The impact of covid-19 on psychosocial well-being and learning for australian nursing and midwifery undergraduate students: a cross-sectional survey
- Rasmussen, Bodil, Hutchinson, Alison, Lowe, Grainne, Wynter, Karen, Redley, Bernice, Holton, Sara, Manias, Elizabeth, Phillips, Nikki, McDonall, Jo, McTier, Lauren, Kerr, Debra
- Authors: Rasmussen, Bodil , Hutchinson, Alison , Lowe, Grainne , Wynter, Karen , Redley, Bernice , Holton, Sara , Manias, Elizabeth , Phillips, Nikki , McDonall, Jo , McTier, Lauren , Kerr, Debra
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Nurse Education in Practice Vol. 58, no. (2022), p.
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- Description: Aim: To explore the impact of COVID-19 on psychosocial well-being and learning for nursing and midwifery undergraduate students in an Australian university. Background: The World Health Organization has reported a substantial psychological impact of COVID-19 on healthcare professionals to date. Evidence is lacking, however, regarding university nursing and midwifery students of the pandemic and its impact on their educational preparation and/or clinical placement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design: Cross-sectional survey of nursing and midwifery undergraduate students enrolled in the Bachelor of Nursing suite of courses from the study institution in August- September 2020. Methods: A cross-sectional self-administered anonymous online survey was distributed to current nursing and midwifery undergraduate students. The survey included three open-ended questions; responses were thematically analysed. Results: Of 2907 students invited, 637 (22%) responded with 288 of the respondents (45%) providing a response to at least one of the three open-ended questions. Three major themes associated with the impact of the pandemic on psychosocial well-being and learning were identified: psychosocial impact of the pandemic, adjustment to new modes of teaching and learning, and concerns about course progression and career. These themes were underpinned by lack of motivation to study, feeling isolated, and experiencing stress and anxiety that impacted on students’ well-being and their ability to learn and study. Conclusions: Students were appreciative of different and flexible teaching modes that allowed them to balance their study, family, and employment responsibilities. Support from academic staff and clinical facilitators/mentors combined with clear and timely communication of risk management related to personal protective equipment (PPE) in a healthcare facility, were reported to reduce students’ stress and anxiety. Ways to support and maintain motivation among undergraduate nursing and midwifery students are needed. © 2021
- Authors: Rasmussen, Bodil , Hutchinson, Alison , Lowe, Grainne , Wynter, Karen , Redley, Bernice , Holton, Sara , Manias, Elizabeth , Phillips, Nikki , McDonall, Jo , McTier, Lauren , Kerr, Debra
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Nurse Education in Practice Vol. 58, no. (2022), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Aim: To explore the impact of COVID-19 on psychosocial well-being and learning for nursing and midwifery undergraduate students in an Australian university. Background: The World Health Organization has reported a substantial psychological impact of COVID-19 on healthcare professionals to date. Evidence is lacking, however, regarding university nursing and midwifery students of the pandemic and its impact on their educational preparation and/or clinical placement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design: Cross-sectional survey of nursing and midwifery undergraduate students enrolled in the Bachelor of Nursing suite of courses from the study institution in August- September 2020. Methods: A cross-sectional self-administered anonymous online survey was distributed to current nursing and midwifery undergraduate students. The survey included three open-ended questions; responses were thematically analysed. Results: Of 2907 students invited, 637 (22%) responded with 288 of the respondents (45%) providing a response to at least one of the three open-ended questions. Three major themes associated with the impact of the pandemic on psychosocial well-being and learning were identified: psychosocial impact of the pandemic, adjustment to new modes of teaching and learning, and concerns about course progression and career. These themes were underpinned by lack of motivation to study, feeling isolated, and experiencing stress and anxiety that impacted on students’ well-being and their ability to learn and study. Conclusions: Students were appreciative of different and flexible teaching modes that allowed them to balance their study, family, and employment responsibilities. Support from academic staff and clinical facilitators/mentors combined with clear and timely communication of risk management related to personal protective equipment (PPE) in a healthcare facility, were reported to reduce students’ stress and anxiety. Ways to support and maintain motivation among undergraduate nursing and midwifery students are needed. © 2021
Meaning matters : self-perceived meaning in life, its predictors and psychological stressors associated with the covid-19 pandemic
- Humphrey, Ashley, Vari, Olivia
- Authors: Humphrey, Ashley , Vari, Olivia
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Behavioral Sciences Vol. 11, no. 4 (2021), p.
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- Description: Past research has found that a perceived meaning in life can act as a protective factor against adverse mental health symptomology, while also providing coping resources to buffer against the impact of negative life events. The current research investigated how the impact of self-perceived meaning in life as well as its predictors interact with stressors and worry related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We collected survey based data (n = 260) from Australian participants during the pandemic, measuring their meaning in life, orientation to differing life goals and COVID-19 related stressors via the impact of events scale. We found that meaning in life predicted less stress and worry associated with COVID-19. We also found that intrinsic based aspirations related positively to meaning in life within this context whereas extrinsic based goals related negatively to it, although these aspirations were not significant in reducing the stressors associated with COVID-19. These results reinforce past findings that meaning in life can effectively buffer against the impact of negative life events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. They also suggest that intrinsic based aspirations centred on relationships and self-acceptance may be an important mechanism in how people choose to pursue life meaning during uncertain life events. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
- Authors: Humphrey, Ashley , Vari, Olivia
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Behavioral Sciences Vol. 11, no. 4 (2021), p.
