Protecting healthcare workers' mental health against COVID-19-related stress: The effects of stress mindset and psychological resilience

Healthcare workers have been on the frontline of the battle against COVID-19 disease. However, this has taken a toll on them, resulting in elevated stress and poor mental health. We argue that healthcare workers' stress mindset and resilience could mitigate negative outcomes of COVID-19-related stress by helping them view this stressful situation in a more positive light and appraise it as a challenge rather than a threat. Accordingly, we hypothesized that both a stress-is-enhancing mindset about COVID-19-related stress and resilience would improve healthcare workers' appraisal of their personal resources and increase their challenge appraisals, positively contributing to their mental health. We collected data from 160 healthcare workers and performed structural equation modeling for hypothesis testing. The results indicate that both a stress-is-enhancing mindset about COVID-19-related stress and psychological resilience are indirectly related to better mental well-being and lower health-related anxiety through challenge appraisals. This study contributes to research in mental health by suggesting that protecting and promoting healthcare workers' mental health is possible by empowering them through increasing personal resources such as a positive mindset about stressful situations and resilience.     

新冠肺炎疫情对医务工作者心理健康的影响

医务人员在新冠肺炎疫情中不仅仅是逆行的抗疫者，更多的是较普通人群面临更高的感染风险和更大的压力与挑战，需要承受长时间和超负荷工作，经历身心的疲惫和耗竭。本文复习国内外相关研究，围绕医务人员在疫情期间的心理健康问题，提出可从管理流程、心理/社会支持、心理承受力，以及作息和情绪管理等方面综合干预和预防，促进医务人员的身心健康。     

The Lived Experience of COVID-19

This qualitative study examined the essence of living with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We used a phenomenological research design and interviewed 14 individuals ages 18 and older during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data analysis using Colaizzi’s method for analysis revealed 2 overarching themes—physical experiences and psychologic/emotional experiences—and 8 subthemes that identify concerns that affect quality of life. The findings provide insights for nurses and health care providers on the experiences of living with COVID-19.     

中山市护理人员参与新型冠状病毒肺炎疫情防治工作期间心理健康状况调查分析

目的调查中山市护理人员参与新型冠状病毒肺炎疫情防治工作期间的心理健康状况。方法选取新型冠状病毒肺炎流行期间参与疫情防治工作的一线护理人员,采用综合医院焦虑抑郁量表(HAD)进行调查。结果共计342名护理人员接受调查。HAD焦虑部分得分:0~7分246(71.93%)名,8~10分的60(17.54%)名,11~21分的36(10.53%)名;抑郁部分得分:0~7分251(73.39%)例,8~10分的51(14.91%)名,11~21分的40(11.70%)名;不同年龄护士HAD量表抑郁部分评分差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),高年龄段(≥41岁)的护士抑郁得分较高。结论新型冠状病毒肺炎流行期间,多数护士不存在明显的抑郁焦虑现象,应加强对高年龄段护士的心理关注。     

Mental health nurses' experience of resilience during COVID-19: A qualitative inquiry

The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented demands and additional stress for nurses in mental health settings. There is no prior evidence on nurses' experience of building and maintaining resilience in the context of work during COVID-19. The aim of this study was to explore the experience and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the resilience of nurses in mental health settings. Data from semi-structured interviews with 20 nurses from an Australian mental health service were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Four main themes were generated: experiencing significant disruptions; making sense of shared chaos; having professional commitment; and growing through the challenges. Nurses' practice and teamwork were disrupted by COVID-19 related changes to care models and infection prevention policies. They successfully adjusted by having awareness of self and others' emotions, using mental and emotional self-regulatory strategies, engaging in self-care, using ‘bricolage’ to create different ways to provide care, and having mutually supportive relationships. Nurses connected to their sense of purpose and professional commitment to fuel their therapeutic work and sustain care delivery. They experienced personal and professional growth with an increased understanding of their strengths and resilience. In the post-pandemic period, although the challenges presented by the pandemic have lessened, there are ongoing negative impacts on nurses' wellbeing. To maintain and strengthen their wellbeing and practice, the findings indicate the importance of professional development in emotional regulation skills, and strategies to strengthen self-care and build collegial relationships in teams. Resilience education can be implemented to support nurses' resilient practice skills.     

