Primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) are a group of diseases that develop as a result of primary or congenital malfunction of the immune system and progress with chronic and/or recurrent bacterial, fungal, protozoal and/or viral infections. In this study, we aimed to examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on depression, anxiety levels and psychological resilience in patients with PID and to compare them with those in controls.

Seventy patients, aged 18-65 years, who were being followed up with a diagnosis of PID and 69 people as healthy control group, participated in our study. The participants were evaluated cross-sectionally once; sociodemographic data form, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA), and COVID-19 Evaluation form were administered to the participants.

HAM-A and HAM-D scores were significantly higher in PID patients compared to controls (HAM-D: 5.5 vs. 3.0, p < 0.001; HAM-A: 6.0 vs. 4.0, p = 0.008). RSA was significantly lower in the patient group (RSA total: 122.5 vs. 136.0, p < 0.001), and pandemic-related risk perception was higher (PRPS: 33.9 vs. 28.3, p < 0.001). Sleep, appetite, and attention-related disturbances were also more common in the patient group. Multivariate regression analyses revealed that PID diagnosis was an independent predictor of increased depression severity (HAM-D), lower psychological resilience (RSA), and greater pandemic-related risk perception. Female sex was independently associated with higher anxiety severity (HAM-A). A personal psychiatric history and greater number of comorbidities were also significant predictors of psychological vulnerability, particularly in relation to depression and anxiety.

Given the observed associations between PID and increased levels of depression, anxiety, and reduced psychological resilience during the pandemic, clinicians may consider heightened vigilance for psychological symptoms in this population during times of public health crisis.

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed challenges to healthcare systems worldwide. For healthcare workers (HCW), an increased prevalence of mental distress and the impact of various resources have been identified. Psychotherapists specialise in helping people cope with stressful life events. At the same time, they are susceptible to mental distress, resulting from their work. Data on symptoms of depression and the role of resources during the COVID-19 pandemic are scarce for psychotherapists. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the course of self-reported depression of psychotherapists throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the impact of resources on depression was evaluated.

We investigated symptoms of depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) at four time points (T1-T4) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. The PHQ-2 scores and resources such as sense of coherence (SOC), general optimism and social support (ESSI-D) of the psychotherapists (N = 1733) were compared with those of a comparison sample of HCW (N = 8470). The impact of resources on PHQ-2 scores was examined using cross-sectional linear modelling and longitudinal linear mixed modelling with interactions and lagged predictors.

At T1-T4, psychotherapists showed lower mean PHQ-2 scores than the comparison sample (p < 0.001). Among psychotherapists, the PHQ-2 scores increased (T1-T2, and T1-T4, p < 0.050). Cross-sectionally, higher SOC was associated with lower PHQ-2 scores (p < 0.001), with the protective influence weakening over time (p = 0.033). Longitudinal analyses confirmed a protective effect of sense of coherence (stable over time) and general optimism (declining over time) on PHQ-2 scores. An exploratory lagged-predictor analysis suggested that higher social support was associated with lower PHQ-2 scores, whereas higher general optimism was linked to increasing PHQ-2 scores.

This study revealed lower levels of depression among psychotherapists compared with the comparison sample throughout the pandemic. Concurrently, the resource levels were mostly comparable and stable, with a protective impact of the sense of coherence (stable) and optimism (decreasing) and an association of high social support with low depression throughout the pandemic. Strengthening the sense of coherence and social support should be the focus of professional and policy attention to improve the ability of psychotherapists to cope with future crises.

This study assessed compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, and burnout in health care providers from public health care institutions in Ecuador during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2022, involving 111 different public health care institutions in 23 provinces in Ecuador, with 2873 participants recruited via convenience sampling. The survey instrument was the revised Stamm's Professional Quality of Life Scale Version-5 tool, designed to measure self-reported compassion fatigue, work satisfaction, and burnout among providers. Kruskall-Wallis test assessed subscale score differences by gender, professional role, region, and health care facility level. Dunn's test was then applied to determine whether groups differed from each other.

On average, health care providers from all facilities had a high rate of compassion satisfaction (84.9%). However, the majority presented moderate levels of burnout (57.1%), and moderate levels of secondary traumatic stress (59.6%). Higher burnout levels were observed in the Amazon regions compared to Coastal regions.

Despite high compassion satisfaction, most surveyed health care providers from Ecuador's public health institutions experienced moderate burnout and secondary traumatic stress, with higher burnout levels in the Amazon region. Ecuador, similarly to other LMICs, requires mental health policy and legislation targeted to the mental health workforce and these needs. More research is needed on burnout factors among health care providers in resource-challenged low- and middle-income countries.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a global adverse event that affected many individuals' well-being. Resilience is an essential component that allows one to cope during stressful events such as the pandemic. Not many studies have longitudinally explored changes in resilience across time during the pandemic in the Southeast Asia region. The current article investigates resilience and the sociodemographic and psychological factors associated with resilience across two waves of survey of a Singapore adult population.

The study was conducted across two timepoints from May 2020 to June 2021 (T1) and October 2021 to September 2022 (T2). 1129 participants partook during T1 (response rate = 54.8%) and 858 participants partook during T2 (response rate = 76.0%). The questionnaire included sociodemographic information and measures such as the Brief Resilience Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7, the stress component of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, and four COVID-19-related stressors. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were utilized to investigate the relationships adjusting for timepoints.

Most participants had normal levels of resilience (M = 3.61, SD = 0.62), and resilience scores did not differ much over time (p = 0.852). Males, younger adults, university-educated, employed individuals, and individuals living in private housing had higher levels of resilience. Higher levels of anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, stress, and one specific COVID-19-related stressor (i.e., employment concerns) were associated with lower levels of resilience. Individuals who reported having moderate to severe depression and anxiety symptoms were more likely to have low resilience.