- Full Text:
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- Description: Past research has found that a perceived meaning in life can act as a protective factor against adverse mental health symptomology, while also providing coping resources to buffer against the impact of negative life events. The current research investigated how the impact of self-perceived meaning in life as well as its predictors interact with stressors and worry related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We collected survey based data (n = 260) from Australian participants during the pandemic, measuring their meaning in life, orientation to differing life goals and COVID-19 related stressors via the impact of events scale. We found that meaning in life predicted less stress and worry associated with COVID-19. We also found that intrinsic based aspirations related positively to meaning in life within this context whereas extrinsic based goals related negatively to it, although these aspirations were not significant in reducing the stressors associated with COVID-19. These results reinforce past findings that meaning in life can effectively buffer against the impact of negative life events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. They also suggest that intrinsic based aspirations centred on relationships and self-acceptance may be an important mechanism in how people choose to pursue life meaning during uncertain life events. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
COVID-19 datasets : a brief overview
- Sun, Ke, Li, Wuyang, Saikrishna, Vidya, Chadhar, Mehmood, Xia, Feng
- Authors: Sun, Ke , Li, Wuyang , Saikrishna, Vidya , Chadhar, Mehmood , Xia, Feng
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Computer Science and Information Systems Vol. 19, no. 3 (2022), p. 1115-1132
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- Description: The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic affects lives and social-economic development around the world. The affecting of the pandemic has motivated researchers from different domains to find effective solutions to diagnose, prevent, and estimate the pandemic and relieve its adverse effects. Numerous COVID-19 datasets are built from these studies and are available to the public. These datasets can be used for disease diagnosis and case prediction, speeding up solving problems caused by the pandemic. To meet the needs of researchers to understand various COVID-19 datasets, we examine and provide an overview of them. We organise the majority of these datasets into three categories based on the category of ap-plications, i.e., time-series, knowledge base, and media-based datasets. Organising COVID-19 datasets into appropriate categories can help researchers hold their focus on methodology rather than the datasets. In addition, applications and COVID-19 datasets suffer from a series of problems, such as privacy and quality. We discuss these issues as well as potentials of COVID-19 datasets. © 2022, ComSIS Consortium. All rights reserved.
- Authors: Sun, Ke , Li, Wuyang , Saikrishna, Vidya , Chadhar, Mehmood , Xia, Feng
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Computer Science and Information Systems Vol. 19, no. 3 (2022), p. 1115-1132
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic affects lives and social-economic development around the world. The affecting of the pandemic has motivated researchers from different domains to find effective solutions to diagnose, prevent, and estimate the pandemic and relieve its adverse effects. Numerous COVID-19 datasets are built from these studies and are available to the public. These datasets can be used for disease diagnosis and case prediction, speeding up solving problems caused by the pandemic. To meet the needs of researchers to understand various COVID-19 datasets, we examine and provide an overview of them. We organise the majority of these datasets into three categories based on the category of ap-plications, i.e., time-series, knowledge base, and media-based datasets. Organising COVID-19 datasets into appropriate categories can help researchers hold their focus on methodology rather than the datasets. In addition, applications and COVID-19 datasets suffer from a series of problems, such as privacy and quality. We discuss these issues as well as potentials of COVID-19 datasets. © 2022, ComSIS Consortium. All rights reserved.
Challenging court landscapes and opportunities for change
- Camilleri, Marg, Harkness, Alistair
- Authors: Camilleri, Marg , Harkness, Alistair
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Australian Courts : controversies, challenges and change Chapter 16 p. 367-390
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Courts are complex institutions which must constantly adjust to ensure that they are fulfilling their responsibilities to defendants, victims, witnesses, society and others who enter court spaces either virtually or physically. Courts must also manage their relationships with other agencies (whether justice or community) on whom they rely. Courts face an array of challenges in contemporary Australia, including the COVID-19 pandemic which has necessitated courts to pivot from inherently complex systems which are primarily public facing to virtual spaces which must continue to maintain the rule of law and to be open, transparent and subject to scrutiny. This chapter considers other challenges, too, which various courts and those who work in, with or appear before are facing. It assesses a suite of potential micro and macro reforms, advocating for ongoing systemic and structural change.
The perceived effects of COVID-19 while living with a chronic illness
- Ryder, Mary, Guerin, Suzanne, Forde, Rita, Lowe, Grainne, Jaarsma, Tiny, O'Neill, Madeline, Halley, Carmel, Connolly, Michael
- Authors: Ryder, Mary , Guerin, Suzanne , Forde, Rita , Lowe, Grainne , Jaarsma, Tiny , O'Neill, Madeline , Halley, Carmel , Connolly, Michael
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Nursing Scholarship Vol. 55, no. 1 (2023), p. 154-162
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- Description: Introduction: A diagnosis of chronic illness posed a serious threat to people during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. People with chronic illnesses were faced with increased mortality and reduced access to healthcare. Self-care is the process of maintaining health and managing a chronic illness. Nurses working in specialist services provide healthcare education to people with chronic illnesses. Access to these nurses was decreased during periods of the COVID-19 virus escalation due to the reconfiguration of services and redeployment of nurses. The purpose of the research was to learn from the experiences of people with a chronic illnesses in self-care behaviors and accessing altered healthcare services to inform future practices. Design: A population survey design. Methods: A mixed methods survey was designed, combining validated questionnaires and scales with open-ended questions. A convenience sample was utilized via using social media platforms. Data analysis included descriptive and inferential statistics. Content analysis was used to analyze open-ended responses. Results: There were 147 responses, with approximately half reporting no changes in face-to-face healthcare contact, 41% reporting decreased contacts and 12% increased contacts. Non-face-to-face contacts were reduced by almost 9%, did not change by almost 60%, while 33% indicated an increase. Participants reported mixed perceptions in contact with healthcare providers during restrictions. In the Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care and the Self-Care of Chronic Illness scales, participants scored statistically lower scores than in previous studies. Participants indicated that public health restrictions negatively impacted their confidence, created challenges with re-engaging and that access to care was more difficult. Conclusion: This research highlights the importance of providing continued support to people with chronic illness irrespective of other challenges to healthcare services. A structured approach to virtual self-care education is required. Clinical relevance: This research concluded that the experience of access to one healthcare professional as opposed to diverse multidisciplinary input was similar for a number of chronic illnesses groups of people during the COVID-19 pandemic. There was an altered dynamic of virtual contacts with healthcare providers and a lack of confidence interpreting what monitoring was required by people with a chronic illnesses due to a lack of preparedness for virtual healthcare delivery. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of Nursing Scholarship published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Sigma Theta Tau International.