Chronicling moral distress among healthcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal analysis of mental health strain,burnout, and maladaptive coping behaviours

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented many novel situations that have amplified the presence of moral distress in healthcare. With limited resources to protect themselves against the virus and strict safety regulations that alter the way they work, healthcare providers have felt forced to engage in work behaviours that conflicted with their professional and personal sense of right and wrong. Although many providers have experienced moral distress while being physically in the workplace, others suffered while at home. Some healthcare providers worked in facilities that were unable to open during the pandemic due to restrictions, which could contribute to a sense of powerlessness and guilt. The current study assessed whether the ability to see patients each week impacted the relationship between an employee's moral distress and their mental health strain, burnout, and maladaptive coping. A total of 378 healthcare providers responded to weekly surveys over the course of 7 months (April 2020–December 2020). Hierarchical linear modeling techniques were used to examine the study variables over time. Results showed that moral distress predicted an individual's mental health strain and burnout, even after controlling for the prior week. However, moral distress was not a significant predictor of maladaptive coping. Interestingly, there was not a significant difference between the average ratings of moral distress between those who were able, and those who were not able to see patients, meaning that both groups experienced symptoms of moral distress. However, cross-level moderation results indicated that the ability to see patients magnified the relationships between moral distress and mental health strain and burnout over time. Implications of the results and recommendations for how moral distress should be addressed among healthcare providers are discussed.     

新型冠状病毒肺炎定点医院医务人员心理健康与社会支持、应对方式相关性分析

目的:了解新型冠状病毒肺炎定点医院医务人员应对突发公共卫生事件的心理健康、社会支持和应对方式现状,探讨心理健康与社会支持、应对方式的相关性。方法:采用一般情况调查表、突发性公共卫生事件心理问卷、社会支持评定量表和简易应对方式量表对四川省某市新型冠状病毒肺炎定点医院的1326名医务人员进行调查。采用描述性分析、单因素分析、Spearman相关性分析等分析相关资料。结果:共回收有效问卷1267份,回收率95.55%。定点医院医务人员突发公共卫生事件心理评估总分为0.407(0.481)分、社会支持总分为41.00(13.00)分、应对方式总分为26.00(14.00)分,医生、护士、医技人员组间比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),心理评估总分与社会支持量表总分、客观支持、主观支持、社会支持利用度均负相关(P<0.05),与应对方式总分、消极应对均正相关(P<0.05)。结论:定点医院医务人员心理健康与社会支持、应对方式密切相关,在应对突发公共卫生事件时,医务人员容易出现恐惧、神经衰弱、抑郁等心理问题,需引起重视。社会支持对定点医院医务人员心理应激起保护作用,但部分医务人员应对方式消极,需要有效干预。     

疫情期间一线非现役文职护理人员心理弹性的影响因素研究

目的 了解新型冠状病毒疫情期间一线非现役文职护理人员心理弹性状况并分析影响因素,为非现役文职护理人员执行卫勤保障任务前适应性训练及应对能力提供参考.方法 采用一般资料问卷和心理弹性量表对102名疫情期间一线非现役文职护理人员进行问卷调查.结果 疫情期间一线非现役文职护理人员心理弹性量表总分为(70.63±14.24)分...     

The impact of the first COVID-19 surge on the mental well-being of ICU nurses: A nationwide survey study

ObjectivesTo determine the impact of the first COVID-19 surge (March through June 2020) on mental well-being and associated risk factors among intensive care unit nurses.Research methodologyIn September 2020, a nationwide cross-sectional survey study among Dutch intensive care nurses was carried out to measure prevalence rates of symptoms of anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and need for recovery (NFR), objectified by the HADS-A, HADS-D, IES-6 and NFR questionnaires, respectively. Associated risk factors were determined using multivariate logistic regression analyses.ResultsSymptoms of anxiety, depression, and post traumatic stress disorder were reported by 27.0%, 18.6% and 22.2% of the 726 respondents, respectively. The NFR was positive, meaning not being recovered from work, in 41.7%. Working in an academic hospital, being afraid of infecting relatives and experiencing insufficient numbers of colleagues were associated with more mental symptoms, while having been on holiday was associated with reduced depression symptoms and need for recovery.ConclusionThe first COVID-19 surge had a high impact on the mental well-being of intensive care nurses, increasing the risk for drop out and jeopardising the continuity of care. Effort should be made to optimize working conditions and decrease workload to guarantee care in the next months of the COVID-19 pandemic.     

Psychological disorders among Spanish Nursing students three months after COVID-19 lockdown: A cross-sectional study

The COVID-19 pandemic had a notable impact on the psychological well-being of a large part of the population, putting them at risk of developing depressive symptoms, different levels of anxiety disorders, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). One group considered to be at high risk are Nursing students; they were affected as learning strategies changed and clinical practices were cancelled. This study attempts to assess the psychological impact COVID-19 pandemic had on Nursing students and to explore the sociodemographic differences that can be risk factors for mental health disturbance. The psychological impact was evaluated using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The study took place 4 months after the state of alarm was declared over in Spain. From a total sample of 304 Nursing students, 26.7%, 39.8%, and 15.5% showed PTSD, anxiety, and depression symptoms, respectively. Severe levels of psychological impact have been associated with being a female, a smoker, and feeling fear and stress. Having a relative test positive has been linked to lower anxiety levels while being afraid or stressed to higher anxiety levels. Being a female, co-habit with friends and feeling stress have been associated with higher depression levels.     

