Fear Of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Research Articles

Psychological distress is affected by fear of COVID-19 via lifestyle disruption and leisure restriction among older adults in Japan: a cross-sectional study.

Engaging in social activities is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle for community-dwelling older adults. Critically, as with past disasters, there is concern about the effects of long-term activity restrictions due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on health of older adults. However, the precise associations between fear of COVID-19, lifestyle satisfaction, leisure activities, and psychological distress are unclear. The purpose of this study was to comprehensively determine the associations between fear of COVID-19, lifestyle satisfaction, leisure engagement, and psychological distress among community-dwelling older adults in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A questionnaire survey administered by mail was conducted from October 1 to October 15, 2021. The questionnaire included the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, the Lifestyle Satisfaction Scale, the Leisure Activity Scale for Contemporary Older Adults, and the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale-6. Based on previous studies, we developed a hypothetical model for the association between fear of COVID-19, lifestyle satisfaction, leisure engagement, and psychological distress and performed structural equation modeling to assess the relationships between these variables. Participants included 301 Japanese citizens (23.6% male, 76.4% female), with a mean age of 76.7 ± 4.58 years. Goodness-of-fit from structural equation modeling was generally good. Analysis of standardized coefficients revealed a significant positive relationship between fear of COVID-19 and psychological distress (β = 0.33, p < 0.001) and lifestyle satisfaction and leisure activities (β = 0.35, p < 0.001). We further observed a significant negative relationship between fear of COVID-19 and lifestyle satisfaction (β = -0.23, p < 0.001) and between leisure activities and psychological distress (β = -0.33, p < 0.001). Fear of COVID-19 is significantly associated with psychological distress, both directly and via its effects on lifestyle satisfaction and leisure activities. That is, not only did fear of COVID-19 directly impact psychological distress of participants, it also affected psychological distress through lifestyle disruption and leisure restriction. This results may be used to better understand how a national emergency that substantially restricts daily life, such as COVID-19 or an earthquake disaster, can affect the psychological health and wellbeing of older, community-dwelling adults.

Time-course changes in mental distress and their predictors in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: A longitudinal multi-site study of hospital staff.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic provides a unique opportunity studying individual differences in the trajectory of mental distress to relatively homogeneous stressors by longitudinally examining time-course changes between pandemic waves. For 21 months, we tested the effects of COVID-19 waves on mental health among 545 staffs at 18 hospitals treating COVID-19 patients in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Contrary to increasing new infected cases as waves progressed, initially elevated psychological distress (K6) and fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19S) were decreased among waves (K6: B = -.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -.03 to -.01; FCV-19S: B = -.10, 95% CI = -.16 to -.04). This initial increase and subsequent decrease in K6 and FCV-19S were more prominent in individuals with high trait anxiety (K6: B = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.18 to 1.91; FCV-19S: B = 4.27, 95% CI = 2.50 to 6.04) and in occupations other than physicians or nurses. The current study revealed time-course changes in psychological distress and fear regarding COVID-19 in each pandemic wave and across waves, and indicated the usefulness of trait anxiety and occupation as predictors of mental health outcomes.

Nurses' COVID-19-related fear and anxiety and their attitudes to the COVID-19 vaccine: A descriptive and correlational study.

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 has caused psychological distress such as anxiety and fear among nurses worldwide. Nurses are a creditable source of vaccine-related information and have a primary role in building confidence regarding vaccines. The present study was designed to investigate the fear and anxiety of nurses regarding novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and their attitudes towards the COVID-19 vaccine. The predictors of fear, anxiety and attitudes towards the vaccine were also investigated. A descriptive and correlational design was used. The study was conducted in three public hospitals from different parts of the Turkey, and 405 nurses from the three hospitals were recruited by stratified sampling. Anxiety and negative attitudes towards the vaccine were positively related to fear of COVID-19. Age and fear were also positively associated with anxiety related to COVID-19. Nurses who had received the vaccine and those who were fearful had a positive attitude towards the vaccine. Psychosocial support programmes should be implemented to improve psychological resilience and coping strategies in nurses and organized education programmes are needed to increase positive attitudes towards vaccination.

