in other ways. We found a lot of variation between the number of emails exchanged and the days that each case was active. Additionally, differences were found with telephone users in aspects such as age (email users being younger) and in a depression screening (email users scoring more positively). This study concludes on the high potential of this channel for the application of certain techniques (e.g., psychoeducation) or for people with certain characteristics.


COVID-19 , Electronic Mail , Telemedicine , Telephone , Humans , COVID-19/psychology , Adult , Male , Spain , Female , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Quarantine/psychology
8.
PLoS One ; 19(5): e0301550, 2024.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38748673

BACKGROUND: Social prescribing interventions connect mental health service users to community resources, to support physical and mental wellbeing and promote recovery. COVID-19 restrictions impacted the delivery of socially prescribed activities, preventing face to face contact for long periods. AIMS: The aim of this study was to understand how Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations working with a local NHS mental health Trust responded to the challenges of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. This understanding will be used to make recommendations for future practice, post-lockdown. METHODS: Using a convergent mixed methods design, we surveyed VCSE providers of socially prescribed activities intended to be accessible and appropriate for people with severe mental health needs. Follow-up interviews explored further how they adapted during the first year of the pandemic, the challenges they faced, and how they sought to overcome them. The survey and interview data were analysed separately and then compared to identify convergent and divergent findings. RESULTS: Twenty VCSE representatives completed the survey which provided a snapshot of changes in levels of connection and numbers reached during lockdown. Of 20 survey respondents, 11 participated in follow-up interviews. Interviews revealed that lockdown necessitated rapid change and responsive adaptation; activities were limited by resource, funding, safeguarding and government restrictions; no single format suited all group members; connection was key; and impact was difficult to gauge. CONCLUSIONS: VCSE organisations commissioned to deliver creative socially prescribed activities during the pandemic rapidly adapted their offer to comply with government restrictions. Responsive changes were made, and new knowledge and skills were gained. Drawing on experiences during lockdown, VCSE organisations should develop bespoke knowledge, skills and practices to engage service users in future hybrid delivery of arts, sports, cultural and creative community activities, and to ensure that digital activities offer an equivalent degree of connection to face-to-face ones. Additionally, more effective methods of gaining feedback about patient experience of hybrid delivery is needed.


COVID-19 , Mental Health , Humans , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19/epidemiology , SARS-CoV-2 , Surveys and Questionnaires , Mental Health Services , Pandemics , Quarantine/psychology , Mental Disorders/therapy
9.
Pediatrics ; 153(6)2024 Jun 01.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38695088

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdowns (stay-at-home orders) had significant mental health consequences in 2020 to 2021 for caregivers and children. Little is known about "postlockdown" periods in 2022 to 2023. We investigated the mental health experiences of Australian families throughout the 3 years of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2023), by demographic characteristics and lockdown length. METHODS: A total N = 12 408 caregivers (N = 20 339 children, aged 0-17 years) completed Australia's only representative, repeated, cross-sectional, National Child Health Poll across 6 waves (June 2020-April 2023). Caregivers reported mental health for themselves (Kessler-6, poor versus not) and each child (self-rated mental health, poor/fair versus good/very good/excellent), and perceived impacts of the pandemic on own/child mental health (negative versus none/positive). Binary logistic models were fitted to predict marginal probabilities of each mental health measure by state/territory group (proxy for lockdown length), over time, adjusted for potential demographic confounders. RESULTS: Poor caregiver Kessler-6 was similar between genders but more common for sole caregivers, and those with a home language other than English and lower education. Poor/fair child self-rated mental health was similar between genders and increased with child age. Perceived negative impacts were more common for females and socially advantaged caregivers. Overall, negative mental health experiences increased with lockdown length, peaking with the height of lockdown in July 2021, before declining. CONCLUSIONS: Negative mental health experiences of Australian caregivers and children decreased during postlockdown periods of 2022-2023; however, social gradients persisted. These data can inform more precise mental health policies that enable better use of limited mental health infrastructure.