- Authors: Ryder, Mary , Guerin, Suzanne , Forde, Rita , Lowe, Grainne , Jaarsma, Tiny , O'Neill, Madeline , Halley, Carmel , Connolly, Michael
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Nursing Scholarship Vol. 55, no. 1 (2023), p. 154-162
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Introduction: A diagnosis of chronic illness posed a serious threat to people during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. People with chronic illnesses were faced with increased mortality and reduced access to healthcare. Self-care is the process of maintaining health and managing a chronic illness. Nurses working in specialist services provide healthcare education to people with chronic illnesses. Access to these nurses was decreased during periods of the COVID-19 virus escalation due to the reconfiguration of services and redeployment of nurses. The purpose of the research was to learn from the experiences of people with a chronic illnesses in self-care behaviors and accessing altered healthcare services to inform future practices. Design: A population survey design. Methods: A mixed methods survey was designed, combining validated questionnaires and scales with open-ended questions. A convenience sample was utilized via using social media platforms. Data analysis included descriptive and inferential statistics. Content analysis was used to analyze open-ended responses. Results: There were 147 responses, with approximately half reporting no changes in face-to-face healthcare contact, 41% reporting decreased contacts and 12% increased contacts. Non-face-to-face contacts were reduced by almost 9%, did not change by almost 60%, while 33% indicated an increase. Participants reported mixed perceptions in contact with healthcare providers during restrictions. In the Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care and the Self-Care of Chronic Illness scales, participants scored statistically lower scores than in previous studies. Participants indicated that public health restrictions negatively impacted their confidence, created challenges with re-engaging and that access to care was more difficult. Conclusion: This research highlights the importance of providing continued support to people with chronic illness irrespective of other challenges to healthcare services. A structured approach to virtual self-care education is required. Clinical relevance: This research concluded that the experience of access to one healthcare professional as opposed to diverse multidisciplinary input was similar for a number of chronic illnesses groups of people during the COVID-19 pandemic. There was an altered dynamic of virtual contacts with healthcare providers and a lack of confidence interpreting what monitoring was required by people with a chronic illnesses due to a lack of preparedness for virtual healthcare delivery. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of Nursing Scholarship published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Sigma Theta Tau International.
Buffering the fear of COVID-19 : social connectedness mediates the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and psychological wellbeing
- Humphrey, Ashley, March, Evita, Lavender, Andrew, Miller, Kyle, Alvarenga, Marlies, Mesagno, Christopher
- Authors: Humphrey, Ashley , March, Evita , Lavender, Andrew , Miller, Kyle , Alvarenga, Marlies , Mesagno, Christopher
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Behavioral Sciences Vol. 12, no. 3 (2022), p.
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- Description: Social connections are crucial for an individual’s health, wellbeing, and overall effective functioning. During the COVID-19 pandemic, one major preventative effort for reducing the spread of COVID-19 involved restricting people’s typical social interactions through physical distancing and isolation. The current cross-sectional study, conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, explored the relationship among fear of COVID-19, social connectedness, resilience, depressive symptomologies, and self-perceived stress. Participants (N = 174) completed an anonymous, online questionnaire, and results indicated that social connectedness mediated the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and psychological wellbeing. In contrast, the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and psychological wellbeing was not mediated by resilience. These findings highlight the important role that social connections and resilience play in buffering against negative psychological wellbeing outcomes, especially during a pandemic. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
- Authors: Humphrey, Ashley , March, Evita , Lavender, Andrew , Miller, Kyle , Alvarenga, Marlies , Mesagno, Christopher
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Behavioral Sciences Vol. 12, no. 3 (2022), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Social connections are crucial for an individual’s health, wellbeing, and overall effective functioning. During the COVID-19 pandemic, one major preventative effort for reducing the spread of COVID-19 involved restricting people’s typical social interactions through physical distancing and isolation. The current cross-sectional study, conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, explored the relationship among fear of COVID-19, social connectedness, resilience, depressive symptomologies, and self-perceived stress. Participants (N = 174) completed an anonymous, online questionnaire, and results indicated that social connectedness mediated the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and psychological wellbeing. In contrast, the relationship between fear of COVID-19 and psychological wellbeing was not mediated by resilience. These findings highlight the important role that social connections and resilience play in buffering against negative psychological wellbeing outcomes, especially during a pandemic. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
Exploring CBD retail performance, recovery and resilience of a smart city following COVID-19
- Fieger, Peter, Prayag, Girish, Dyason, David, Rice, John, Hall, C. Michael
- Authors: Fieger, Peter , Prayag, Girish , Dyason, David , Rice, John , Hall, C. Michael
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Sustainability Vol. 15, no. 10 (2023), p. 8300
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- Description: The city of Christchurch, New Zealand, incurred significant damage due to a series of earthquakes in 2010 and 2011. The city had, by the late 2010s, regained economic and social normalcy after a sustained period of rebuilding and economic recovery. Through the concerted rebuilding effort, a modern central business district (CBD) with redesigned infrastructure and amenities was developed. The Christchurch rebuild was underpinned by a commitment of urban planners to an open and connected city, including the use of innovative technologies to gather, use and share data. As was the case elsewhere, the COVID-19 pandemic brought about significant disruptions to social and economic life in Christchurch. Border closures, lockdowns, trading limitations and other restrictions on movement led to changes in traditional consumer behaviors and affected the retail sector’s resilience. In this study, we used CBD pedestrian traffic data gathered from various locations to predict changes in retail spending and identify recovery implications through the lens of retail resilience. We found that the COVID-19 pandemic and its related lockdowns have driven a substantive change in the behavioral patterns of city users. The implications for resilient retail, sustainable policy and further research are explored.
- Authors: Fieger, Peter , Prayag, Girish , Dyason, David , Rice, John , Hall, C. Michael
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Sustainability Vol. 15, no. 10 (2023), p. 8300
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The city of Christchurch, New Zealand, incurred significant damage due to a series of earthquakes in 2010 and 2011. The city had, by the late 2010s, regained economic and social normalcy after a sustained period of rebuilding and economic recovery. Through the concerted rebuilding effort, a modern central business district (CBD) with redesigned infrastructure and amenities was developed. The Christchurch rebuild was underpinned by a commitment of urban planners to an open and connected city, including the use of innovative technologies to gather, use and share data. As was the case elsewhere, the COVID-19 pandemic brought about significant disruptions to social and economic life in Christchurch. Border closures, lockdowns, trading limitations and other restrictions on movement led to changes in traditional consumer behaviors and affected the retail sector’s resilience. In this study, we used CBD pedestrian traffic data gathered from various locations to predict changes in retail spending and identify recovery implications through the lens of retail resilience. We found that the COVID-19 pandemic and its related lockdowns have driven a substantive change in the behavioral patterns of city users. The implications for resilient retail, sustainable policy and further research are explored.
