COVID-19 Special Collection

Abstract

On March 11, 2020, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director of the World Health Organization, announced to the world: “We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic” (Adhanom, 2020Adhanom T. WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 - 11 March 2020.https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020Date: 2020, March 11Google Scholar). With this monumental public health declaration, Dr. Adhanom wisely advised the following:“I have said from the beginning that countries must take a whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach, built around a comprehensive strategy to prevent infections, save lives and minimize impact. Let me summarize it in four key areas. First, prepare and be ready. Second, detect, protect and treat. Third, reduce transmission, Fourth, innovate and learn (Adhanom, 2020Adhanom T. WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 - 11 March 2020.https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020Date: 2020, March 11Google Scholar).Manuscripts on the topic of COVID began to be submitted to the Journal of Pediatric Nursing (JPN) in early 2020. Very early in the Pandemic, data-based articles were limited given the immediacy of the health care crisis and the worldwide rush to ensure the protection of the public health. In the beginning of the Pandemic, opinion and clinical commentaries were published on early knowledge of health threats associated with the virus. Of note, a JPN editorial, Children are at Risk from COVID-19, authored by Dr. Eileen Fry-Bowers, 2020Fry-Bowers E.K. Children are at risk from COVID-19.Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2020; 53: A10-A12https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2020.04.02Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (26) Google Scholar was cited in one of the first Senate hearings on COVID by Senator Cassidy of Louisiana.Subsequently, we have published and will continue to publish articles addressing the impact of the Pandemic upon children and their families written by international, interdisciplinary, and nursing authors. To date, authors of the following countries are represented in the COVID-19 Special Collection: Iran, Israel, Jordan, Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States. The international perspectives regarding the topical focus of COVID-19 articles published reflect the commonalities of the Pandemic experienced by children and their families across the globe while revealing the distinctive cultural differences of each country.As the Pandemic progresses and evolves, the challenges affecting children and families bring forth alarming evidence as to the devastating and harmful consequences upon the biopsychosocial and developmental wellbeing of children. A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report indicated that the negative effects of the Pandemic upon children’s mental health. Data from CDC’s National Syndromic Surveillance Program (NSSP) found mental-health related emergency department (ED) visits increased 24% for children ages five to 11 and 31% for youth ages 12 to 17 in 2020 compared to the same period in 2019 (Leeb et al., 2020Leeb R.T. Bitsko R.H. Radhakrishnan L. Martinez P. Njai R. Holland K.M. Mental health-related emergency department visits among children aged <18 years the COVID-19 pandemic - United States, January 1-October 17, 2020.MMWR. 2020; 69: 1675-1680https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6945a3Crossref PubMed Google Scholar). Just recently, the United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory pertaining to youth mental health problems that have been exacerbated by the Pandemic. In this advisory (Murthy, 2021Murthy V. U.S. surgeon general issues advisory on youth mental health crisis further exposed by COVID-19 pandemic. Office of the Surgeon General, Department of Health and Human Services, December 7, 2021https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2021/12/07/us-surgeon-general-issues-advisory-on-youth-mental-health-crisis-further-exposed-by-covid-19-pandemic.htmlGoogle Scholar), Dr. Murthy warns:Mental health challenges in children, adolescents, and young adults are real and widespread. Even before the pandemic, an alarming number of young people struggled with feelings of helplessness, depression, and thoughts of suicide — and rates have increased over the past decade. The COVID-19 pandemic further altered their experiences at home, school, and in the community, and the effect on their mental health has been devastating. The future wellbeing of our country depends on how we support and invest in the next generation.The articles found in COVID-19 Special Collection reflect a range of topics demonstrating the biopsychosocial and developmental consequences of the Pandemic on the lived experiences uniquely affecting children and their families based upon the country’s cultural context. Examples of this topical focus include the following two articles. The article, authored by Israeli research team (Shteinbuk, Moskovich, Shemesh-Mileguir, Gleizer and Itzhaki, 2021Shteinbuk M. Moskovich A. Shemesh-Mileguir V. Gleizer C. Itzhaki M. When a child is hospitalized in a Covid-19 ward: An emotional roller coaster for parents.Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2021; (in press)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2021.11.025Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (1) Google Scholar) entitled, When a child is hospitalized in a Covid-19 ward: An emotional roller coaster for parents reflect the angst and worry of parents for their children hospitalized with COVID but also their own stress and isolation during this difficult period wherein they were isolated from their familial and social support network. Concerns of Parents about Children's Overweight and Obesity during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study, authored by the Razi and Nasiri, 2021Razi M. Nasiri A. Concerns of parents about children's overweight and obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study.Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2021; (in press)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2021.11.012Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (3) Google Scholar research team focused attention on exploring Iranian parental concerns pertaining to their children’s overweight and obesity problems that occurred during the Pandemic. The findings reported provide insights as to the factors that contributed to these health concerns.Importantly, several investigations in the COVID-19 Special Collection explored youth adherence behaviors and reactions to the Pandemic. These two articles exemplify this investigative area of those published in the COVID-19 Special Collection. Researchers, Ceylan, Erdoğan and Turan, 2021Ceylan S.S. Erdoğan C. Turan T. Investigation of the effects of restrictions applied on children during COVID-19 pandemic.Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2021; 61: 340-345https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2021.09.01Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (3) Google Scholar explored Turkish youth responses to COVID-19 restrictions in the article, Investigation of the Effects of Restrictions Applied on Children During COVID-19 Pandemic. Preventive COVID behaviors of South Korean adolescents and the factors associated with their adherence is reported by Park and Oh, 2021Park S. Oh S. Factors associated with preventive behaviors for COVID-19 among adolescents in South Korea.Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2021; (in press)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2021.07.006Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (14) Google Scholar in their publication, entitled Factors Associated with Preventive Behaviors for COVID-19 Among Adolescents in South Korea.Articles can be found in the COVID-19 Special Collection that explore issues pertaining to children and families with long-term conditions. Examples of these article types include exploration of Jordanian mothers’ caring for their children diagnosed with leukemia during the Pandemic in Challenges Faced by Mothers Caring for Children with Leukaemia During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study (Atout, Tarawneh and Al-Kharabsheh, 2021Atout M. Tarawneh F.S. Al-Kharabsheh A. Challenges faced by mothers caring for children with leukaemia during COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study.Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2021; 58: e74-e80https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2021.01.009Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (4) Google Scholar). The experiences of Iranian children, diagnosed with cancer and their families during the Pandemic described in this qualitative study are reported in the article, War on Two Fronts: Experience of Children with Cancer and Their Family During COVID-19 Pandemic in Iran (Mirlashari, Ebrahimpour and Salisu, 2020Mirlashari J. Ebrahimpour F. Salisu W.J. War on two fronts: Experience of children with cancer and their family during COVID-19 pandemic in Iran.Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2020; 57: 25-31https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2020.10.024Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (16) Google Scholar).As would be expected in the COVID-19 Special Collection, there are a number of articles addressing clinical and research issues pertaining to pediatric nursing practice. The impact of lockdown restrictions on the activities of a nurse-led research team at a major pediatric institution is described in Impact of COVID-19 on Pediatric Clinical Research (Tran et al., 2021Tran N.N. Tran M. Lopez J. Woon J. Nguyen J. Brecht M.-L. Impact of COVID-40 on pediatric clinical research.Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2021; 61: 240-244https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2021.06.005Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (1) Google Scholar). In the article, entitled, Everyone is Someone's Child: The Experiences of Pediatric Nurses Caring for Adult COVID-19 Patients, researchers share study findings which explored the experiences of pediatric nurses who cared for adult patients during the extraordinary period of the height of the Pandemic (Lulgjuraj, Hubner, Radzinski and Hopkins, 2021Lulgjuraj D. Hubner T. Radzinski N. Hopkins U. Everyone is someone's child: The experiences of pediatric nurses caring for adult COVID-19 patients.Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2021; 60: 198-206https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2021.06.015Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (3) Google Scholar).Timely Department columns can be found in the COVID-19 Special Collection as well. Dr. Deborah L. McBride, Section Editor of Hot Topics, has published several selections, including, The Impact of Visiting Restrictions During the COVID-19 Pandemic on Pediatric Patients (McBride, 2021McBride D.L. The impact of visiting restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric patients.Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2021; 61: 436-438https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2021.09.004Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (2) Google Scholar). Likewise, important clinically-focus topics involving Pandemic-related technological applications can be found in the Technology Department, edited by Dr. Karen Goldsmith such as the Disruption of Patient and Family Centered Care Through the COVID-19 Pandemic (Goldschmidt and Mele, 2021Goldschmidt K. Mele C. Disruption of patient and family centered care through the COVID-19 pandemic.Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2021; 58: 2-103https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2021.03.001Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (4) Google Scholar).The COVID-19 Special Collection will continue to expand with future publications added to the repository of literature on this monumental Pandemic. The articles of the COVID-19 Special Collection provide unique contributions to the science and practice pertaining to the needs of children, youth and families during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The COVID-19 Special Collection can be accessed via this website link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-pediatric-nursing/special-issue/10RQFZ2NSVQ. On March 11, 2020, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director of the World Health Organization, announced to the world: “We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic” (Adhanom, 2020Adhanom T. WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 - 11 March 2020.https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020Date: 2020, March 11Google Scholar). With this monumental public health declaration, Dr. Adhanom wisely advised the following:“I have said from the beginning that countries must take a whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach, built around a comprehensive strategy to prevent infections, save lives and minimize impact. Let me summarize it in four key areas. First, prepare and be ready. Second, detect, protect and treat. Third, reduce transmission, Fourth, innovate and learn (Adhanom, 2020Adhanom T. WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 - 11 March 2020.https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020Date: 2020, March 11Google Scholar). Manuscripts on the topic of COVID began to be submitted to the Journal of Pediatric Nursing (JPN) in early 2020. Very early in the Pandemic, data-based articles were limited given the immediacy of the health care crisis and the worldwide rush to ensure the protection of the public health. In the beginning of the Pandemic, opinion and clinical commentaries were published on early knowledge of health threats associated with the virus. Of note, a JPN editorial, Children are at Risk from COVID-19, authored by Dr. Eileen Fry-Bowers, 2020Fry-Bowers E.K. Children are at risk from COVID-19.Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2020; 53: A10-A12https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2020.04.02Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (26) Google Scholar was cited in one of the first Senate hearings on COVID by Senator Cassidy of Louisiana. Subsequently, we have published and will continue to publish articles addressing the impact of the Pandemic upon children and their families written by international, interdisciplinary, and nursing authors. To date, authors of the following countries are represented in the COVID-19 Special Collection: Iran, Israel, Jordan, Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States. The international perspectives regarding the topical focus of COVID-19 articles published reflect the commonalities of the Pandemic experienced by children and their families across the globe while revealing the distinctive cultural differences of each country. As the Pandemic progresses and evolves, the challenges affecting children and families bring forth alarming evidence as to the devastating and harmful consequences upon the biopsychosocial and developmental wellbeing of children. A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report indicated that the negative effects of the Pandemic upon children’s mental health. Data from CDC’s National Syndromic Surveillance Program (NSSP) found mental-health related emergency department (ED) visits increased 24% for children ages five to 11 and 31% for youth ages 12 to 17 in 2020 compared to the same period in 2019 (Leeb et al., 2020Leeb R.T. Bitsko R.H. Radhakrishnan L. Martinez P. Njai R. Holland K.M. Mental health-related emergency department visits among children aged <18 years the COVID-19 pandemic - United States, January 1-October 17, 2020.MMWR. 2020; 69: 1675-1680https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6945a3Crossref PubMed Google Scholar). Just recently, the United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory pertaining to youth mental health problems that have been exacerbated by the Pandemic. In this advisory (Murthy, 2021Murthy V. U.S. surgeon general issues advisory on youth mental health crisis further exposed by COVID-19 pandemic. Office of the Surgeon General, Department of Health and Human Services, December 7, 2021https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2021/12/07/us-surgeon-general-issues-advisory-on-youth-mental-health-crisis-further-exposed-by-covid-19-pandemic.htmlGoogle Scholar), Dr. Murthy warns:Mental health challenges in children, adolescents, and young adults are real and widespread. Even before the pandemic, an alarming number of young people struggled with feelings of helplessness, depression, and thoughts of suicide — and rates have increased over the past decade. The COVID-19 pandemic further altered their experiences at home, school, and in the community, and the effect on their mental health has been devastating. The future wellbeing of our country depends on how we support and invest in the next generation. The articles found in COVID-19 Special Collection reflect a range of topics demonstrating the biopsychosocial and developmental consequences of the Pandemic on the lived experiences uniquely affecting children and their families based upon the country’s cultural context. Examples of this topical focus include the following two articles. The article, authored by Israeli research team (Shteinbuk, Moskovich, Shemesh-Mileguir, Gleizer and Itzhaki, 2021Shteinbuk M. Moskovich A. Shemesh-Mileguir V. Gleizer C. Itzhaki M. When a child is hospitalized in a Covid-19 ward: An emotional roller coaster for parents.Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2021; (in press)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2021.11.025Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (1) Google Scholar) entitled, When a child is hospitalized in a Covid-19 ward: An emotional roller coaster for parents reflect the angst and worry of parents for their children hospitalized with COVID but also their own stress and isolation during this difficult period wherein they were isolated from their familial and social support network. Concerns of Parents about Children's Overweight and Obesity during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study, authored by the Razi and Nasiri, 2021Razi M. Nasiri A. Concerns of parents about children's overweight and obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study.Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2021; (in press)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2021.11.012Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (3) Google Scholar research team focused attention on exploring Iranian parental concerns pertaining to their children’s overweight and obesity problems that occurred during the Pandemic. The findings reported provide insights as to the factors that contributed to these health concerns. Importantly, several investigations in the COVID-19 Special Collection explored youth adherence behaviors and reactions to the Pandemic. These two articles exemplify this investigative area of those published in the COVID-19 Special Collection. Researchers, Ceylan, Erdoğan and Turan, 2021Ceylan S.S. Erdoğan C. Turan T. Investigation of the effects of restrictions applied on children during COVID-19 pandemic.Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2021; 61: 340-345https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2021.09.01Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (3) Google Scholar explored Turkish youth responses to COVID-19 restrictions in the article, Investigation of the Effects of Restrictions Applied on Children During COVID-19 Pandemic. Preventive COVID behaviors of South Korean adolescents and the factors associated with their adherence is reported by Park and Oh, 2021Park S. Oh S. Factors associated with preventive behaviors for COVID-19 among adolescents in South Korea.Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2021; (in press)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2021.07.006Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (14) Google Scholar in their publication, entitled Factors Associated with Preventive Behaviors for COVID-19 Among Adolescents in South Korea. Articles can be found in the COVID-19 Special Collection that explore issues pertaining to children and families with long-term conditions. Examples of these article types include exploration of Jordanian mothers’ caring for their children diagnosed with leukemia during the Pandemic in Challenges Faced by Mothers Caring for Children with Leukaemia During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study (Atout, Tarawneh and Al-Kharabsheh, 2021Atout M. Tarawneh F.S. Al-Kharabsheh A. Challenges faced by mothers caring for children with leukaemia during COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study.Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2021; 58: e74-e80https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2021.01.009Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (4) Google Scholar). The experiences of Iranian children, diagnosed with cancer and their families during the Pandemic described in this qualitative study are reported in the article, War on Two Fronts: Experience of Children with Cancer and Their Family During COVID-19 Pandemic in Iran (Mirlashari, Ebrahimpour and Salisu, 2020Mirlashari J. Ebrahimpour F. Salisu W.J. War on two fronts: Experience of children with cancer and their family during COVID-19 pandemic in Iran.Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2020; 57: 25-31https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2020.10.024Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (16) Google Scholar). As would be expected in the COVID-19 Special Collection, there are a number of articles addressing clinical and research issues pertaining to pediatric nursing practice. The impact of lockdown restrictions on the activities of a nurse-led research team at a major pediatric institution is described in Impact of COVID-19 on Pediatric Clinical Research (Tran et al., 2021Tran N.N. Tran M. Lopez J. Woon J. Nguyen J. Brecht M.-L. Impact of COVID-40 on pediatric clinical research.Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2021; 61: 240-244https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2021.06.005Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (1) Google Scholar). In the article, entitled, Everyone is Someone's Child: The Experiences of Pediatric Nurses Caring for Adult COVID-19 Patients, researchers share study findings which explored the experiences of pediatric nurses who cared for adult patients during the extraordinary period of the height of the Pandemic (Lulgjuraj, Hubner, Radzinski and Hopkins, 2021Lulgjuraj D. Hubner T. Radzinski N. Hopkins U. Everyone is someone's child: The experiences of pediatric nurses caring for adult COVID-19 patients.Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2021; 60: 198-206https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2021.06.015Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (3) Google Scholar). Timely Department columns can be found in the COVID-19 Special Collection as well. Dr. Deborah L. McBride, Section Editor of Hot Topics, has published several selections, including, The Impact of Visiting Restrictions During the COVID-19 Pandemic on Pediatric Patients (McBride, 2021McBride D.L. The impact of visiting restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric patients.Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2021; 61: 436-438https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2021.09.004Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (2) Google Scholar). Likewise, important clinically-focus topics involving Pandemic-related technological applications can be found in the Technology Department, edited by Dr. Karen Goldsmith such as the Disruption of Patient and Family Centered Care Through the COVID-19 Pandemic (Goldschmidt and Mele, 2021Goldschmidt K. Mele C. Disruption of patient and family centered care through the COVID-19 pandemic.Journal of Pediatric Nursing. 2021; 58: 2-103https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2021.03.001Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (4) Google Scholar). The COVID-19 Special Collection will continue to expand with future publications added to the repository of literature on this monumental Pandemic. The articles of the COVID-19 Special Collection provide unique contributions to the science and practice pertaining to the needs of children, youth and families during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The COVID-19 Special Collection can be accessed via this website link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-pediatric-nursing/special-issue/10RQFZ2NSVQ.