COVID-19 , Caregivers , Mental Health , Humans , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/psychology , Caregivers/psychology , Child , Female , Male , Child, Preschool , Adolescent , Infant , Cross-Sectional Studies , Australia/epidemiology , Infant, Newborn , Pandemics , Adult , Quarantine/psychology
10.
Sci Rep ; 14(1): 11628, 2024 05 21.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38773200

This study aimed to analyze the impact of the lockdown period due to COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health status of healthcare workers and identify the related risk factors of psychosomatic distress. We conducted an online questionnaire survey to investigate the general demographic characteristics, perceived stress level, adult attachment style (AAS), family cohesion and adaptability, social support, sleep state, emotional state, and physical health of healthcare workers during the lockdown period due to the pandemic in 2022. We compared the mental health status between doctors and nurses, and further analyzed the factors influencing sleep, emotions, physical symptoms, and severe psychosomatic distress separately. For factors that showed statistical significance in the univariate analysis, forward stepwise regression was used for logistic regression analysis to identify risk factors for the corresponding issues. A total of 622 healthcare workers participated in the survey. Among the participants, 121 (19.5%) reported sleep problems, 209 (33.6%) had negative emotional states, and 147 (23.6%) reported physical health problems. There were 48 (7.7%) healthcare workers with severe psychosomatic distress. Compared to the group of nurses, the group of doctors exhibit a higher prevalence of emotional issues, physical health problems and psychosomatic distress. Perceived stress was identified as a risk factor for sleep disturbance, while living with others during quarantine and family adaptability were identified as protective factors. Higher educational background and perceived stress were identified as risk factors for negative emotion, while subjective support was identified as a protective factor. Perceived stress and coming from a rural area were also identified as risk factors for physical health. Overall, for the comparison between the no psychosomatic distress and severe psychosomatic distress groups, perceived stress was identified as a risk factor for severe psychosomatic distress, while subjective support was identified as a protective factor. Healthcare workers' potential mental and physical health problems are related to their educational background, family cohesion and adaptability, perceived stress and social support. This makes it clearer on how to deal with and prevent adverse consequences when facing stressful situations.


COVID-19 , Health Personnel , Mental Health , Humans , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/psychology , Male , Female , Adult , Risk Factors , Health Personnel/psychology , Middle Aged , Surveys and Questionnaires , Stress, Psychological/epidemiology , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Protective Factors , SARS-CoV-2/pathogenicity , Pandemics , Quarantine/psychology , Sleep Wake Disorders/epidemiology , Sleep Wake Disorders/psychology
11.
Pan Afr Med J ; 47: 53, 2024.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38646131

COVID-19 had a psychological impact on the population, particularly those affected. Our objective was to investigate stress and resilience factors in the Senegalese soldiers affected during the first wave of COVID-19. Our retrospective and qualitative study included military personnel listed as contacts, suspects, or positive cases and supported by the Armed Forces Psychological Support Program during the period of isolation. The stress factors were health-related, sociological, and occupational. The conditions and the experience of isolation, stigmatization, and suspension of their professional projects were concerns for the soldiers. They had relied on personal, familial, and professional resources to cultivate resilience during the quarantine. Isolation during the pandemic showed psychological consequences, the foundations of which have been found in our study.


COVID-19 , Military Personnel , Resilience, Psychological , Stress, Psychological , Humans , Senegal/epidemiology , COVID-19/psychology , COVID-19/epidemiology , Military Personnel/psychology , Retrospective Studies , Stress, Psychological/epidemiology , Male , Adult , Young Adult , Quarantine/psychology , Female , Middle Aged
12.
Front Public Health ; 12: 1265848, 2024.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38660352

Background: During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Korean government temporarily allowed full scale telehealth care for safety and usability. However, limited studies have evaluated the impact of telehealth by analyzing the physical and/or mental health data of patients with COVID-19 diagnosis collected through telehealth targeting Korean population. Objective: This study aimed to identify subgroup of depressive symptom trajectories in patients with clinically mild COVID-19 using collected longitudinal data from a telehealth-based contactless clinical trial. Methods: A total of 199 patients with COVID-19 were accrued for contactless clinical trial using telehealth from March 23 to July 20, 2022. Depressive symptoms were measured using the patient health questionnaire-9 on the start day of quarantine, on the final day of quarantine, and 1 month after release from quarantine. Additionally, acute COVID-19 symptoms were assessed every day during quarantine. This study used a latent class mixed model to differentiate subgroups of depressive symptom trajectories and a logistic regression model with Firth's correction to identify associations between acute COVID-19 symptoms and the subgroups. Results: Two latent classes were identified: class 1 with declining linearity at a slow rate and class 2 with increasing linearity. Among COVID-19 symptoms, fever, chest pain, and brain fog 1 month after release from quarantine showed strong associations with class 2 (fever: OR, 19.43, 95% CI, 2.30-165.42; chest pain: OR, 6.55, 95% CI, 1.15-34.61; brain fog: OR, 7.03, 95% CI 2.57-20.95). Sleeping difficulty and gastrointestinal symptoms were also associated with class 2 (gastrointestinal symptoms: OR, 4.76, 95% CI, 1.71-14.21; sleeping difficulty: OR, 3.12, 95% CI, 1.71-14.21). Conclusion: These findings emphasize the need for the early detection of depressive symptoms in patients in the acute phase of COVID-19 using telemedicine. Active intervention, including digital therapeutics, may help patients with aggravated depressive symptoms.