If not now, then when? Wellbeing and wholeheartedness in education
- Lemon, Narelle, McDonough, Sharon
- Authors: Lemon, Narelle , McDonough, Sharon
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Educational Forum Vol. 85, no. 3 (2021), p. 317-335
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: The COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, and political and social movements have required each of us to pause. Collectively they signal a unique moment in our history, and we argue that they provide us with an opportunity to consider what matters most as we move forward. Using poetic representation and Brené Brown’s guideposts for wholehearted living as a framework, we offer a series of provocation for readers to consider the role of wholeheartedness and wellbeing in education. © 2021 Kappa Delta Pi.
Delivery of online electronics and mechatronics labs during lockdowns
- Jayawardena, Amal, Kahandawa, Gayan, Piyathilaka, Lasitha
- Authors: Jayawardena, Amal , Kahandawa, Gayan , Piyathilaka, Lasitha
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: 8th IEEE International Conference on e-Learning in Industrial Electronics, ICELIE 2021, Virtual, Toronto, 13-16 October 2021, Proceedings - 2021 8th IEEE International Conference on e-Learning in Industrial Electronics, ICELIE 2021
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper provides a detailed explanation of several approaches that can be used to conduct online labs for elec-tronics/mechatronics engineering courses and explains the results obtained from a survey conducted. The detailed explanations provide information on how to implement the method, benefits of the stated process, possible challenges, and how to overcome those challenges. Furthermore, this paper presents the analyzed results from a survey conducted to capture the student experience in online labs. © 2021 IEEE.
Psychological distress, fear and coping strategies among hong kong people during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Chair, Sek, Chien, Wai, Liu, Ting, Lam, Louisa, Cross, Wendy, Banik, Biswajit, Rahman, Muhammad Aziz
- Authors: Chair, Sek , Chien, Wai , Liu, Ting , Lam, Louisa , Cross, Wendy , Banik, Biswajit , Rahman, Muhammad Aziz
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Current Psychology Vol. 42, no. 3 (2023), p. 2538-2557
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- Description: The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to potential adverse effects on the mental health status of a wide range of people. This study aimed to identify factors associated with psychological distress, fear and coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among general population in Hong Kong. Psychological distress was assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale; level of fear was evaluated using the Fear of COVID-19 scale; and coping strategies were assessed using the Brief Resilient Coping Scale. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify key factors associated with these mental health variables. Of the 555 participants, 53.9% experienced moderate to very high levels of psychological distress, 31.2% experienced a high level of fear of COVID-19, and 58.6% showed moderate to high resilient coping. Multivariable logistic regression indicated that living with family members, current alcohol consumption, and higher level of fear were associated with higher levels of psychological distress; perceived stress due to a change in employment condition, being a frontline worker, experiencing ‘moderate to very high’ distress, and healthcare service use to overcome the COVID-19 related stress in past 6 months were associated with a higher level of fear; and perceived better mental health status was associated with a moderate to high resilient coping. This study identified key factors associated with distress, fear and coping strategies during the pandemic in Hong Kong. Mental health support strategies should be provided continuously to prevent the mental impact of the pandemic from turning into long-term illness. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
- Authors: Chair, Sek , Chien, Wai , Liu, Ting , Lam, Louisa , Cross, Wendy , Banik, Biswajit , Rahman, Muhammad Aziz
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Current Psychology Vol. 42, no. 3 (2023), p. 2538-2557
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to potential adverse effects on the mental health status of a wide range of people. This study aimed to identify factors associated with psychological distress, fear and coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among general population in Hong Kong. Psychological distress was assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale; level of fear was evaluated using the Fear of COVID-19 scale; and coping strategies were assessed using the Brief Resilient Coping Scale. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify key factors associated with these mental health variables. Of the 555 participants, 53.9% experienced moderate to very high levels of psychological distress, 31.2% experienced a high level of fear of COVID-19, and 58.6% showed moderate to high resilient coping. Multivariable logistic regression indicated that living with family members, current alcohol consumption, and higher level of fear were associated with higher levels of psychological distress; perceived stress due to a change in employment condition, being a frontline worker, experiencing ‘moderate to very high’ distress, and healthcare service use to overcome the COVID-19 related stress in past 6 months were associated with a higher level of fear; and perceived better mental health status was associated with a moderate to high resilient coping. This study identified key factors associated with distress, fear and coping strategies during the pandemic in Hong Kong. Mental health support strategies should be provided continuously to prevent the mental impact of the pandemic from turning into long-term illness. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
- Barbieri, Diego, Lou, Baowen, Passavanti, Marco, Hui, Cang, Lessa, Daniela, Maharaj, Brij, Banerjee, Arunabha, Wang, Fusong, Chang, Kevin, Naik, Bhaven, Yu, Lei, Liu, Zhuangzhuang, Sikka, Gaurav, Tucker, Andrew, Mirhosseini, Ali, Naseri, Sahra, Qiao, Yaning, Gupta, Akshay, Abbas, Montasir, Fang, Kevin, Ghasemi, Navid, Peprah, Prince, Goswami, Shubham, Hessami, Amir, Agarwal, Nithin, Lam, Louisa, Adomako, Solomon
- Authors: Barbieri, Diego , Lou, Baowen , Passavanti, Marco , Hui, Cang , Lessa, Daniela , Maharaj, Brij , Banerjee, Arunabha , Wang, Fusong , Chang, Kevin , Naik, Bhaven , Yu, Lei , Liu, Zhuangzhuang , Sikka, Gaurav , Tucker, Andrew , Mirhosseini, Ali , Naseri, Sahra , Qiao, Yaning , Gupta, Akshay , Abbas, Montasir , Fang, Kevin , Ghasemi, Navid , Peprah, Prince , Goswami, Shubham , Hessami, Amir , Agarwal, Nithin , Lam, Louisa , Adomako, Solomon
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article , Data article
- Relation: Data in Brief Vol. 32, (2020)
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: The dataset deals with the air quality perceived by citizens before and during the enforcement of COVID-19 restrictions in ten countries around the world: Australia, Brazil, China, Ghana, India, Iran, Italy, Norway, South Africa and the United States. An online survey conveniently translated into Chinese, English, Italian, Norwegian, Persian, Portuguese collected information regarding the perceived quality of air pollution according to a Likert scale. The questionnaire was distributed between 11-05-2020 and 31-05-2020 and 9 394 respondents took part. Both the survey and the dataset (stored in a Microsoft Excel Worksheet) are available in a public repository. The collected data offer the people's subjective perspectives related to the objective improvement in air quality occurred during the COVID-19 restrictions. Furthermore, the dataset can be used for research studies involving the reduction in air pollution as experienced, to a different extent, by populations of all the ten countries. © 2020 The Author(s)
The impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic on undergraduate nursing students' study of anatomy and physiology
- Abdelkader, Amany, Barbagallo, Michael
- Authors: Abdelkader, Amany , Barbagallo, Michael
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: CIN - Computers Informatics Nursing Vol. 40, no. 4 (2022), p. 278-284
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The COVID-19 global pandemic caused major disruptions to the delivery of human Anatomy and Physiology courses to nursing students worldwide. The aim of the current study is to evaluate nursing students' experiences and perceptions of transitioning from a blended to a purely online study mode for first year Anatomy and Physiology courses during the global pandemic. Qualitative and quantitative methodologies were used with a sample of undergraduate nursing students enrolled at a regional Australian university across its three campuses. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to describe the study population. Content analysis was used to evaluate the participants' use of resources, experiences, and preferences in studying anatomy and physiology. There were 101 participants recruited in the study. Results indicated that face-to-face study mode (41.86%) was the preferred method of delivery during the global pandemic and participants were having a renewed appreciation for the blended study mode (38.37%). Online study mode was the least preferred (19.77%), with the participants' opinions of this mode of study not altered by the global pandemic. Although the COVID-19 global pandemic shifted the traditional teaching of anatomy and physiology in nursing programs to an online environment, the long-term impacts of this disruption have yet to be ascertained. Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
- Authors: Abdelkader, Amany , Barbagallo, Michael
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: CIN - Computers Informatics Nursing Vol. 40, no. 4 (2022), p. 278-284
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The COVID-19 global pandemic caused major disruptions to the delivery of human Anatomy and Physiology courses to nursing students worldwide. The aim of the current study is to evaluate nursing students' experiences and perceptions of transitioning from a blended to a purely online study mode for first year Anatomy and Physiology courses during the global pandemic. Qualitative and quantitative methodologies were used with a sample of undergraduate nursing students enrolled at a regional Australian university across its three campuses. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to describe the study population. Content analysis was used to evaluate the participants' use of resources, experiences, and preferences in studying anatomy and physiology. There were 101 participants recruited in the study. Results indicated that face-to-face study mode (41.86%) was the preferred method of delivery during the global pandemic and participants were having a renewed appreciation for the blended study mode (38.37%). Online study mode was the least preferred (19.77%), with the participants' opinions of this mode of study not altered by the global pandemic. Although the COVID-19 global pandemic shifted the traditional teaching of anatomy and physiology in nursing programs to an online environment, the long-term impacts of this disruption have yet to be ascertained. Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
Knowledge, attitudes and practices of COVID-19 in rural Bangladesh : a cross-sectional study
- Siddiquea, Bodrun, Afroz, Afsana, Chowdhury, Mohammad, Savira, Feby, Alif, Sheikh, Bhattacharya, Oashe, Hossain, Md Nassif, Ali, Liaquat, Chowdhury, Hasina, Shetty, Aishwarya, Islam, Md Shariful, Billah, Baki
- Authors: Siddiquea, Bodrun , Afroz, Afsana , Chowdhury, Mohammad , Savira, Feby , Alif, Sheikh , Bhattacharya, Oashe , Hossain, Md Nassif , Ali, Liaquat , Chowdhury, Hasina , Shetty, Aishwarya , Islam, Md Shariful , Billah, Baki
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: BMJ Open Vol. 13, no. 2 (2023), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Objectives Understanding the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of COVID-19 within distinct populations may aid further public health messaging. This study's aims were to explore KAP towards COVID-19 in rural Bangladesh and identify any potential links to sociodemographics, existing clinical conditions and sources of information. Design Cross-sectional community-based study. Setting Participants were recruited from 18 villages using multistage cluster random sampling. Methods Data were collected through face-to-face interviews, from June to November 2021, using a structured questionnaire. Data included sociodemographics, clinical conditions, sources of information and KAP of COVID-19 questions.
- Authors: Siddiquea, Bodrun , Afroz, Afsana , Chowdhury, Mohammad , Savira, Feby , Alif, Sheikh , Bhattacharya, Oashe , Hossain, Md Nassif , Ali, Liaquat , Chowdhury, Hasina , Shetty, Aishwarya , Islam, Md Shariful , Billah, Baki
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: BMJ Open Vol. 13, no. 2 (2023), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Objectives Understanding the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of COVID-19 within distinct populations may aid further public health messaging. This study's aims were to explore KAP towards COVID-19 in rural Bangladesh and identify any potential links to sociodemographics, existing clinical conditions and sources of information. Design Cross-sectional community-based study. Setting Participants were recruited from 18 villages using multistage cluster random sampling. Methods Data were collected through face-to-face interviews, from June to November 2021, using a structured questionnaire. Data included sociodemographics, clinical conditions, sources of information and KAP of COVID-19 questions.
Exploring public sentiment during COVID-19 : a cross country analysis
- Yu, Shuo, He, Sihan, Cai, Zhen, Lee, Ivan, Naseriparsa, Mehdi, Xia, Feng
- Authors: Yu, Shuo , He, Sihan , Cai, Zhen , Lee, Ivan , Naseriparsa, Mehdi , Xia, Feng
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: IEEE Transactions on Computational Social Systems Vol. 10, no. 3 (2023), p. 1083-1094
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: COVID-19 has spread all over the world, accounting for countless death and enormous economic loss. Since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 as a pandemic, governments from different countries have made various policies to prevent the pandemic from becoming worse. However, civilian reactions to the pandemic vary when they face similar situations. This behavioral variation creates a challenge when it comes to policy-making. Such differences are generally implicit, hidden in ones' social lives. As a result, it is challenging to analyze such differences when the governments make policies. In this work, we investigate social media posts on Twitter and Weibo in order to effectively explore the difference in reactions across various countries, with the aim to understand national differences. To this end, we employ natural language processing (NLP) methods and Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) tools to process six languages in different countries, including the USA, Germany, France, Italy, the U.K., and China. We provide a comprehensive analysis of public reaction differences from the emotional perspective. Our findings verify that the reactions vary noticeably among various countries for some policies. Therefore, sentiment analysis can significantly influence policy-making. Our work sheds light on the mechanism of detecting the reaction differences in various countries, which can be utilized to conduct effective communication and make appropriate policy decisions. © 2014 IEEE.