Postpandemic fear of COVID-19, psychological distress, and resilient coping among frontline health workers in Ghana: An analytical cross-sectional study.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted the psychological well-being of healthcare workers globally. However, little is known about the mental health state of frontline health workers in the postpandemic era. The purpose of this study was to examine postpandemic COVID-19-related psychological distress and fear among frontline health workers in Ghana. Data were collected from 245 frontline healthcare workers in the Western region of Ghana. COVID-19-related fear, psychological distress, and resilient coping were assessed with the fear of COVID-19 scale, Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, and the Brief Resilient Coping Scale, respectively. Multiple linear regression was used to assess the association between psychological distress and fear of COVID-19as well as the moderating effects of resilient coping. Participants were mostly female (57.1%), aged between 21 and 30 years (50.6%), and not married (58.0%). We found that 52.2% of frontline healthcare workers experienced mild-to-severe fear, while 40% experienced psychological distress. Fear of COVID-19, previous contact with COVID-19 patients, and earning a monthly income between 501 and 1000 Ghanaian cedis were significantly associated with higher psychological distress. The positive association between fear of COVID-19 and psychological distress was stronger among frontline health workers who had higher resilient coping. There is the need to provide frontline health workers with mental health support services to promote their psychological well-being and enhance their ability to provide quality care during the postpandemic era.

The Impacts of Coronavirus Disease 2019 on Pediatric Dentistry Services and Oral Health Status of the Pediatric Population: A Narrative Review

Context: The routine implemented by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on people’s lives has had several consequences. Children have also been involved in this crisis. Concerning pediatric oral health, dental workers also reduced working load and postponed treatments. Therefore, the present review aimed to assess related articles and discuss the impacts of COVID-19 on pediatric dentistry and pediatric oral health status. Evidence Acquisition: Electronic search was performed using the following keywords: “Coronavirus, COVID-19, Dental Care for Children, Dental Health Services, Pandemics, and Pediatric Dentistry.” Web of Science, PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochran Library, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Google databases were searched from the beginning of the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. After a preliminary search, 156 articles were retrieved, finally reduced to 13. Both reviewers carried out screening and selection of articles independently. Results: Based on the scientific articles (n = 13) included in our study, pediatric dentistry was severely impacted during the outbreak. Some factors included quarantine, reduced professional workload, fear of COVID-19 in families, the possibility of carrying the virus by children, accompanying children to the clinic by adults, and the impossibility of tolerance by the children to perform strict personal protective protocols and altered intake habits during the pandemic. Moreover, dental professionals can prevent the further spread of COVID-19 by adhering to guidelines, including conducting primary triage, keeping the office not overcrowded, regular disinfection, and distance education. Conclusions: Policymakers must find a biosafety solution for vulnerable pediatric populations. Telecommunications and distance education are the solutions for promoting oral health during this period.

The Effect of Fear of COVID-19 Infection and Anxiety on Loneliness: Moderated Mediation Effects of Gratitude.

This study was conducted to identify factors related to loneliness during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and focused on how the fear of COVID-19 infection affects loneliness and the conditional effect of gratitude as a moderator in the relationship among the fear of COVID-19, anxiety, and loneliness. For the analysis of this study, a survey was conducted among 1,500 individuals aged 19 to 69 years living in three metropolitan areas in South Korea. Questionnaires included sociodemographic data, psychological experience and stress associated with COVID-19, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7, UCLA Loneliness Scale-3, and Gratitude Questionnaire-6. An analysis was conducted by applying SPSS PROCESS macro models 4 and 7. First, anxiety mediated the relationship between the fear of COVID-19 infection and loneliness. Second, the effect of the fear of COVID-19 infection on loneliness through anxiety was moderated by gratitude. The higher the gratitude, the more the fear of COVID-19 infection is buffered in the path to anxiety, and the lower the indirect effect on loneliness. This suggests that in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, interventions for psychological problems such as anxiety and loneliness can be carried out through gratitude, a significant protective variable.

Perception of Crisis Management, Service Quality, and Loyalty Programs on Airline Travel Intention: What Roles Do Fear of COVID-19 and Risk Attitude Play?

This research investigates the antecedents of airline travel intention, including the effects of crisis management, service quality perceptions, and loyalty programs, along with the fear of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and risk attitude among individuals from different parts of the world during the peak of the pandemic. Its main objective is to assess how these variables impact passenger airline travel intention. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to assess the measurement model and test the hypothesized relationships on the sample of 944 travelers. Results indicated strong positive associations between fear of COVID-19, risk-averse attitudes, and service quality with respect to travel intention. On the other hand, perception of crisis management handling and loyalty programs did not have significant influence on travel intention during the global pandemic. Interestingly, the researchers found that risk-averse attitude positively influences both crisis management and service quality perception. Therefore, airline decision-makers need to consider the psychological aspect of fear of COVID-19 and other researched dimensions to regain passenger confidence and stimulate travel demand regardless of the risk-averse attitude.

Retraction: Moderating role of compassion in the link between fear of Coronavirus disease and mental health among undergraduate students.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.990678.].