COVID-19 , Depression , Telemedicine , Humans , COVID-19/diagnosis , COVID-19/psychology , Republic of Korea , Male , Female , Depression/diagnosis , Longitudinal Studies , Middle Aged , Adult , SARS-CoV-2 , Quarantine/psychology , Aged
13.
BMC Psychol ; 12(1): 230, 2024 Apr 24.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38659077

OBJECTIVES: COVID-19 epidemics often lead to elevated levels of depression. To accurately identify and predict depression levels in home-quarantined individuals during a COVID-19 epidemic, this study constructed a depression prediction model based on multiple machine learning algorithms and validated its effectiveness. METHODS: A cross-sectional method was used to examine the depression status of individuals quarantined at home during the epidemic via the network. Characteristics included variables on sociodemographics, COVID-19 and its prevention and control measures, impact on life, work, health and economy after the city was sealed off, and PHQ-9 scale scores. The home-quarantined subjects were randomly divided into training set and validation set according to the ratio of 7:3, and the performance of different machine learning models were compared by 10-fold cross-validation, and the model algorithm with the best performance was selected from 15 models to construct and validate the depression prediction model for home-quarantined subjects. The validity of different models was compared based on accuracy, precision, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and area under the ROC curve (AUC), and the best model suitable for the data framework of this study was identified. RESULTS: The prevalence of depression among home-quarantined individuals during the epidemic was 31.66% (202/638), and the constructed Adaboost depression prediction model had an ACC of 0.7917, an accuracy of 0.7180, and an AUC of 0.7803, which was better than the other 15 models on the combination of various performance measures. In the validation sets, the AUC was greater than 0.83. CONCLUSIONS: The Adaboost machine learning algorithm developed in this study can be used to construct a depression prediction model for home-quarantined individuals that has better machine learning performance, as well as high effectiveness, robustness, and generalizability.


Algorithms , COVID-19 , Depression , Machine Learning , Quarantine , Humans , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/psychology , Depression/epidemiology , Depression/diagnosis , Depression/psychology , Male , Female , Cross-Sectional Studies , Middle Aged , Adult , Quarantine/psychology , SARS-CoV-2 , Aged
14.
Qual Life Res ; 33(6): 1675-1689, 2024 Jun.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38578380

PURPOSE: People living with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) in metropolitan Victoria, Australia, experienced a 112-day, COVID-19-related lockdown in mid-2020. Contemporaneously, Australian PwMS elsewhere experienced minimal restrictions, resulting in a natural experiment. This study investigated the relationships between lockdowns, COVID-19-related adversity, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). It also generated health state utilities (HSU) representative of changes in HRQoL. METHODS: Data were extracted from Australian MS Longitudinal Study surveys, which included the Assessment of Quality of Life-Eight Dimensions (AQoL-8D) instrument and a COVID-19 questionnaire. This COVID-19 questionnaire required participants to rank their COVID-19-related adversity across seven health dimensions. Ordered probits were used to identify variables contributing to adversity. Linear and logit regressions were applied to determine the impact of adversity on HRQoL, defined using AQoL-8D HSUs. Qualitative data were examined thematically. RESULTS: N = 1666 PwMS (average age 58.5; 79.8% female; consistent with the clinical presentation of MS) entered the study, with n = 367 (22.0%) exposed to the 112-day lockdown. Lockdown exposure and disability severity were strongly associated with higher adversity rankings (p < 0.01). Higher adversity rankings were associated with lower HSUs. Participants reporting major adversity, across measured health dimensions, had a mean HSU 0.161 (p < 0.01) lower than participants reporting no adversity and were more likely (OR: 2.716, p < 0.01) to report a clinically significant HSU reduction. Themes in qualitative data supported quantitative findings. CONCLUSIONS: We found that COVID-19-related adversity reduced the HRQoL of PwMS. Our HSU estimates can be used in health economic models to evaluate lockdown cost-effectiveness for people with complex and chronic (mainly neurological) diseases.


