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Psychological effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic on primary healthcare professionals in Turkey: One year into the pandemic

Abstract

Aim and Objectives

This study aimed to determine the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare professionals working in primary care settings in the first year of the pandemic.

Background

The healthcare industry has faced an unprecedented burden in the COVID-19 pandemic. Primary care professionals experienced the high level of psychological problems.

Design and Methods

A total of 793 healthcare professionals from different regions of Turkey participated in this cross-sectional study. The STROBE (Strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology) checklist was used in the study. Data were collected online.

Results

It has been found that more than half of healthcare professionals experienced severe depression, three-quarters experienced anxiety, and almost half experienced stress. It was also found that about half of the participants experienced a high degree of acute and chronic fatigue, and one-fifth experienced low inter-shift recovery.

Conclusion

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of primary care professionals, especially nurses and midwives, are alarming. The problems that arise from the flawed healthcare delivery models and gender inequality, which worsen the usual psychological effects of the pandemic on primary care professionals, should be addressed urgently.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

Psychological support and rehabilitative services should be expanded to eliminate the short- and long-term psychological effects of the pandemic on healthcare professionals.

Factors influencing nurses' intent to provide care involved in coronavirus disease 2019: Theory of planned behaviour perspectives

Abstract

Aims and objectives

To identify the factors influencing the intent to provide care among nurses involved in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) care.

Background

COVID-19 was first reported in Wuhan, China, in 2019. In 2020, the World Health Organisation declared it a pandemic, leading to 5,827,104 deaths and 421,203,495 confirmed cases as of 19 February 2022. The high transmissibility of COVID-19 has prolonged the pandemic for over 2 years, resulting in deleterious effects on nurses' physical and mental health. The fear of infection and isolation may lead to negative experiences and perceptions among COVID-19 frontline nurses, which may ultimately degrade the quality of patient care. Thus, it is essential to identify factors influencing of nurses' intent to provide care.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Methods

Data were collected from 169 nurses involved in direct COVID-19 care at a hospital designated for infectious disease care in Korea from August to September 2021 using an online questionnaire. STROBE checklist was followed.

Results

Nurses' intent to provide care significantly differed based on whether they lived with parents and had adequate availability of personal protection equipment. The correlation analysis indicated that the intent to provide care was significantly positively correlated with normative beliefs, control beliefs, attitude towards the behaviour, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control. Perceived behavioural control, control beliefs and attitude towards the behaviour were significant factors influencing nurses' intent to provide COVID-19 care.

Conclusion

This study showed that nurses perceived behavioural control and positive behaviour towards providing COVID-19 care fundamentally influenced their intent to provide care.

Relevance to clinical practice

In clinical practice, the safety and rights of individual nurses who participated in COVID-19-related patient care are promoted, and ultimately, the quality of patient care is improved. Furthermore, active support at the organisation and government level is needed to strengthen the capabilities necessary for nursing patients with infectious diseases.

‘I'm still here, I'm alive and breathing’: The experience of Black Americans with long COVID

Abstract

Aims and Objectives

In this study, we aimed to characterize the impact of long COVID on quality of life and approaches to symptom management among Black American adults.

Background

As a novel condition, qualitative evidence concerning long COVID symptoms and their impact on quality of life can inform the refinement of diagnostic criteria and care plans. However, the underrepresentation of Black Americans in long COVID research is a barrier to achieving equitable care for all long COVID patients.

Design

We employed an interpretive description study design.

Methods

We recruited a convenience sample of 15 Black American adults with long COVID. We analysed the anonymized transcripts from race-concordant, semi-structured interviews using an inductive, thematic analysis approach. We followed the SRQR reporting guidelines.

Results

We identified four themes: (1) The impact of long COVID symptoms on personal identity and pre-existing conditions; (2) Self-management strategies for long COVID symptoms; (3) Social determinants of health and symptom management; and (4) Effects on interpersonal relationships.

Conclusion

Findings demonstrate the comprehensive ramifications of long COVID on the lives of Black American adults. Results also articulate how pre-existing conditions, social risk factors, distrust due to systemic racism, and the nature of interpersonal relationships can complicate symptom management.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

Care approaches that support access to and implementation of integrative therapies may be best suited to meet the needs of long COVID patients. Clinicians should also prioritize eliminating patient exposure to discrimination, implicit bias, and microaggressions. This is of particular concern for long COVID patients who have symptoms that are difficult to objectively quantify, such as pain and fatigue.