The findings suggest that resilience levels remained within the normal range and unchanged over time, reflective of the population's ability to cope with the pandemic. However, there is still a need for more targeted interventions for individuals who are more vulnerable to lower resilience. Continued research is also needed to understand the long-term psychological effects of the pandemic.

Although there is a growing focus on the mental well-being of licensed clinicians, there remains a scarcity of comprehensive evidence concerning the mental well-being of personal support workers (broadly defined as direct care workers), a vital segment of the healthcare workforce, particularly for aging populations. This review aims to identify, summarize, and synthesize the literature on work-related stressors associated with mental health problems among personal support workers, while also examining the potential influence of gender or sex differences in this relationship.

This systematic review searched the EMBASE, PsycINFO, PubMed/Medline, and Web of Science databases for relevant studies. Studies published between 1 January 2003 and 30 June 2024 were included in the review. A quality assessment of each study was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist for Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies and the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Cohort Studies. Meta-analysis was not performed due to the heterogeneity of the studies' characteristics.

Fourteen (14) articles met the inclusion criteria. They assessed burnout, depression, and/or anxiety among personal support workers who were exposed to various work-related stressors including high workload, aggressive client behavior, insufficient resources (e.g., physical and staffing), role ambiguity, conflict, personal growth, job satisfaction, discrimination, lack of co-workers or supervisors support, emotional suppression, extended working hours, complicated grief, and organizational support or respect. Aggressive client behavior, role ambiguity, resource inadequacy, and high workload emerged as the most frequently reported stressors. Burnout was the most frequently observed outcome. These relationships persisted in many multivariable analyses, even after adjusting for potential confounders. Also, females who experienced work-related stressors were more likely than males to report burnout, depression, or anxiety.

The considerable heterogeneity of various work-related stressors and measurements among selected studies prevented a meta-analysis.

Collectively, this review's results suggest a significant association between major work-related stressors and mental disorders among personal support workers, while also emphasizing notable gender/sex differences in this relationship. These findings not only guide future research into the mental well-being of personal support workers but also underscore the importance for healthcare institutions of implementing organizational interventions to mitigate stressors and cultivate a more supportive work environment.

Although COVID-19 is no longer a public health emergency, its mental health effects on healthcare workers persist.

This study investigated the relationship between working conditions, sleep, and stress among Colombian hospital healthcare personnel during the pandemic.

In this cross-sectional study, 79 healthcare workers completed questionnaires on working conditions, stress, and sleep. Sleep duration was measured with Fitbit Armbands. Associations were analyzed using Generalized Linear Models with Gamma and ordinal distributions.

Approximately 79% of participants reported high to very high stress levels (61% "very high," 18% "high"). Sleep complications were minimal, averaging 6.2 hours. Nurses showed significantly higher stress and longer sleep duration than administrative workers. Overtime correlated with less sleep, while workers who had COVID-19 reported lower stress.

The study highlights connections between stress, sleep, and working conditions, suggesting targeted health promotion programs could enhance work-life balance.

Dysfunctional grief was not addressed adequately during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to develop a dysfunctional pandemic grief model specific to healthcare workers who experienced patient deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted an anonymous online survey among 568 nursing professionals who had experienced a patient's death while working at three tertiary-level hospitals. We further assessed psychological status using the Pandemic Grief Scale (PGS) for Healthcare Workers, Pandemic Grief Risk Factors (PGEF), Utrecht Grief Rumination Scale (UGRS), Grief Support HealthCare Scale (GSHCS), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Stress and Anxiety in Viral Epidemic-9 (SAVE-9). PGS correlated with PGRF, UGRS, GSHCS, PHQ-9, and SAVE-9 (all p < 0.01). Linear regression analysis revealed that PGRF (𝛽=0.44, p < 0.001), UGRS (𝛽=0.24, p < 0.001), GSHCS (𝛽=-0.09, p = 0.004), and PHQ-9 (𝛽=0.23, p < 0.001) expected pandemic dysfunctional grief. Mediation analysis showed that PGRF directly influenced PGS; UGRS and GSHCS positively and negatively mediated the relationship between PGRF and PGS, respectively. The dysfunctional pandemic grief model shows that it is important to address grief risk factors, manage rumination, and provide effective psychological support to healthcare workers.

During the pandemic, China's control policies shifted from nationwide restrictions to precise control and monitoring, which ended with complete relaxation, presenting unique challenges for nurses. Existing qualitative studies mostly focused on the experiences of frontline nurses in the early stages of the pandemic, but they overlooked the dynamic nature of the role changes and adaptation processes as the pandemic evolved. In-depth research into nurses' experiences across different control phases is crucial for guiding future training to improve preparedness and policy enhancements.

To explore the experiences and challenges faced by frontline nurses in China during different phases of pandemic control policies. It also evaluates their training, reflects on the inadequacies of the training, and discusses how these experiences can inform future training programs while offering recommendations to enhance future emergency preparedness.

This study employed a qualitative descriptive design to explore the experiences and insights of nurses during the pandemic, as well as their attitudes toward training. Twenty-four frontline nurses from various hospitals in China were recruited using snowball sampling for in-depth interviews, which spanned two months. Data analysis was conducted using Giorgi's phenomenological approach, involving coding and theme extraction.

From a content analysis perspective, five main themes were extracted from different stages of control policies during the pandemic: (1) Nurses' feelings and responses: including early psychological stress and physical discomfort during the pandemic, adaptation and conflicts in isolation management during the rebound period, and later medical resource shortages. (2) Work achievements: covering a sense of mission, personal growth, and recognition. (3) Difficulties and challenges encountered: including initial workflow issues, resource shortages, critical care management gaps, communication barriers during the rebound period, and a decline in staff morale. (4) Training issues: rushed early training, limited content, lack of process and details during the rebound period, inconsistent standards, and lack of enthusiasm for participation. (5) Training improvement recommendations: suggesting an emphasis on training content, reasonable scheduling of training time, various forms of training, multiple assessment methods, and establishment of human resource reserves.