Rapid impact assessments of COVID-19 control measures against the Delta variant and short-term projections of new confirmed cases in Vietnam
- Nguyen, The-Phuong, Wong, Zoie, Wang, Lin, Thanh, Truc, Nguyen, Huy, Gilmour, Stuart
- Authors: Nguyen, The-Phuong , Wong, Zoie , Wang, Lin , Thanh, Truc , Nguyen, Huy , Gilmour, Stuart
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Global Health Vol. 11, no. (2021), p.
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- Description: As of 2020, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases recorded in Vietnam was less than 1500, proving the success of COVID-19 control in Vietnam [1]. Vietnam has been recognized as one of the few countries that successfully controlled COVID-19 in 2020 [2]. Several recent articles have summarised a set of lessons learned, the so-called “Zero-new-case-approach”. These included (i) a rapid and coordinated public health response with a decentralized health care system [3]; (ii) massive quarantine and targeted lockdown; (iii) third-degree contact tracing; (iv) centralized patient management; (v) early school closures and robust border controls; (vi) mask policies and 5K message (5K refers to use face masks in public places, disinfect regularly, keep distance, stop gathering, and make health declaration); and (vii) innovative mass testing strategies in the resource-constraint system (sample pooling strategy of PCR test with 2-7 swaps) [4], These “Zero-newcase-approach” strategies all focused on the non-pharmaceutical aspect of disease control. They aimed to maintain zero community transmission by establishing a comprehensive public surveillance system and enacted drastic measures with the support of the police and military forces. © 2021 THE AUTHOR(S) JoGH 2021 ISoGH
- Authors: Nguyen, The-Phuong , Wong, Zoie , Wang, Lin , Thanh, Truc , Nguyen, Huy , Gilmour, Stuart
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Global Health Vol. 11, no. (2021), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: As of 2020, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases recorded in Vietnam was less than 1500, proving the success of COVID-19 control in Vietnam [1]. Vietnam has been recognized as one of the few countries that successfully controlled COVID-19 in 2020 [2]. Several recent articles have summarised a set of lessons learned, the so-called “Zero-new-case-approach”. These included (i) a rapid and coordinated public health response with a decentralized health care system [3]; (ii) massive quarantine and targeted lockdown; (iii) third-degree contact tracing; (iv) centralized patient management; (v) early school closures and robust border controls; (vi) mask policies and 5K message (5K refers to use face masks in public places, disinfect regularly, keep distance, stop gathering, and make health declaration); and (vii) innovative mass testing strategies in the resource-constraint system (sample pooling strategy of PCR test with 2-7 swaps) [4], These “Zero-newcase-approach” strategies all focused on the non-pharmaceutical aspect of disease control. They aimed to maintain zero community transmission by establishing a comprehensive public surveillance system and enacted drastic measures with the support of the police and military forces. © 2021 THE AUTHOR(S) JoGH 2021 ISoGH
Policies and practices of early childhood education and care during the COVID-19 pandemic: Perspectives from five countries
- Visnjic-Jevtic, Adrijana, Varga Nagy, Anikó, Ozturk, Gulsah, Şahin-Sak, İkbal, Toran, Mehmet, Sánchez-Pérez, Noelia
- Authors: Visnjic-Jevtic, Adrijana , Varga Nagy, Anikó , Ozturk, Gulsah , Şahin-Sak, İkbal , Toran, Mehmet , Sánchez-Pérez, Noelia
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Childhood, Education & Society Vol. 2, no. 2 (2021), p. 200-216
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The COVID-19 pandemic, which affects all areas of life, has also affected children in need of education and care. It is of great importance to develop policies that take into account the best interests of children in this process. In this review article, the policies developed for early childhood education and care during the pandemic period in five countries (Australia, Croatia, Hungary, Spain, and Turkey), how they are implemented, the problems that arose, and the solutions produced are discussed. As a result, the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed that we need to focus on eliminating the educational inequalities, set policies for the welfare of children on foundations that are more realistic, rebuild teacher training, and improve the welfare of families. Priorizating the best interests of the child in the policies to be developed and building the social ecology on justice will ease overcoming the crises that will be faced.
- Authors: Visnjic-Jevtic, Adrijana , Varga Nagy, Anikó , Ozturk, Gulsah , Şahin-Sak, İkbal , Toran, Mehmet , Sánchez-Pérez, Noelia
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Childhood, Education & Society Vol. 2, no. 2 (2021), p. 200-216
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The COVID-19 pandemic, which affects all areas of life, has also affected children in need of education and care. It is of great importance to develop policies that take into account the best interests of children in this process. In this review article, the policies developed for early childhood education and care during the pandemic period in five countries (Australia, Croatia, Hungary, Spain, and Turkey), how they are implemented, the problems that arose, and the solutions produced are discussed. As a result, the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed that we need to focus on eliminating the educational inequalities, set policies for the welfare of children on foundations that are more realistic, rebuild teacher training, and improve the welfare of families. Priorizating the best interests of the child in the policies to be developed and building the social ecology on justice will ease overcoming the crises that will be faced.
Tracing the Pace of COVID-19 research : topic modeling and evolution
- Liu, Jiaying, Nie, Hansong, Li, Shihao, Ren, Jing, Xia, Feng
- Authors: Liu, Jiaying , Nie, Hansong , Li, Shihao , Ren, Jing , Xia, Feng
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Big Data Research Vol. 25, no. (2021), p.