No Patient or Public Contribution

While patient perspectives and experiences were the focus of this study, patients were not involved with the design or conduct of the study, data analysis or interpretation, or writing the manuscript.

Factors influencing fatigue in UK nurses working in respiratory clinical areas during the second wave of the Covid‐19 pandemic: An online survey

Abstract

Aims and objectives

This study explores UK nurses' experiences of working in a respiratory clinical area during the COVID-19 pandemic over winter 2020.

Background

During the first wave of the pandemic, nurses working in respiratory clinical areas experienced significant levels of anxiety and depression. As the pandemic has progressed, levels of fatigue in nurses have not been assessed.

Methods

A cross-sectional e-survey was distributed via professional respiratory societies and social media. The survey included Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD7), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9, depression), a resilience scale (RS-14) and Chalder mental and physical fatigue tools. The STROBE checklist was followed as guidance to write the manuscript.

Results

Despite reporting anxiety and depression, few nurses reported having time off work with stress, most were maintaining training and felt prepared for COVID challenges in their current role. Nurses reported concerns over safety and patient feedback was both positive and negative. A quarter of respondents reported wanting to leave nursing. Nurses experiencing greater physical fatigue reported higher levels of anxiety and depression.

Conclusions

Nurses working in respiratory clinical areas were closely involved in caring for COVID-19 patients. Nurses continued to experience similar levels of anxiety and depression to those found in the first wave and reported symptoms of fatigue (physical and mental). A significant proportion of respondents reported considering leaving nursing. Retention of nurses is vital to ensure the safe functioning of already overstretched health services. Nurses would benefit from regular mental health check-ups to ensure they are fit to practice and receive the support they need to work effectively.

Relevance to clinical practice

A high proportion of nurses working in respiratory clinical areas have been identified as experiencing fatigue in addition to continued levels of anxiety, depression over winter 2020. Interventions need to be implemented to help provide mental health support and improve workplace conditions to minimise PTSD and burnout.

Longitudinal study of changes observed in quality of life, psychological state cognition and pulmonary and functional capacity after COVID‐19 infection: A six‐ to seven‐month prospective cohort

Abstract

Aims

To investigate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), symptoms, psychological and cognitive state and pulmonary and physical function of nonhospitalised COVID-19 patients at long-term, and to identify factors to predict a poor HRQoL in this follow-up.

Background

Studies have focused on persistent symptoms of hospitalised COVID-19 patients in the medium term. Thus, long-term studies of nonhospitalised patients are urgently required.

Design

A longitudinal cohort study.

Methods

In 102 nonhospitalised COVID-19 patients, we collected symptoms at 3 months (baseline) and at 6–7 months (follow-up) from diagnosis (dyspnoea, fatigue/muscle weakness and chest/joint pain), HRQoL, psychological state, cognitive function, pulmonary and physical function. This study adhered to the STROBE statement.

Results

HRQoL was impaired in almost 60% of the sample and remained impaired 6–7 months. At 3 months, more than 60% had impaired physical function (fatigue/muscle weakness and reduced leg and inspiratory muscle strength). About 40%–56% of the sample showed an altered psychological state (post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety/depression), cognitive function impairment and dyspnoea. At 6–7-months, only a slight improvement in dyspnoea and physical and cognitive function was observed, with a very high proportion of the sample (29%–55%) remained impaired. Impaired HRQoL at 6–7 months was predicted with 82.4% accuracy (86.7% sensitivity and 83.3% specificity) by the presence at 3 months of muscle fatigue/muscle weakness (OR = 5.7 (1.8–18.1)), PTSD (OR = 6.0 (1.7–20.7)) and impaired HRQoL (OR = 11.7 (3.7–36.8)).

Conclusion

A high proportion of nonhospitalised patients with COVID-19 experience an impaired HRQoL, cognitive and psychological function at long-term. HRQoL, PTSD and dyspnoea at 3 months can identify the majority of patients with COVID-19 who will have impaired quality of life at long-term.

Relevance to clinical practice

Treatments aimed at improving psychological state and reducing the fatigue/muscle weakness of post-COVID-19 patients could be necessary to prevent the patients’ HRQoL from being impaired at 6–7 months after their reported recovery.

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