These findings reveal the challenges faced by frontline nurses during different phases of the pandemic, emphasizing the necessity of comprehensive and systematic nurse training programs. Recommendations include regularly updating training content, enhancing communication and psychological intervention training, diversifying training formats, establishing a mechanism for continuous learning, and exploring personalized training plans to improve nurses' preparedness in future public health crises.

Considering the end of global emergency status of Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) and the persistent risk of reinfection for healthcare workers (HCWs), it is important to evaluate the attitude of the HCWs toward reinfecting with COVID-19. To gather information about participants' concerns regarding reinfection with COVID-19, a comprehensive online questionnaire was administered to all individuals involved in the study. DASS-21 was used to assess their mental health. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the factors associated with fear of reinfection. A total of 982 questionnaires were collected for this study, with only 503 questionnaires included in the final analysis. Of the 503 respondents, 201 (39.96%) feared reinfection with COVID-19. Three factors emerged as significantly associated with the fear of reinfection: (a) having been infected with COVID-19 before, (b) feeling that COVID-19 had a lasting effect on one's life, and (c) experiencing anxiety. The most common factors reported by those who feared reinfection were: concern about the negative effects of reinfection on their physical health, worry about the possible long-term complications of reinfection, and belief that reinfection would not have a big impact. And the mental state of HCWs has improved and become more optimistic. Although the morale of HCWs has improved, it remains evident that a significant portion of them still have concerns about reinfection and continue to experience anxiety. Moving forward, it is crucial to provide timely psychological care and support to HCWs, alongside reinforcing efforts in epidemic management.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruption to healthcare services worldwide, and although the pandemic was declared over, nurses continue to experience burnout and mental health implications because of events experienced since 2020. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of trauma among nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic, using a qualitative descriptive study design. This paper used secondary analysis of qualitative, semi-structured interviews conducted with 55 Australian nurses exploring their alcohol consumption, due to the frequent narratives of trauma and traumatic events arising during this process. Data were analysed using structural coding and reported in accordance with the Consolidated Checklist for Reporting Qualitative Data (CORE-Q guidelines). Four themes emerged during data analysis: managing the traumatic stress of the clinical environment in COVID ('it doesn't feel like it's gone away'), post-pandemic trauma ('it was like war, wasn't it?'), bonding over shared trauma ('I was not expecting the camaraderie that developed') and managing trauma after the event ('If something bad happens whilst you're on shift, you just have to pretend like it hasn't happened'). Participants in this study described lasting mental health effects from working clinically during the COVID-19 pandemic that they described as trauma. These effects have lasted since governments worldwide have announced an end to the pandemic, and although participants described bonding over these shared experiences, they continue to have a detrimental impact on workforce well-being and sustainability.

The study characterized the quality of the diet of healthcare workers at a teaching hospital in Pelotas-RS, Brazil, after the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, between October and December 2020. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,159 hospital workers, assessing their food frequency in the last week and examining the association between sociodemographic, behavioral, and occupational factors and the Diet Quality Index using multinomial logistic regression. Female respondents (OR = 1.58), those aged 50 or older (OR = 3.70), with more years of schooling (OR = 1.32), and physically active individuals (OR = 5.37) had better diet quality. Conversely, those with high alcohol consumption (OR = 0.39), support workers (security, cleaning, and maintenance) (OR = 0.36), and those who ate their meals on the street (restaurants, snack bars) (OR = 0.40) had poorer diet quality. During the pandemic, 48.7% reported weight gain, 25% reported a deterioration in diet quality, and 43.1% reported an increase in the quantity of food consumed. The prevalence of overweight was 63.4%. Workers consumed both healthy and unhealthy foods, and the pandemic negatively impacted diet quality.

The aim of the present work was to determine the correlation between the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) score and pupillary diameter and whether this correlation exists to develop a predictive model of anxiety with the pupillary diameter of students exposed to high-fidelity clinical simulation. This was a randomized, blinded, simulation-based clinical trial. The study was conducted at the Advanced Clinical Simulation Center, Faculty of Medicine, Valladolid University (Spain), from February 1 to April 15, 2023, and involved volunteer sixth-year undergraduate medical students. The STAI score, vital signs (oxygen saturation, perfusion index, blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature), and pupillary response were assessed. The primary outcomes were the delta (pre/postsimulation) of the state STAI and the delta of the pupillary diameter. Sixty-one sixth-year students fulfilled the inclusion criteria. There was no difference regarding the clinical scenario. There was a statistically significant correlation between the state STAI score and pupillary diameter. The predictive model had an AUC of 0.876, with the delta diameter of the pupillary being the only statistically significant variable for anxiety prediction. Our results showed that both the pupillary response and the STAI score allowed the identification of students with disabling anxiety. These results could pave the way for appropriate protocol development that allows for personalized tutoring of students with elevated anxiety levels.

The infection caused by the COVID-19 virus, with its high capacity for spread and transmission, reached the level of an international pandemic, affecting many people and resulting in a large number of deaths.

To analyse the experiences of nursing professionals caring for patients with COVID-19 during the early stages of the pandemic and the skills or coping strategies that they employed.

A qualitative study was carried out with an interpretative phenological design. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 20 nursing professionals working in emergency and critical care units, which were adapted to care for patients with symptoms of the disease, in public hospitals in Madrid, Spain. The data were analysed following, the Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) of Smith et al. FINDINGS: Five themes were identified: "emotional brain training (EBT) to cope with great emotional stress", "material and sequential difficulties"; "an experience similar to a war that can cause burnout"; "Second Victim Syndrome (SVS), the emotional impact of witnessing trauma"; and "Surviving COVID-19 with overloads of energy and positivity".