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- Description: COVID-19 has been spreading rapidly around the world. With the growing attention on the deadly pandemic, discussions and research on COVID-19 are rapidly increasing to exchange latest findings with the hope to accelerate the pace of finding a cure. As a branch of information technology, artificial intelligence (AI) has greatly expedited the development of human society. In this paper, we investigate and visualize the on-going advancements of early scientific research on COVID-19 from the perspective of AI. By adopting the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) model, this paper allocates the research articles into 50 key research topics pertinent to COVID-19 according to their abstracts. We present an overview of early studies of the COVID-19 crisis at different scales including referencing/citation behavior, topic variation and their inner interactions. We also identify innovative papers that are regarded as the cornerstones in the development of COVID-19 research. The results unveil the focus of scientific research, thereby giving deep insights into how the academic society contributes to combating the COVID-19 pandemic. © 2021 Elsevier Inc. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Jing Ren and Feng Xia" is provided in this record**
- Description: COVID-19 has been spreading rapidly around the world. With the growing attention on the deadly pandemic, discussions and research on COVID-19 are rapidly increasing to exchange latest findings with the hope to accelerate the pace of finding a cure. As a branch of information technology, artificial intelligence (AI) has greatly expedited the development of human society. In this paper, we investigate and visualize the on-going advancements of early scientific research on COVID-19 from the perspective of AI. By adopting the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) model, this paper allocates the research articles into 50 key research topics pertinent to COVID-19 according to their abstracts. We present an overview of early studies of the COVID-19 crisis at different scales including referencing/citation behavior, topic variation and their inner interactions. We also identify innovative papers that are regarded as the cornerstones in the development of COVID-19 research. The results unveil the focus of scientific research, thereby giving deep insights into how the academic society contributes to combating the COVID-19 pandemic. © 2021 Elsevier Inc.
- Authors: Liu, Jiaying , Nie, Hansong , Li, Shihao , Ren, Jing , Xia, Feng
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Big Data Research Vol. 25, no. (2021), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: COVID-19 has been spreading rapidly around the world. With the growing attention on the deadly pandemic, discussions and research on COVID-19 are rapidly increasing to exchange latest findings with the hope to accelerate the pace of finding a cure. As a branch of information technology, artificial intelligence (AI) has greatly expedited the development of human society. In this paper, we investigate and visualize the on-going advancements of early scientific research on COVID-19 from the perspective of AI. By adopting the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) model, this paper allocates the research articles into 50 key research topics pertinent to COVID-19 according to their abstracts. We present an overview of early studies of the COVID-19 crisis at different scales including referencing/citation behavior, topic variation and their inner interactions. We also identify innovative papers that are regarded as the cornerstones in the development of COVID-19 research. The results unveil the focus of scientific research, thereby giving deep insights into how the academic society contributes to combating the COVID-19 pandemic. © 2021 Elsevier Inc. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Jing Ren and Feng Xia" is provided in this record**
- Description: COVID-19 has been spreading rapidly around the world. With the growing attention on the deadly pandemic, discussions and research on COVID-19 are rapidly increasing to exchange latest findings with the hope to accelerate the pace of finding a cure. As a branch of information technology, artificial intelligence (AI) has greatly expedited the development of human society. In this paper, we investigate and visualize the on-going advancements of early scientific research on COVID-19 from the perspective of AI. By adopting the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) model, this paper allocates the research articles into 50 key research topics pertinent to COVID-19 according to their abstracts. We present an overview of early studies of the COVID-19 crisis at different scales including referencing/citation behavior, topic variation and their inner interactions. We also identify innovative papers that are regarded as the cornerstones in the development of COVID-19 research. The results unveil the focus of scientific research, thereby giving deep insights into how the academic society contributes to combating the COVID-19 pandemic. © 2021 Elsevier Inc.
The COVID-19 pandemic in the ASEAN: A preliminary report on the spread, burden and medical capacities
- Hoang, Minh, Nguyen, Phuong, Tran, Thao, Khuong, Long, Nguyen, Huy
- Authors: Hoang, Minh , Nguyen, Phuong , Tran, Thao , Khuong, Long , Nguyen, Huy
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine Vol. 13, no. 6 (2020), p. 247-251
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Objective: To provide preliminary descriptions of the spread, burden and related medical capacity characteristics of the ASEAN countries. Methods: We utilized the data from four main official databases, including WHO reports, the Statistics and Research of the Coronavirus Disease, and the Southeast Asia Program of the Center for Strategic and International Study. The spread of the COVID- 19 pandemic, current burden and the COVID-19 medical response capacities were extracted before April 11, 2020. Results: As of April 13, 2020, the ASEAN countries reported 19 547 COVID-19 positive cases with 817 deaths (case-facility rate of 4.2%). Thailand was the first country in the region that reported having the COVID-19 cases, while Laos was the last to report confirmed COVID-19 cases. Durations for the number of deaths to double were between 8-12 days. For the testing and treatment capacities, the number of PCR tests provided to the populations was the highest in Vietnam, followed by Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. Meanwhile, the percentage of the population being tested was the highest in Brunei (2.31%), followed by Singapore (1.30%). Conclusions: A wide range of interventions were taken into practice in response to the outbreak with an effort of curbing the rise of this pandemic. However, special care should not be overlooked as the pandemic is placing a huge impact on the population and becomes increasingly unpredictable. To tackle the spread of the pandemic in the region, the ASEAN countries should work together as one community to provide better responses to future pandemics and other transboundary public health challenges. © 2020 Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine Produced by Wolters Kluwer-Medknow. All rights reserved. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Huy Nguyen” is provided in this record**
- Authors: Hoang, Minh , Nguyen, Phuong , Tran, Thao , Khuong, Long , Nguyen, Huy
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine Vol. 13, no. 6 (2020), p. 247-251