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with epilepsy and epilepsy specialists

ObjectivesDuring the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the global population experienced changes in diagnosis and treatment patterns. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with epilepsy (PWE) and epilepsy specialists in China. MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated newly diagnosed PWE from January 2018 to January 2022 at Shanxi Bethune Hospital. The clinical characteristics of PWE and the prescription habits of epilepsy specialists were analyzed. We also explored changes in seizure control among PWE as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and assessed the possible causes. ResultsAfter excluding 49 PWE who were lost to follow-up, 421 PWE were included in the study. They were divided into a prepandemic group and a pandemic group, with December 2019 as the boundary. By comparing the two groups, we found that the duration between first symptom detection and diagnosis was longer in the pandemic group than in the prepandemic group. Epilepsy specialists preferred prescribing the fast-acting antiepileptic drug levetiracetam (LEV) in the pandemic group. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 49.57% of PWE reported difficulties in accessing their epilepsy healthcare provider, and 26.96% reported that appointments with their providers occurred as usual. A lack of anti-seizure medication (ASM) availability was reported by 32.17% of subjects. An increase in seizure frequency was noted in 25.22% of the PWE during the pandemic. The factors increasing seizure frequency during the pandemic were fear of COVID-19, exacerbation of mental states, sleep deprivation, cancelation of regular medical visits, difficulties accessing epilepsy healthcare providers, and a lack of ASM availability. ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic exposed PWE to harmful consequences mainly due to medical shortages and worse life states. During the pandemic, there were delays in the diagnosis of PWE, and doctors’ prescription habits changed. We must consider the lessons learned during this period of social restrictions and employ recent technological advances to improve treatment for PWE.

Knowledge, attitudes, practices, and compliance of rheumatic disease patients toward COVID-19 during the late pandemic

BackgroundRheumatic disease (RD) patients are liable for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It is noticeable that RD patients’ practices have changed during the late COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, practices, and compliance of RD patients during the late pandemic.ResultsThis study included 188 patients with various RDs. The majority were female (61.7%) and were rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients (40.4% and 30.9%, respectively). We found knowledge deficiencies regarding some symptoms, contact isolation, and transmission. Negative attitudes toward COVID-19 final control were detected in a large proportion (50%). Furthermore, the majority did not think they were at risk of COVID-19 due to either RD (61.7%) or their drugs (66%). Their practices were also negative; the majority stopped wearing masks (56.4%) and went to crowded places recently (83%). Moreover, most did not stop or reduce their drugs for fear of COVID-19 but for availability issues (5.3% and 9.6% vs. 37.2%). Male gender and higher education and socioeconomic levels were significantly associated with better knowledge. In addition, RDs such as reactive arthritis, steroid use, lower steroid doses, COVID-19 vaccination, high education and socioeconomic levels, and Internet use as main knowledge sources had a significant association with better attitudes. Conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) use, biologics non-use, high education, severe functional impact, and compliance before the pandemic were significantly associated with higher practice scores. Knowledge was positively correlated with attitudes and practice (P = 0.0001 and 0.003, respectively). Moreover, attitudes were negatively correlated with age (P = 0.016). In multiple linear regression analysis, education, socioeconomic status, and practice were significant positive predictors of knowledge (P = 0.002, 0.001, and 0.046, respectively). Good knowledge, COVID-19 vaccination, younger age, and lower steroid doses were significant predictors of better attitudes (P = 0.02, 0.001, 0.02, and 0.002, respectively). Furthermore, non-use of biologics and functional disability were significant predictors of good practice (P = 0.002 and 0.015, respectively).ConclusionImproving knowledge and educating RD patients about the importance of protective measures is essentially needed to decrease the pandemic fatigue consequences and prevent serious COVID-19 complications in those patients.

Comparison of attitudes toward the coronavirus disease vaccine, fear of coronavirus disease, and perception regarding causes of coronavirus disease between patients with serious mental illness and healthy controls

Comparison of attitudes toward the coronavirus disease vaccine, fear of coronavirus disease, and perception regarding causes of coronavirus disease between patients with serious mental illness and healthy controls

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected our rheumatology patients using biological/targeted DMARDs?