Nursing professionals who cared for patients with Covid-19 during the first wave of the pandemic lived an experience in which they experienced a brain training of feelings, including sadness, impotence, fear, anger, pain and much worry. They also experienced a great feeling of suffering and guilt as in Second Victim Syndrome, in a situation similar to a war, due to the number of deaths caused by the virus, with all this resulting in a great overload of work. It is essential that these situations do not affect the mental health of these professionals in the dimensions that they did, and it is necessary to regain enthusiasm and motivation to provide comprehensive care for patients with COVID-19. Nursing professionals are not alone and need to be taken care of to respond to the chaos that can cause a pandemic, without ignoring the risks that it entails. They require specific training, which is necessary to provide them with proper security, and it is necessary to develop health and welfare policies, which will not be possible without first understanding their experiences.

The COVID-19 Delta variant caused an outbreak in Guangdong in mid-May 2021. The risk information and risk perception of COVID-19 have been considered factors associated with mental health statuses, especially posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in frontline healthcare workers.

The aim of this study is to investigate the interactive relationship in risk information and risk perception of COVID-19 and PTSD in healthcare personnel from the emergency department.

We conducted a survey one month after the outbreak. A cross-sectional survey design is adopted, and 3078 participants are enrolled. The PTSD checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), risk information questionnaire, and risk perception questionnaire are utilized to collect data.

Bivariate correlation analysis and structural equation modelling are performed to analyze the mediating role of risk perception in the relationship between risk information and PTSD.

The estimated prevalence of PTSD among frontline healthcare workers is 28.2%. The risk information for COVID-19, risk perception, and PTSD symptoms are mutually correlated. The specific paths from risk perception to PTSD show significant effects, in which two had negative effects and one had a positive effect. The risk perception feature in 2020 differed from that in 2019, which is largely due to the risk perception of the virus.

The estimated prevalence of PTSD among frontline healthcare workers remains high. Risk information for COVID-19 has dual effects on PTSD through the mediation of risk perceptions. Unfamiliarity with the SAR-COVID-2 Delta variant increased the risk perception of COVID-19. Effective risk communication regarding COVID-19 can have a positive effect on the mental health of frontline healthcare workers.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the mental health of healthcare workers globally. Given the critical role these professionals play, understanding the prevalence and predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among healthcare workers is crucial for developing targeted interventions. Comprehensive data on the predictors of PTSD symptoms within this population remain limited. This cross-sectional study surveyed 852 healthcare workers across 4 Polish regions between 2021 and 2022. Data were collected using the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C), which was culturally adapted and validated for Polish respondents. To identify key predictors of PTSD symptoms, researchers employed various statistical methods: Descriptive Statistics summarized key variables (e.g. age, job tenure) to provide an overview of data distribution and sample characteristics. Pearson Correlations examined linear relationships among variables like age, work experience, and PTSD severity, ensuring no multicollinearity through variance inflation factor checks. t-Tests and Mann-Whitney U tests compared PTSD symptom severity across demographic and professional subgroups, accounting for normality using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. And Hierarchical Regression Analysis identified significant predictors, incorporating demographic factors first and work-related variables (e.g. fear for personal health) in a second step. A total of 88.1% of participants were female, and 82.6% were nurses. The overall prevalence of PTSD symptoms was high, with a mean total PTSD score of 37.87. Gender differences were significant, with women reporting higher scores across the PTSD subscales, including avoidance and hyperarousal. Nurses had significantly higher intrusion symptoms compared to other professionals. Fear for personal health was the strongest predictor of PTSD symptoms (β = 0.15, P < .001), explaining 11% of the variance in the final regression model (R2 = 0.11, P < .001). The findings underscore the urgent need for targeted mental health interventions, particularly for women and nurses, who are disproportionately affected by PTSD during the pandemic. Predictive models should guide the development of support programs to mitigate the long-term psychological impact of COVID-19 and ensure better preparedness for future pandemics. The significant influence of fear for personal health on PTSD outcomes highlights the importance of protective measures and psychological support for frontline healthcare workers.

This study explored the complex relationship between anxiety, depression, compassion fatigue, and satisfaction among long-term care (LTC) workers following the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the study assessed psychometric properties of the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) scale, to ensure a reliable and valid instrument for identifying compassion fatigue and satisfaction in the Serbian healthcare system.

A cross-sectional study was conducted across LTC facilities in the Republic of Serbia. A ProQOL was administered to physicians, nurses, and aids, to measure compassion fatigue (including burnout and secondary traumatic stress) and compassion satisfaction. The following standardized instruments were also distributed: Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS), Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21) and 12-Item Short-Form Health 36 Survey (SF-12).

A total of 300 LTC workers participated, mostly women (86.3%), with an average age of 45.4 ± 10.5 years and a median work experience of 15 years (range: 1 to 42 years). The study reported a significant presence of anxiety and depression symptoms (53.3% and 43.3%, respectively), with LTC workers experiencing moderate levels of compassion fatigue, as indicated by burnout (58.3%) and stress (57.3%) subscales, and moderate or high levels of compassion satisfaction (49.0% and 50.0%, respectively). The study demonstrated that anxiety impacts depression both directly and indirectly (p<0.05). Specifically, burnout and compassion satisfaction mediated the positive effect of anxiety on depression, indicating that increased anxiety led to higher burnout and lower compassion satisfaction, which resulted in greater depression (p<0.05). The three-factor structure of the ProQOL was validated (IFI, TLI, and CFI were above the cut-off of ≥0.95, and the RMSEA was below the suggested value of ≤ 0.06). The Cronbach α of the three subscales was above 0.8, indicating good scale reliability.

This study contributes to the broader literature on LTC workers wellbeing by examining the complex interplay between professional quality of life, anxiety, and depression. The findings should guide decision-makers in developing targeted interventions and policies that promote the psychological resilience and well-being of LTC workers, thereby enhancing both individual and organizational outcomes in the healthcare sector.