COVID-19 , Multiple Sclerosis , Quality of Life , SARS-CoV-2 , Humans , COVID-19/psychology , COVID-19/epidemiology , Multiple Sclerosis/psychology , Female , Male , Middle Aged , Longitudinal Studies , Surveys and Questionnaires , Aged , Australia , Victoria , Adult , Pandemics , Quarantine/psychology
15.
J Affect Disord ; 357: 3-10, 2024 Jul 15.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38677655

BACKGROUND: In order to curb the rapid spread of COVID-19, many countries have implemented lockdown or quarantine requirements, but little is known about how this impacts suicide ideation. The purpose of this study is to examine changing trends of suicidal ideation, social trust, and social communication from the quarantine to non-quarantine period during the COVID-19 epidemic in China and the effects of quarantine on suicidal ideation. METHODS: A prospective longitudinal observation design was utilized. There were six waves of interviews from the quarantine to the non-quarantine period. Two hundred and twenty-one participants completed all observation points and were included in the study. For the continuing variables, the Mann-Kendall test was used to assess changing trends across the six observation points. For categorical variables, the Cochran-Armitage test was used to examine their changing trends. A generalized estimating equation was used to examine the association between several independent variables and suicide ideation. RESULTS: The prevalence of suicide ideation was 16.7, 14.5 %, and 14.5 %, respectively, in the quarantine period, and 13.8, 10.9 %, and 10.0 %, respectively in the non-quarantine period, which there was a significant downward trend (T: -4.06, p < 0.01) across the total observation period. Negative behavioral belief, negative social trust, and low levels of social communications were positively associated with suicide ideation, with a ß of 0.0310 (P < 0.01), 0.0541 (P < 0.01), and 0.0245 (P < 0.05) respectively. The positive attitude toward lockdown was negatively associated with suicide ideation, with a ß of -0.0137 (P < 0.01) among guaranteed classmates and it was -0.0121 (P < 0.01) among unguaranteed classmates. CONCLUSIONS: This study yielded new information and may have important policy implications to design effective intervention strategies to reduce future new infectious diseases while maintaining positive mental health and reducing suicide ideation.


COVID-19 , Quarantine , Suicidal Ideation , Trust , Humans , COVID-19/psychology , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/prevention & control , Quarantine/psychology , Male , Female , China/epidemiology , Trust/psychology , Adult , Prospective Studies , Longitudinal Studies , SARS-CoV-2 , Middle Aged , Communication , Young Adult , Prevalence
16.
BMC Public Health ; 24(1): 1124, 2024 Apr 23.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38654297

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 pandemic widely disrupted health services provision, especially during the lockdown period, with females disproportionately affected. Very little is known about alternative healthcare sources used by women when access to conventional health services became challenging. This study examined the experiences of women and adolescent girls regarding access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services during the COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria and their choices of alternative healthcare sources. METHODS: The study sites were two northern states, two southern states, and the Federal Capital Territory. Qualitative data were obtained through 10 focus group discussion sessions held with married adolescents, unmarried adolescents, and older women of reproductive age. The data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a thematic approach and with the aid of Atlas ti software. RESULTS: Women reported that access to family planning services was the most affected SRH services during the COVID-19 lockdown. Several barriers to accessing SRH services during COVID-19 lockdown were reported, including restriction of vehicular movement, harassment by law enforcement officers, fear of contracting COVID-19 from health facilities, and fear of undergoing compulsory COVID-19 tests when seeking care in health facilities. In the face of constrained access to SRH services in public sector facilities during the COVID-19 lockdown, women sought care from several alternative sources, mostly locally available and informal services, including medicine vendors, traditional birth attendants, and neighbours with some health experience. Women also widely engaged in self-medication, using both orthodox drugs and non-orthodox preparations like herbs. The lockdown negatively impacted on women's SRH, with increased incidence of sexual- and gender-based violence, unplanned pregnancy resulting from lack of access to contraceptives, and early marriage involving adolescents with unplanned pregnancies. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 negatively impacted access to SRH services and forced women to utilise mostly informal service outlets and home remedies as alternatives to conventional health services. There is a need to ensure the continuity of essential SRH services during future lockdowns occasioned by disease outbreaks. Also, community systems strengthening that ensures effective community-based health services, empowered community resource persons, and health-literate populations are imperative for overcoming barriers to healthcare access during future lockdowns.