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Objective: To provide preliminary descriptions of the spread, burden and related medical capacity characteristics of the ASEAN countries. Methods: We utilized the data from four main official databases, including WHO reports, the Statistics and Research of the Coronavirus Disease, and the Southeast Asia Program of the Center for Strategic and International Study. The spread of the COVID- 19 pandemic, current burden and the COVID-19 medical response capacities were extracted before April 11, 2020. Results: As of April 13, 2020, the ASEAN countries reported 19 547 COVID-19 positive cases with 817 deaths (case-facility rate of 4.2%). Thailand was the first country in the region that reported having the COVID-19 cases, while Laos was the last to report confirmed COVID-19 cases. Durations for the number of deaths to double were between 8-12 days. For the testing and treatment capacities, the number of PCR tests provided to the populations was the highest in Vietnam, followed by Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. Meanwhile, the percentage of the population being tested was the highest in Brunei (2.31%), followed by Singapore (1.30%). Conclusions: A wide range of interventions were taken into practice in response to the outbreak with an effort of curbing the rise of this pandemic. However, special care should not be overlooked as the pandemic is placing a huge impact on the population and becomes increasingly unpredictable. To tackle the spread of the pandemic in the region, the ASEAN countries should work together as one community to provide better responses to future pandemics and other transboundary public health challenges. © 2020 Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine Produced by Wolters Kluwer-Medknow. All rights reserved. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Huy Nguyen” is provided in this record**
Mental health at the COVID-19 frontline : an assessment of distress, fear, and coping among staff and attendees at screening clinics of rural/regional settings of Victoria, Australia
- Rahman, Muhammad Aziz, Ford, Dale, Sousa, Grace, Hedley, Lorraine, Greenstock, Louise, Cross, Wendy, Brumby, Susan
- Authors: Rahman, Muhammad Aziz , Ford, Dale , Sousa, Grace , Hedley, Lorraine , Greenstock, Louise , Cross, Wendy , Brumby, Susan
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Rural Health Vol. 38, no. 4 (2022), p. 773-787
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Purpose: Research examining psychological well-being associated with COVID-19 in rural/regional Australia is limited. This study aimed to assess the extent of psychological distress, fear of COVID-19, and coping strategies among the attendees in COVID-19 screening clinics at 2 rural Victorian settings. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during July 2020 to February 2021 inclusive. Participants were invited to fill in an online questionnaire. Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10), Fear of COVID-19 Scale, and Brief Resilient Coping Scale were used to assess psychological distress, fear of COVID-19, and coping, respectively. Findings: Among 702 total participants, 69% were females and mean age (±SD) was 49 (±15.8) years. One in 5 participants (156, 22%) experienced high to very high psychological distress, 1 in 10 (72, 10%) experienced high fear, and more than half (397, 57%) had medium to high resilient coping. Participants with mental health issues had higher distress (AOR 10.4, 95% CI: 6.25-17.2) and fear (2.56, 1.41-4.66). Higher distress was also associated with having comorbidities, increased smoking (5.71, 1.04-31.4), and alcohol drinking (2.03, 1.21-3.40). Higher fear was associated with negative financial impact, drinking alcohol (2.15, 1.06-4.37), and increased alcohol drinking. Medium to high resilient coping was associated with being ≥60 years old (1.84, 1.04-3.24) and completing Bachelor and above levels of education. Conclusion: People who had pre-existing mental health issues, comorbidities, smoked, and consumed alcohol were identified as high-risk groups for poorer psychological well-being in rural/regional Victoria. Specific interventions to support the mental well-being of these vulnerable populations, along with engaging health care providers, should be considered. © 2021 The Authors. The Journal of Rural Health published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of National Rural Health Association.
- Authors: Rahman, Muhammad Aziz , Ford, Dale , Sousa, Grace , Hedley, Lorraine , Greenstock, Louise , Cross, Wendy , Brumby, Susan
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Rural Health Vol. 38, no. 4 (2022), p. 773-787
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Purpose: Research examining psychological well-being associated with COVID-19 in rural/regional Australia is limited. This study aimed to assess the extent of psychological distress, fear of COVID-19, and coping strategies among the attendees in COVID-19 screening clinics at 2 rural Victorian settings. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during July 2020 to February 2021 inclusive. Participants were invited to fill in an online questionnaire. Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K-10), Fear of COVID-19 Scale, and Brief Resilient Coping Scale were used to assess psychological distress, fear of COVID-19, and coping, respectively. Findings: Among 702 total participants, 69% were females and mean age (±SD) was 49 (±15.8) years. One in 5 participants (156, 22%) experienced high to very high psychological distress, 1 in 10 (72, 10%) experienced high fear, and more than half (397, 57%) had medium to high resilient coping. Participants with mental health issues had higher distress (AOR 10.4, 95% CI: 6.25-17.2) and fear (2.56, 1.41-4.66). Higher distress was also associated with having comorbidities, increased smoking (5.71, 1.04-31.4), and alcohol drinking (2.03, 1.21-3.40). Higher fear was associated with negative financial impact, drinking alcohol (2.15, 1.06-4.37), and increased alcohol drinking. Medium to high resilient coping was associated with being ≥60 years old (1.84, 1.04-3.24) and completing Bachelor and above levels of education. Conclusion: People who had pre-existing mental health issues, comorbidities, smoked, and consumed alcohol were identified as high-risk groups for poorer psychological well-being in rural/regional Victoria. Specific interventions to support the mental well-being of these vulnerable populations, along with engaging health care providers, should be considered. © 2021 The Authors. The Journal of Rural Health published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of National Rural Health Association.
Psychoneuroimmunology concerns of the Olympic boycotts
- Su, Zhaohui, McDonnell, Dean, Bennett, Bindi, Bentley, Barry, Ahmad, Junaid, Šegalo, Sabina, Cheshmehzangi, Ali, da Veiga, Claudimar, Xiang, Yu-Tao
- Authors: Su, Zhaohui , McDonnell, Dean , Bennett, Bindi , Bentley, Barry , Ahmad, Junaid , Šegalo, Sabina , Cheshmehzangi, Ali , da Veiga, Claudimar , Xiang, Yu-Tao
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Brain, Behaviour and Immunity Vol. 102, no. (2022), p. 206-208
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Just weeks away from the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, the United States, followed by Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada, has declared a diplomatic boycott of the Games. A diplomatic boycott stipulates that while government officials of these countries will not attend the event, the athletes’ scheduled attendance will largely remain intact. An unintended consequence of the boycotts is that they force the attending athletes to cope with the stress and distress associated with the 2022 Winter Olympics in an unfamiliar environment on their own. It is important to underscore that many of the challenges the athletes could face amid the Games are either deep-rooted or unprecedented, ranging from stressors fuelled by the nonstop media reports, the competitions, to the Omicron scares. These insights combined, in turn, underscore the imperative for effective and preemptive mental health support for Olympic athletes. To shed light on the issue, this paper highlights the reasons why timely solutions are needed to adequately safeguard Olympic athletes’ mental health and overall wellbeing, and underlines promising technology-based solutions that can be cost-effectively designed and developed for the athletes.