A prospective cohort of 4964 HCWs from four Canadian provinces was established early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were invited to comment about workplace mental health supports at three time points. We performed a thematic content analysis of responses from 1738 participants using the Social Support Behaviour Code framework to categorize barriers to support as informational, tangible, emotional, social, or expressing esteem. Themes were synthesized into suggestions for healthcare organizations to prepare for future crises. Formal and informal peer support, workplace mental health supports, and one-on-one counseling were most often mentioned as valued. Analysis suggested that workplace social networks as a source of support and mental health supports would have been appreciated. HCWs perceived that a lack of tangible workplace supports, such as staffing, compensation, and time off, were barriers to well-being. Medical workplaces could consider the availability of tangible supports in addition to developing formal mental health supports for healthcare workers.

To explore the influence of nurses' adversity quotient on their work stress and to further explore whether professional identity can mediate in this process.

From July to September 2023, an online questionnaire survey was conducted among nurses in six public tertiary hospitals in Suzhou and Wuxi, China, including demographic information, Adversity Response Profile (ARP), The Professional Identity Scale for Nurses (PIS) and Stress Overload Scale (SOS). Analyzed the collected data using correlation, multiple linear regression, and structural equation modeling.

1,578 nurses completed the questionnaires, resulting in 1,468 valid questionnaires. The average score of Stress Overload Scale of the surveyed nurses was 65.26 ± 17.93 points (Total score of Stress Overload Scale: 110). The correlation analysis showed a significant positive relationship between nurses' adversity quotient and their professional identity (r = 0.59, P < 0.01); professional identity and work stress were negatively correlated (r=-0.44, P < 0.01); and adversity quotient was also negatively correlated with work stress (r=-0.31, P < 0.01). The structural equation model indicated that professional identity might mediate between stress and adversity quotient.

Clinical nurses suffer from heavy work stress, and nurses' adversity quotient could change their work stress level by affecting their professional identity. Strategies and measures to improve professional identity is expected to buffer the impact of adversity quotient on nurses' work stress.

The occurrence of public health emergency in China often makes nurses more susceptible to anxiety. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of anxiety among Chinese nurses during the public health emergency and explore the association between family function and anxiety and its underlying mechanisms. Family care index questionnaire, Connor-Davidson Resilience scale, physical activity rating scale and 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale were employed to measure family function, resilience, physical activity and anxiety among 779 Chinese nurses during public health emergency. The prevalence of anxiety among nurses during public health emergency was 29.9%. Resilience partially mediated the association of anxiety with family function. Physical activity moderated the direct and indirect effects of family function on anxiety. The direct effect became insignificant when the standard scores of physical activity were 0.629 and over. In contrast, the indirect effect of family function on anxiety through resilience was stronger when the levels of physical activity increased. The present study suggested for nurses with low levels of physical activity, intervention enhancing family function should be designed to prevent anxiety. For those with higher levels of physical activity, programs aimed at strengthening family function and supporting resilience should be developed to manage anxiety.

Focusing on the relationship between education level and the occurrence of depressive symptoms, the purpose of this study was to investigate the factors influencing urban-rural differences in depressive symptoms among employed Chinese workers and to measure the contribution of relevant influencing factors.

This study utilized the nationally representative resampled data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) in 2018. A binary logistic regression model was established to explore the major factors influencing depressive symptoms among employed individuals. The Fairlie decomposition method was employed to investigate the impact of education level and other influencing factors on the urban-rural differences in the occurrence of depressive symptoms.

The proportion of depressive symptoms among employed persons in China was 14.51%. The results showed that the proportion of depressive symptoms was higher among rural workers (17.09%) than urban workers (11.75%). The Fairlie model was developed with 65.70% explanatory power, and the differences in depressive symptoms between urban and rural employed persons were mainly related to literacy (39.10%), self-rated health (12.39%), life satisfaction (8.36%), job satisfaction (7.60%), marital status (-4.96%), gender (-3.61%), chronic disease status (2.99%) and BMI (1.41%) were related.

This study found that the prevalence of depressive symptoms was higher among rural employed persons than among urban employed persons, which was mainly related to the differences between urban and rural residents in factors such as education level, health status and marital status. The Chinese government should pay more attention to the mental health of the working population and take measures to reduce the differences in depressive symptoms between urban and rural areas in China.

Effective interventions during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic require an understanding of patients' knowledge and perceptions that influence their behaviour. Our study assessed knowledge of COVID-19 among kidney transplant recipients and donors, hitherto unevaluated.

We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 325 kidney transplant recipients and 172 donors between 1 May 2020 and 30 June 2020. The survey questionnaire assessed knowledge levels of COVID-19, sociodemographic data, health status, psychosocial impact of COVID-19 and precautionary behaviours during the pandemic.

The mean COVID-19 knowledge score of the study population was 7.5 (standard deviation: 2.2) out of 10. The mean score was significantly higher among kidney recipients compared to kidney donors (7.9 [1.9] vs. 6.7 [2.6]; P <0.001). Younger age (21-49 vs. ≥50 years) and higher education (diploma and higher vs. secondary and lower) were associated with significantly higher knowledge scores in donors, but not among recipients ( P -interactions ≤0.01). In both kidney recipients and donors, financial concerns and/or social isolation were associated with lower knowledge levels.

Concerted efforts are needed to improve COVID-19 knowledge in kidney transplant recipients and donors, particularly older donors, donors with lower education and patients with financial concerns or feelings of social isolation. Intensive patient education may mitigate the impact of education levels on COVID-19 knowledge levels.

Sickness presenteeism has potential negative impacts on job burnout and health-related productivity loss among clinical nurses, whereas social support has been identified as a potential mitigating factor for such impacts. However, there is limited evidence regarding the relationships and mechanisms between sickness presenteeism, job burnout, social support, and health-related productivity loss.

To explore the role of job burnout and social support in the association between sickness presenteeism and health-related productivity loss among female nurses.

A cross-sectional study.

105 hospitals conveniently selected from 36 cities in 15 provinces in China.

50,653 registered female nurses.

