Loneliness and mental well-being in the Polish population during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: There is a growing concern that the restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to increased loneliness and mental disorders, which are considered a major public health problem. The aim of the study was to assess loneliness, anxiety, depression and irritability in the Polish population during the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. The study participants completed an online questionnaire using the computer-assisted web interview technique. Data were collected using Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. SETTING: Poland. PARTICIPANTS: This study was conducted between 6 October and 12 October 2020, in a representative sample of 890 Polish residents. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-reported loneliness; sociodemographic and COVID-19 pandemic factors associated with loneliness, anxiety, depression and irritability. RESULTS: The analyses showed a moderately high degree of loneliness in 22%, symptoms of anxiety in 27%, depression in 14% and irritability in 33% of the respondents. The increasing severity of anxiety, depression and irritation in the study group was accompanied by higher loneliness. Generally, younger people, both tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and those who experienced home quarantine, scored higher in both scales. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to identify those most vulnerable to loneliness, anxiety and depression during a crisis to assess health needs and proactively allocate resources during and after the pandemic. Loneliness, anxiety, depression and irritability are important factors to consider in a population of younger, disadvantaged people, who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, people who were quarantined at home, and people who believe that their physical and mental health is worse than in the pre-pandemic period. It is important to cater for the mental health of individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic and to promote psychological interventions to improve mental well-being in potentially vulnerable social groups.

Actual and perceived knowledge of type 1 diabetes mellitus among school nurses.

BACKGROUND: In general, school nurses are aware that it is important to have knowledge of type 1 diabetes to give adequate care to children with the disease. Many studies assessing diabetes knowledge have found different deficits among nurses. To our knowledge, however, no study has assessed the knowledge of type 1 diabetes among school nurses. OBJECTIVE: To assess actual and perceived diabetes knowledge among school nurses. DESIGN: Cross-sectional studies. SETTINGS: Seventeen primary care facilities in Warsaw that employed school nurses. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred and thirty school nurses. METHODS: With the Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire (DKQ), we assessed actual diabetes knowledge. With the Self-Assessed Diabetes Knowledge (SADK), we assessed perceived diabetes knowledge. Both the DKQ and SADK assessed seven domains of diabetes knowledge: general diabetes knowledge; insulin and glucagon; insulin pumps; diabetes complications; nutrition; physical activity, stress, and comorbidities; and glycemia measurements. We related DKQ and SADK scores to each other and to sociodemographic and work-related factors. RESULTS: The rate of correct responses in the DKQ was 46.7%, with the lowest rate regarding knowledge of insulin pumps (36.5%), nutrition (37.4%), and insulin and glucagon (37.9%). Actual and perceived diabetes knowledge were moderately positively correlated (rho = 0.18, p =.009). In six of the seven knowledge domains examined, school nurses perceived their diabetes knowledge better compared with their actual knowledge. DKQ scores were higher in nurses with higher education (p = .024), those who had relatives or friends with diabetes (p = .032), and those who had prior diabetes training (p = .050). Interestingly, DKQ scores were higher among nurses with fewer years of experience (rho = - 0.18, p = .011). CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for additional diabetes training among nursing students and practicing nurses to provide safe and effective care for children with type 1 diabetes.