COVID-19 , Focus Groups , Health Services Accessibility , Qualitative Research , Reproductive Health Services , Humans , Female , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/prevention & control , Nigeria , Reproductive Health Services/statistics & numerical data , Adolescent , Adult , Young Adult , Middle Aged , Quarantine/psychology
17.
Med J Malaysia ; 79(Suppl 1): 96-103, 2024 Mar.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38555892

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 still wreaking havoc in Malaysia, with 3,221,680 cases and 32,326 deaths as of 20 February 2022. In the Oil and Gas industry, implementing quarantine before mobilising to or after mobilising from onshore and offshore locations was mandatory to help stop the spread of the virus. However, previous studies have shown that quarantine can significantly impact public mental health. This study intends to assess the psychosocial stress experienced by Oil and Gas industry employees during periods of quarantine in various regions (PMA: Terengganu, SBA: Sabah, SKA: Sarawak) and between onshore and offshore employees. Additionally, it aims to identify the factors that are linked to psychosocial stress in this workforce. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving 86 respondents was conducted using an online survey between the middle of March and April 2022. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) developed by Cohen et al., (1983) was used to assess the stress levels of individuals. Data analysis was carried out using the SPSS statistical program, which included descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal Wallis and Linear Regression tests. RESULTS: The majority of respondents, 75.6% (n=65) reported moderate stress levels, while 14.0% (n=12) declared severe stress levels. The Mann-Whitney test showed no significant difference in psychosocial stress scores among workers between onshore and offshore (χ2=-0.523, p=0.601), whereas the Kruskal Wallis test showed a significant difference in psychosocial stress scores among workers between states (PMA, SKA, and SBA) (χ2=6.415, p=0.040). According to the regression test, workers with medical histories of diabetes and Covid-19 (R2=0.158) (p<0.005) are two factors linked to psychosocial stress. CONCLUSION: The study found that there were significant differences in psychosocial stress among oil and gas workers between SKA, SBA, and PMA due to quarantine activity. Mobile workers and those with certain medical histories were identified as being particularly vulnerable to psychosocial stress. However, it was noted that the overall improvement in the quarantine period had a positive impact on the mental health of these workers.


COVID-19 , Psychological Tests , Self Report , Humans , COVID-19/prevention & control , Malaysia/epidemiology , Quarantine/psychology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Disease Outbreaks
18.
Qual Life Res ; 33(5): 1423-1431, 2024 May.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38502415

PURPOSE: This study aimed to provide a better understanding of the patient-perceived effects of France's first COVID-19-related lockdown on the quality of life (QoL) of women affected by cancer, and to test an ad hoc measurement scale for evaluating quasi-individualized QoL. QoL was measured for both during (i.e., current) and before (i.e., retrospectively) the lockdown. Respondents were women registered on the research platform Seintinelles. METHODS: A tool for measuring quasi-individualized QoL was adapted from the SeiQol-DW and PGI. It was distributed as part of a larger online self-questionnaire to a sample of 1303 women with a history of cancer (i.e., former or current) and with no such history. RESULTS: Current and retrospective QoL scores were not significantly different between the two respondent groups. An analysis of reconceptualization and reprioritization revealed a cancer-specific effect: women with a history of cancer reconceptualized more, while women with no such history reprioritized more. CONCLUSION: Our novel ad hoc quasi-qualitative tool made it possible to assess the QoL of women with a history of cancer, a particularly vulnerable population in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, it highlighted a difference in reconceptualization and reprioritization between this population and women with no such history.


COVID-19 , Neoplasms , Quality of Life , SARS-CoV-2 , Humans , COVID-19/psychology , COVID-19/epidemiology , Female , France/epidemiology , Middle Aged , Neoplasms/psychology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Adult , Aged , Retrospective Studies , Quarantine/psychology , Pandemics
19.
Psicosom. psiquiatr ; (28): 30-44, Ene-Mar, 2024. tab, graf
Article Es | IBECS | ID: ibc-231742