This study utilizes the cross-sectional data from the baseline survey of the Chinese nurses' health cohort study (Towards A Revolution in GETting nurses' health ticked, TARGET), conducted from December 2020 to February 2024. Variables were measured using the Sickness Presenteeism Questionnaire, Stanford Presenteeism Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory, and Perceived Social Support Scale. Data analyses were performed using independent sample t-tests, Pearson correlation analysis, one-way analysis of variance, multivariate linear regression analysis, and the Process 4.0 macro plug-in method.

A total of 42,843 valid questionnaires were collected with an 85% response rate. The incidence of sickness presenteeism among female nurses was 62 %. Sickness presenteeism was positively correlated with job burnout and health-related productivity loss, and job burnout was also positively correlated with health-related productivity loss. Conversely, social support was negatively associated with sickness presenteeism, job burnout and health-related productivity loss. The findings showed that the association between sickness presenteeism and health-related productivity loss was partially mediated by job burnout. Moreover, the direct and indirect effects within the mediation model were moderated by social support. When levels of social support were high, the impact of sickness presenteeism on job burnout and health-related productivity loss was weaker, as was the impact of job burnout on health-related productivity loss.

Hospital administrators and nurses themselves can mitigate the adverse effects of sickness presenteeism on health-related productivity loss by alleviating job burnout and increasing levels of social support. By addressing these significant challenges, they can more effectively manage the consequences of sickness presenteeism and job burnout among nurses.

The protocol of TARGET was registered in the China Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100043202).

The study analyses TARGET data to explore the mechanisms between sickness presenteeism and health-related productivity loss.

This cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the relationship between the COVID-19 burnout levels of nurses and their holistic nursing competence. The data were collected from 468 nurses working in a hospital between 1 August 2021-9 September 2021 by using a Sociodemographic Information Form, the COVID-19 Burnout Scale(BCV-19S), the Holistic Nursing Competence Scale(HNCS). The mean scores on the total BCV-19S and HNCS were 36.36(9.51) and 194.27(35.71),respectively. It was found that the mean score on the total BCV-19S was significantly higher in nurses worked ≥ 51 hours a week on average, worked in the COVID-19 pandemic unit (p < 0.05). The mean score of nurses who worked ≤ 40 hours a week on average on the total HNCS was significantly higher (p < 0.05). In this study, it was determined that nurses' COVID-19 burnout levels and holistic nursing competence were high. Nurses' COVID-19 burnout levels positively affected their holistic nursing competence.

This study aims to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 infection among healthcare workers, including the severity, duration of infection, post-infection symptoms and related influencing factors.

A self-administered questionnaire was utilized to assess the post-infection status of primary healthcare workers in Jiangsu Province. The questionnaire collected information on demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, post-infection clinical manifestations, work environment and recovery time of the respondents. Customized outcome events were selected as dependent variables and logistic regression models were employed to analyse the risk factors. Phi-coefficient was used to describe the relationship between post-infection symptoms.

The analysis revealed that several factors, such as female, older age, obesity, previous medical history, exposure to high-risk environments and stress, were associated with a higher likelihood of experiencing more severe outcomes. On the other hand, vaccination and regular exercise were found to contribute to an earlier resolution of the infection. Among the post-infection symptoms, cough, malaise and muscle aches were the most frequently reported. Overall, there was a weak association among symptoms persisting beyond 14 days, with only cough and malaise, malaise and dizziness and headache showing a stronger correlation.

The study findings indicate that the overall severity of the first wave of infection, following the complete lifting of restrictions in China, was low. The impact on primary healthcare workers was limited, and the post-infection symptoms exhibited similarity to those observed in other countries. It is important to highlight that these conclusions are specifically relevant to the population infected with the Omicron variant.

This study helps to grasp the impacts of the first wave of COVID-19 infections on healthcare workers in China after the national lockdown was lifted.

Primary healthcare workers in Jiangsu Province, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other personnel from primary healthcare units such as community health service centres and health centres.

Vaccine hesitancy is a major challenge in the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Identifying the sociodemographic factors associated with vaccine acceptance among Nigerians is crucial for improving vaccine uptake.

To assess the acceptance rate of COVID-19 vaccine and its related determinants among Nigerians.

An online cross-sectional survey (observational study) was conducted between February 2021 and May 2021, using a questionnaire hosted on SurveyMonkey. The invitation to take part in the poll was sent out to participants through social networking platforms. A logistic regression was used to determine which sociodemographic factors were associated with vaccine acceptance constructs.

A total of 1800 persons responded to the survey, a larger proportion of whom were males (53.9%) and within the age group of 21-30 years (29.4%) and earned an average income of less than $500 per month (43.3%). Only 0.56% of participants had a high perceived risk of COVID-19 infection, while only 1.11% had a perceived risk of dying from COVID-19. The perception rate of the COVID-19 vaccine among participants was 51.1%, while the acceptance rate was 63.9%. There was no significant association between the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate and related determinants assessed, particularly age (χ² = 3.049, P = 0.550), sex (χ² = 0.102, P = 0.749), average income (χ² = 3.802, P = 0.875), and religion (χ² = 2.819, P = 0.420). Participants with chronic conditions demonstrated a higher acceptance rate compared to the general population.

Despite the positive perception observed and substantial vaccine acceptance rate among the study participants, more public health interventions are still needed to enhance vaccine acceptability in Nigeria.

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly challenged the global healthcare system, especially frontline healthcare professionals, such as those working in intensive care units (ICUs). In late 2022, a sudden increase in COVID-19 cases in China led to a large number of ICU admissions, requiring new ICU staff (non-ICU professionals to work in ICUs), exacerbating their stress. This study aimed to develop an effective stress management strategy for new ICU professionals, focusing on reducing the detrimental effects of stress on their psychological state. We hypothesized that the online multimodal psychological support (MPS) program might improve the psychological well-being and sleep quality of the participants.