We aimed to investigate the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the course and treatment of patients with inflammatory rheumatic musculoskeletal disease (iRMD) using biologic or targeted synthetic disease modifying and rheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs). The study was carried out in two stages: in the first stage we investigated the delay of b/tsDMARD treatment in the first 3 months of the pandemic; in the second stage, we investigated all patients who decided to continue treatment after interruption in the 12-month period. A total of 521 patients were included in the study. The iRMD diagnosis was listed as spondyloarthritis (SpA) (54.3%), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (25.7%), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) (8.4%), vasculitis (6.1%), and others (5.4%). Concurrent use of hydroxychloroquine (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.49), iv bDMARD use (HR = 1.34), and a history of discontinuation of drug in the first 3 months of the pandemic (HR = 1.19) were determined as factors that reduced 12-month drug retention rates. The use of glucocorticoid (HR = 3.81) and having a diagnosis of interstitial lung disease/chronic obstructive lung disease (HR = 4.96) were found to increase the risk of being infected by SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It was shown that approximately 1/5 of iRMD patients using b/tsDMARDs delayed their treatment due to the fear of COVID-19 in the first three months of the pandemic process. However, with good communication with the patients, b/tsDMARD treatment was restarted and the 12-month drug retention status was quite high.

A Rapid Access Brief Psychotherapy Intervention to Respond to Healthcare Workers in Ontario Whose Mental Health was Negatively Impacted During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Although the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had widespread negative impacts on the mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs), there has been little research on psychological interventions during the pandemic for this population. The current study examines whether a brief coping-focused treatment intervention delivered in a virtual individual format would be associated with positive changes in Canadian HCWs' mental health during the pandemic. Three hundred and thirty-three HCWs receiving the intervention at 3 large specialty tertiary care hospitals in Ontario, Canada, completed measures of anxiety, depression, perceived stress, work/social impairment, insomnia and fear of COVID-19. After completing treatment, HCWs rated their satisfaction with the treatment. The intervention was associated with large effect size improvements in anxiety, depression, perceived stress, insomnia and fear of COVID-19, and moderate effect size improvements in work/social impairment. At treatment session 1, prior mental health diagnosis and treatment were both significantly correlated with depression, anxiety, and work/social impairment scores. Secondary analyses of data from one of the sites revealed that treatment-related changes in anxiety, depression, perceived stress and work/social impairment were independent of age, gender, occupational setting, profession and the presence of a previous mental health diagnosis or treatment, with the exception that nurses improved at a slightly greater rate than other professions in terms of work/social impairment. HCWs were highly satisfied with the treatment. A large number of HCWs experiencing significant distress at baseline self-referred for assistance. Timely and flexible access to a brief virtual coping-focused intervention was associated with improvements in symptoms and impairment, and treatment response was largely unrelated to demographic or professional characteristics. Short-term psychological interventions for HCWs during a pandemic may have a highly positive impact given their association with improvement in various aspects of HCWs' mental health improvement.

Impact of COVID-19 among otorhinolaryngologists in Malaysia: a cross-sectional online survey

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has changed the lives of millions of people worldwide, including the lives of healthcare workers. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of COVID-19 on the quality of life, financial implications, and fear of COVID-19 among otorhinolaryngologists in Malaysia at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted for a period of one week from 1 to 7 June 2021 using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Financial Well-Being Scale and Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) available at a link sent to potential participants. The study’s target participants were otorhinolaryngology specialists residing and working in Malaysia. Results: A total of 115 participants completed the survey. The majority of them were of the Malay (51.3%) race, of Malaysian (99.1%) nationality, and predominantly female. Most of the respondents were 20–40 years old, working in public hospitals (46.1%). The mean WHOQOL-BREF scores for the physical domain, psychological domain, social domain, and environmental domain were 54.64 ± 12.93, 53.79 ± 11.09, 72.70 ± 20.74, and 67.22 ± 16.32, respectively. The mean CFPB and FVC-19S scores were 54.57 ± 8.47 and 19.13 ± 6.04, respectively. A significant difference between the participants with different lengths of professional experience was observed in the social relationship domain (p = 0.011) and the financial well-being score (p = 0.004). Participants with more than ten years of professional experience had the highest CFPD score (mean ± SD: 58.07 ± 8.65). Conclusion: COVID-19 has affected various domains of the quality of life, financial stability, and fear of COVID-19 across the various groups of otorhinolaryngologists in Malaysia. The findings of this survey identify negative effects and help to plan various strategies to address the issue.

The Assessment of the Spectrum of Preventive Measures Taken by Healthcare Providers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in India: A Survey-Based Study.