Introducción: La enfermedad por COVID-19 ha afectado a millones de personas en todo el mundo y ha planteado un desafío sin precedentes a los sistemas de salud, provocando medidas como el distanciamiento social y el confinamiento domiciliario, que han afectado a la vida diaria y las relaciones sociales de la población. El objetivo principal de este artículo fue examinar las consecuencias de estas circunstancias en la salud mental infanto-juvenil. Método: Se realizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura científica disponible en PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase y ScinceDirect, de acuerdo con las recomendaciones de la Declaración PRISMA. La selección de los estudios se realizó en base a los siguientes criterios: estudios de investigación originales, con un diseño metodológico prospectivo, publicados a partir del año 2020 y que en sus resultados evaluaran mediante escalas niveles de depresión, estrés, ansiedad y/o problemas conductuales de la población infanto-juvenil durante la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2. Resultados: De los 334 estudios identificados, 14 cumplían los criterios establecidos para ser incluidos en esta revisión. Se agruparon los resultados en sintomatología internalizante y externalizante. En relación a la sintomatología internalizante, la diferencia de medias pre-post, analizada mediante la d de Cohen, fue de 0.172 (0.036; 0.308) siendo significativa (p = 0.0131). Por el contrario, no se objetivaron diferencias significativas en la sintomatología externalizante (p = 0.7314).Conclusiones: Durante la pandemia se observó un aumento de la sintomatología internalizante, pero no de la externalizante, en niños y adolescentes. Al mismo tiempo, se observaron variaciones que sugieren que el efecto podría estar modulado por factores individuales y contextuales.(AU)


Introduction: COVID-19 disease has affected millions of people worldwide and has posed an unprecedented challenge to health systems, leading to measures such as social distancing and home confinement that have affected the daily life and social relationships of the population. This article reviews the consequences of these circumstances on child and adolescent mental health. Methods: A systematic review of the scientific literature available in PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase and ScinceDirect was carried out, in accordance with the recommendations of the PRISMA Declaration. The selection of studies followed the following criteria: original research studies with a prospective methodological design published from the year 2020 and whose results evaluated levels of depression, stress, anxiety and/or behavioral problems in the child and adolescent population during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic using clinical scales. Results: Of the 334 studies identified, 14 met the criteria established to be included in this review. Results were grouped into internalizing and externalizing symptomatology. In relation to internalizing symptomatology the mean difference pre-post analyzed using Cohen’s d was 0.172 (0.036; 0.308), which was significant (p = 0.0131). No significant differences were observed in externalizing symptomatology (p = 0.7314). Conclusions: During the pandemic an increase in internalizing symptoms was observed, but not in externalizing symptoms, in children and adolescents. Also were observed variations suggesting that the effect could be modulated by individual and contextual factors.(AU)


Humans , Male , Female , Child , Adolescent , /psychology , Mental Health , Quarantine/psychology , /epidemiology , Adolescent Health , Child Health , Psychiatry
20.
Arch Pediatr ; 31(4): 224-230, 2024 May.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38538472

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, France faced a 2-month lockdown in 2020, marked by numerous restrictions. This study aimed to examine the experience and management of children aged 6-17 years with learning and/or attention disorders during the first lockdown. METHODS: We conducted an observational, retrospective study, with data collection from March 1 to May 31, 2021, by means of an anonymous digital qualitative questionnaire completed by parents. The experience of confinement as well as the children's behavior, schooling, and level of progress during rehabilitation were assessed by parents through a Likert scale. Data were compared according to two groups: negative experience and positive or neutral experience of the child's confinement. RESULTS: A total of 251 questionnaires were collected and 217 were analyzed. Overall, 47 children (21.7 %) reported a negative experience of the confinement period. In total, 164 (75.6 %) of the children had their schooling monitored throughout the period; half of the parents reported a course format unsuited to their child's disorders and a lack of motivation, and 46.5 % a refusal by their child to study. Only 16.8 % of parents reported a regression in their child's rehabilitation. These last three results were significantly associated with a poor experience of confinement (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The period of confinement was experienced relatively well by the children, and the rehabilitative management seemed to have been minimally impacted during this period. The therapeutic education of children, their parents, and also teachers is a major axis of improvement for better care and support of children with these disorders.


Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity , COVID-19 , Learning Disabilities , Quarantine , Humans , Child , Retrospective Studies , Quarantine/psychology , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/psychology , Learning Disabilities/rehabilitation , Female , Male , Adolescent , Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/rehabilitation , Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/therapy , Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/psychology , France , Surveys and Questionnaires , Parents/psychology , SARS-CoV-2
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