This single-center, single-blind randomized controlled trial included new ICU staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention (online psychological support, MPS) or a control (routine wellness care, RWC) group for 28 days, and assessments were conducted before intervention (baseline), after intervention, and at the 1-month follow-up. The intervention included music therapy, sleep hygiene education, psychoeducation, and relaxation training, tailored to address common psychiatric issues experienced by healthcare professionals during the pandemic. The primary outcome was a DASS-21 score 28 days after the end of the intervention.

One hundred and one professionals eventually participated in the study, 47 in the MPS group and 54 in the RWC group. No significant differences were observed in the overall psychological well-being immediately after the end of the intervention. However, the MPS group showed improved sleep and sustained lower stress levels, anxiety, and depression scores at the 1-month follow-up, significantly improving the severity of insomnia (marginal mean difference -2.028; SE 1.00; p = 0.044).

The online multimodal psychological support program effectively enhanced the psychological well-being and sleep quality of new ICU staff demonstrating the potential of off line training in managing stress and improving health outcomes during crises. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of accessible, flexible psychological support, especially in high-stress environments such as ICUs during pandemics.

Sleep is a key biological mechanism in promoting wellbeing and resilience to stress. This cross-sectional study examined connections between sleep, autonomic function, wellbeing, and stress reactivity in healthy individuals. Demographic, lifestyle, sleep, and psychological well-being information were collected from 85 healthy university students. These variables were analysed in conjunction with indices of cardiac autonomic activity, including heart rate and high frequency heart rate variability (HF HRV, an indicator of parasympathetic vagal tone) recorded during nocturnal sleep onset and in response to a cognitive stressor. Correlational analyses revealed that unrefreshing and fragmented sleep was strongly associated with lower HF HRV at sleep onset, suggestive of poorer autonomic de-arousal. Further, those with minimal increases in HF HRV from wakefulness to sleep reported worse sleep quality and greater challenges in daily activities compared to those with significant increases. This same group also demonstrated significantly greater reactivity and slower recovery when faced with a stressor the next day, as evidenced by comparison of heart rate values. Our findings suggest an association between autonomic hypervigilance and aspects of sleep quality, with potential implications for wellbeing and stress responses.

We examined fluctuations in emergency department (ED) visits for nonspecific back and neck pain during the COVID-19 pandemic and explored potential contributing factors.

This retrospective cohort study included patients who presented to the ED with nonspecific back and neck pain between January 2019 and December 2021. Demographic data, visit frequencies, and clinical outcomes were analyzed to assess the impact of the pandemic on visit patterns.

A total of 1245 ED visits were recorded. Visits decreased by 30% during the peak of the pandemic, with a gradual return to baseline by mid-2021. No significant changes in patient demographics or clinical outcomes were noted during the pandemic. However, a proportional increase in neck pain visits was observed.

The observed decline in visits may be linked to pandemic-related concerns, such as fear of exposure in the hospital and reduced activities. The increased neck pain visits highlights the potential influence of pandemic-related stress and lifestyle changes. Visit patterns rebounded as the pandemic eased, indicating a temporary decrease unrelated to condition severity. The COVID-19 pandemic temporarily affected ED visits for nonspecific back and neck pain. Further research is needed to explore the long-term effects of the pandemic on health care utilization.

In a weakened healthcare system, the mental health of healthcare workers has become a priority issue. The aim of this longitudinal study was to assess the mental health of primary care nurses during the Covid-19 pandemic, using a postal survey. Four validated self-report questionnaires were used. The nurses reported mainly burnout symptoms and around 20% reported a post-traumatic stress.

To identify the occurrence of presenteeism in healthcare professionals and its association with socio-occupational and health factors.

Cross-sectional study, carried out from July to October 2022 with 152 healthcare professionals from a reference hospital for COVID-19. A semi-structured questionnaire was applied for socio-occupational and health characterization, and the Stanford Presenteeism Scale. Prevalence ratios were used to evaluate associations and statistical significance using Pearson's X2; binary logistic regression to investigate the impact of socio-occupational variables on presenteeism and linear regression for the scale domains.

Female (65.8%), mean age 32±8.59 years, no children (68.4%), nursing staff (55.3%), no previous (74.4%) or acquired (87.5%) comorbidities. Of the total, 85 (55.93%) professionals had low presenteeism. Previous comorbidity χ2(1)=6.282;p=0.012, sick leave (χ2 (1)=7.787;p=0.005, R2 Negelkerke= 0.069) and medication use (χ2 (1)=8.565;p=0.003, R2 Negelkerke= 0.077) were predictors of low presenteeism.

There was no significant association between sociodemographic variables and presenteeism. Previous comorbidity, absence from work for health reasons and the use of medication were significant predictors of reduced concentration in work activities.

In recent years, the frequent outbreaks of infectious diseases and insufficient emergency response capabilities, particularly issues exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, have underscored the critical role of nurses in addressing public health crises. It is currently necessary to investigate the emergency preparedness of nursing personnel following the COVID-19 pandemic completely liberalized, aiming to identify weaknesses and optimize response strategies.

This study aimed to assess the emergency response competence of nurses, identify their specific training needs, and explore the various elements that impact their emergency response competence.

Using a multistage stratified sampling method, 5 provinces from different geographical locations nationwide were initially randomly selected using random number tables. Subsequently, within each province, 2 tertiary hospitals, 4 secondary hospitals, and 10 primary hospitals were randomly selected for the survey. The random selection and stratification of the hospitals took into account various aspects such as geographical locations, different levels, scale, and number of nurses. This study involved 80 hospitals (including 10 tertiary hospitals, 20 secondary hospitals, and 50 primary hospitals), where nurses from different departments, specialties, and age groups anonymously completed a questionnaire on infectious disease emergency response capabilities.