Telemedicine Adoption during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Gaps and Inequalities

Background  The telemedicine industry has been experiencing fast growth in recent years. The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) further accelerated the deployment and utilization of telemedicine services. An analysis of the socioeconomic characteristics of telemedicine users to understand potential socioeconomic gaps and disparities is critical for improving the adoption of telemedicine services among patients. Objectives  This study aims to measure the correlation of socioeconomic determinants with the use of telemedicine services in Milwaukee metropolitan area. Methods  Electronic health record review of patients using telemedicine services compared with those not using telemedicine services within an academic-community health system: patient demographics (e.g., age, gender, race, and ethnicity), insurance status, and socioeconomic determinants obtained through block-level census data in Milwaukee area. The telemedicine users were compared with all other patients using regression analysis. The telemedicine adoption rates were calculated across regional ZIP codes to analyze the geographic patterns of telemedicine adoption. Results  A total of 104,139 patients used telemedicine services during the study period. Patients who used video visits were younger (median age 48.12), more likely to be White (odds ratio [OR] 1.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31–1.37), and have private insurance (OR 1.43; CI, 1.41–1.46); patients who used telephone visits were older (median age 57.58), more likely to be Black (OR 1.31; CI 1.28–1.35), and have public insurance (OR 1.30; CI 1.27–1.32). In general, Latino and Asian populations were less likely to use telemedicine; women used more telemedicine services in general than men. In the multiple regression analysis of social determinant factors across 126 ZIP codes, college education (coefficient 1.41, p  = 0.01) had a strong correlation to video telemedicine adoption rate. Conclusion  Adoption of telemedicine services was significantly impacted by the social determinant factors of health, such as income, education level, race, and insurance type. The study reveals the potential inequities and disparities in telemedicine adoption.     

A systematic review: Students with mental health problems—A growing problem

Storrie K, Ahern K, Tuckett A. International Journal of Nursing Practice 2010; 16 : 1–6
A systematic review: Students with mental health problems—A growing problem
The number of university students with a serious mental illness has risen significantly over the past few years. A systematic review was conducted that addressed emotional and or mental health problems of university students worldwide. In total, 572 articles were identified, of which 11 met inclusion criteria. Issues identified included types of problems experienced by students, how staff dealt with these students, barriers to seeking help, tools that facilitated help-seeking and epidemiological trends in the university student population. Recommendations include (i) providing better links between the university and external mental health providers, and (ii) increasing students' awareness of existing support services within and external to the university. As it is unrealistic to expect all academic staff to have the expertise required to deal with students with emotional problems, it is also recommended that (iii) policies and personnel with expertise in mental health are available to provide guidance for staff.     

新冠肺炎疫情前后个体的心理健康状况及心理应激的调查

目的:了解新冠肺炎疫情前后个体的一般心理健康状况变化及产生的心理应激.方法:采用一般健康问卷(GHQ-12)中文版、应激(压力)反应问卷(SRQ),选取520例居民进行疫情前及疫情期间心理健康状况及应激反应调查,选择χ2检验、非参数Z检验及Spearman相关分析进行数据分析.结果:疫情发生后疑似心理健康障碍检出率增加...     

Locked external doors on inpatient mental health units: A scoping review

The principles of least restrictive care and recovery-focused practice are promoted as contemporary practice in the care of individuals with mental ill health, underpinning legislation concerning mental health and illness in many jurisdictions worldwide. Inpatient mental health units with locked doors are incompatible with this style of care and throwback to a time where care for mental illness was primarily custodial. The aim of this scoping review is to determine whether evidence exists for locking mental health unit doors, whether this practice is compatible with recovery-focused care and to determine whether door locking has changed since a review conducted by Van Der Merwe et al. (Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 16, 2009, 293) found that door locking was not the preferred practice in the management of acute mental health units. We used Arksey and O'Malley's (International Journal of Social Research Methodology: Theory and Practice, 8, 2005, 19) framework for scoping reviews, with our initial search locating 1377 studies, with screening narrowing final papers for inclusion to 20. Methodologies for papers included 12 using quantitative methodology, 5 qualitative and 3 that used mixed methods designs. Poor evidence was found for door locking to mitigate risks such as absconding, aggression or illicit substance importation. Furthermore, locked doors had a detrimental impact on the therapeutic relationship, nurse job satisfaction and intention to leave the profession. This scoping review indicates that research is urgently needed to address a mental healthcare culture where door locking is an entrenched practice. Studies of alternative approaches to risk management are required to ensure inpatient mental health units are truly least-restrictive, therapeutic environments.