This study involved 2055 participants representing various health care institutions. The nurses' mean score in infectious disease emergency response competence was 141.75 (SD 20.09), indicating a moderate to above-average level. Nearly one-fifth (n=397, 19.32%) of nurses have experience in responding to infectious disease emergencies; however, they acknowledge a lack of insufficient drills (n=615,29.93%) and training (n=502,24.43%). Notably, 1874 (91.19%) nurses expressed a willingness to undergo further training. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that significant factors affecting infectious disease emergency response competence included the highest degree, frequency of drills and training, and the willingness to undertake further training (B=-11.455, 7.344, 11.639, 14.432, 10.255, 7.364, and -11.216; all P<.05). Notably, a higher frequency of participation in drills and training sessions correlated with better outcomes (P<.001 or P<.05). Nurses holding a master degree or higher demonstrated significantly lower competence scores in responding to infectious diseases compared with nurses with a diploma or associate degree (P=.001). Approximately 1644 (80%) of the nurses preferred training lasting from 3 days to 1 week, with scenario simulations and emergency drills considered the most popular training methods.

These findings highlight the potential and need for nurses with infectious disease emergency response competence. Frequent drills and training will significantly enhance response competence; however, a lack of practical experience in higher education may have a negative impact on emergency performance. The study emphasizes the critical need for personalized training to boost nurses' abilities, especially through short-term, intensive methods and simulation drills. Further training and tailored plans are essential to improve nurses' overall proficiency and ensure effective responses to infectious disease emergencies.

The COVID-19 pandemic created stressors to daily living, leading to increased mental health problems. It is important to assess the influence of COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, specifically anxiety.

The goal was to determine the prevalence and sociodemographic, clinical, and other correlates of likely Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) among study subjects in Ghana.

This study employed a cross-sectional approach, using an online survey administered primarily through social media platforms. The survey questions included the GAD-7 scale, which was used to assess likely GAD in respondents. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression analysis.

Overall, 756 respondents completed the survey, mainly from Ashanti and Greater Accra, which were the hardest hit by COVID-19.

The prevalence of likely GAD in our sample was 7.6%. Gender, loss of job due to COVID-19, and seeking mental health counseling were independently associated with increased likelihood of GAD.

The findings suggest that women, those who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and those who sought mental health counseling were more likely to experience moderate to high anxiety symptoms as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Priority must be attached to psychological support measures for members of these groups.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, older people in Sweden's residential care facilities and home care services experienced high mortality rates. Prior to the pandemic, the care of older people in Sweden was challenged by organisational and regulatory changes, an ageing population and insufficient increases in staff numbers. These issues led to high staff turnover, increased workloads, stress, burnout and a perceived inability to provide satisfactory care. The pandemic brought about increased job strain, stress, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder among the staff who cared for older people. The aim of this study was therefore to focus on assistant nurses and care aides' experiences of their work environments when caring for older people during the pandemic in Sweden.

The data were collected through four focus groups interviews and analysed using qualitative content analysis.

The results showed that the care staff had to navigate organisational and ethical challenges in poor and unsafe work environments. They lacked supportive leadership in their respective organisations, were neither valued, seen nor heard and were treated as 'plain doers'. During the pandemic, they were unable to protect or communicate easily with the older people in their care, which had harsh consequences.

According to the participants, the pandemic left them, their working conditions and this part of the care system in a worse situation than before the pandemic. The pandemic thus revealed more unsustainable and unethical working conditions for the staff than before it, including the vulnerability of the older people in their care.

The findings highlights the need of policies that ensure adequate training and instruction on medical issues, for managers responsible for overseeing the care of older people. There are also a need of provision of sufficient support for care staff and health care professionals during crises. The findings also underscore the need of feasible and efficient strategies do disseminate care information and address the psychosocial needs of older people.

To reveal the chain mediating roles of insomnia and anxiety between social support and PTSD in nursing staff under the stage of COVID-19 regular pandemic prevention and control in China.

A total of 784 nurses were recruited using the convenience sampling method in Jiangsu Province, China. Demographic questionnaire, Perceived Social Support Scale, Impact of Event Scale-Revised, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 and Insomnia Severity Index were applied to collect data.

Social support, PTSD, insomnia and anxiety were significantly correlated with each other. Insomnia and anxiety acted as chain mediators between social support and PTSD.

Insufficient social support may trigger PTSD through the chain mediating effects of insomnia and anxiety in nursing staff under the stage of COVID-19 regular pandemic prevention and control. Measures focusing on social support, insomnia and anxiety should be taken to reduce or even prevent PTSD in nursing staff in Chinese hospitals in similar crises in the future.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is one of the public health problems that pose a serious mental health concern due to its high morbidity and mortality rate. The healthcare workers are at risk of developing mental health symptoms like depression and anxiety because they are the first point of contact in the diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients with COVID-19. This study aimed to systematically review the prevalence and the associated factors of depression and anxiety disorders among healthcare workers amid COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia.

A systematic review and meta-analysis study was conducted. Different primary studies that assessed the depressive and anxiety disorders during amid COVID-19 pandemic in the Ethiopian healthcare workers were extracted by Microsoft Excel and exported to STATA version 11 for further analysis. Random-effects model meta-analysis was used to the estimate pooled effect size and the effect of each study with their 95% confidence interval. Funnel plot analysis and Egger regression tests were conducted to detect the presence of publication bias. Subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis were conducted.

Thirteen studies with 5,174 participants were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis study. The pooled prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders was 40.39% (95% CI: 28.54, 52.24) and 44.93% (95% CI: 31.39, 58.46), respectively. Being a woman, being married, working in the frontline, and having high perceived susceptibility were significantly associated with depression among the Ethiopian healthcare workers. Similarly, being a woman, being older in age, working in the frontline, and having high perceived susceptibility were the factors associated with anxiety disorder among the Ethiopian healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders in the Ethiopian healthcare workers was high. The timely detection and appropriate management of mental health problems is essential for the quality of healthcare services, and proactive support methods for the female, married, and older-age healthcare professionals could result in these outcomes.

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42022299074.