The first wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic createdhavoc and confusion in choosing appropriate treatment, as well as prophylaxis, due to its rapid surge, disease novelty, and lack of evidence-based literature. It was even more concerning amongthe healthcare workers (HCWs), who had to take care of patients, themselves, and their own families. This online survey-based study targeted finding the various options for COVID-19 precautionary or prophylactic measures opted for by HCWs. This was an observational study based on a predesigned questionnaire, which was floated online for three months after institutional ethical approval, just after the first wave of COVID-19 in 2021, targetingHCWs of different cadres (doctors, nurses, paramedics/laboratory technicians, etc.), ages, and sexesand HCWs hailing from across the country. Questions were focused on HCW's adopted measures, the order of preference and its reasons, and concerns related to safety and efficacy. Data was collected through Google Forms (Google, Inc., Mountain View, CA) into an Excel spreadsheet (Microsoft® Corp., Redmond, WA) and analyzed by the latest Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS)software (IBM SPSS Statistics, Armonk, NY) using appropriate statistics. The routine practice of standard precautionary measures (face mask, hand hygiene, and social distancing) and wearing a personal protective equipment (PPE) kit during the care of COVID-19-positive or COVID-19-suspected patients was adopted by themajority of HCWs, i.e., 306/312 (>98%) irrespective of cadre (p = 0.001). After the "routine measures," the most adopted measure by participant HCWs irrespective of profession, age, and gender was the consumption of allopathic drugs (n = 188; 60.26%). Anti-COVID-19 measures in the category of drugs used by healthcare providers (HCPs) were prophylactic allopathic drugs (60.26%), homeopathic drugs (11.86%), and other Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy (AYUSH)/traditional medical system drugs (11.86%). Vitamin C was the most consumed among all of the drugs for COVID-19 prophylaxis purposes. Non-drug measures espoused by the HCPs were physical exercises (46.47%), increased sleepduration (35.89%), change in dietary habits (42.62%), and spiritual measures (19.23%). The fear of COVID-19 imposed on the HCPs the obligation to use all the available preventive measures in spite of the lack of evidence on actual benefits. After the routine infection preventive measures, the most adopted measure by participant HCWs irrespective of profession, age, and gender was the consumption of prophylactic allopathic drugs (>60%), and the most non-drug preventive measures were the initiation of physical exercises and change in dietary habits. Adapting some form of physical exercise was more noted with males than females (p = 0.001), and it significantly increased with HCPs of higher age of >25 and >40 years than younger HCPs (58.6% versus29.3%; p = 0.016). Females preferred more dietary and nutritional modifications.

EHealth literacy was associated with anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.

Electronic health (eHealth) literacy may play an important role in individuals' engagement with online mental health-related information. To examine associations between eHealth literacy and psychological outcomes among Nigerians during the Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This was a cross-sectional study among Nigerians conducted using the 'COVID-19's impAct on feaR and hEalth (CARE) questionnaire. The exposure: eHealth literacy, was assessed using the eHealth literacy scale, and psychological outcomes were assessed using the PHQ-4 scale, which measured anxiety and depression; and the fear scale to measure fear of COVID-19. We fitted logistic regression models to assess the association of eHealth literacy with anxiety, depression, and fear, adjusting for covariates. We included interaction terms to assess for age, gender, and regional differences. We also assessed participants' endorsement of strategies for future pandemic preparedness. This study involved 590 participants, of which 56% were female, and 38% were 30 years or older. About 83% reported high eHealth literacy, and 55% reported anxiety or depression. High eHealth literacy was associated with a 66% lower likelihood of anxiety (adjusted odds ratio aOR, 0·34; 95% confidence interval, 0·20-0·54) and depression (aOR: 0·34; 95% CI, 0·21-0·56). There were age, gender, and regional differences in the associations between eHealth literacy and psychological outcomes. eHealth-related strategies such as medicine delivery, receiving health information through text messaging, and online courses were highlighted as important for future pandemic preparedness. Considering that mental health and psychological care services are severely lacking in Nigeria, digital health information sources present an opportunity to improve access and delivery of mental health services. The different associations of e-health literacy with psychological well-being between age, gender, and geographic region highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions for vulnerable populations. Policymakers must prioritize digitally backed interventions, such as medicine delivery and health information dissemination through text messaging, to address these disparities and promote equitable mental well-being.

Effects of COVID-19 fear and anxiety on attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine use in women with gynecological cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic

ObjectivePatients with gynecological cancer commonly use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods to cope with the disease. However, despite the existence of treatment strategies, the effect of fear and anxiety caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on attitudes about CAM use is unclear. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of fear and anxiety experienced by patients with gynecological cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic on their attitudes towards the use of CAM. MethodsThis is a cross-sectional and descriptive study that included 177 women with gynecological cancer; participants were recruited from a social networking site for cancer patients in Turkey between June and December 2021. Data were collected using an online survey that included the Personal Information Form, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale, and the Attitude Towards Holistic Complementary and Alternative Medicine Scale. Descriptive statistics, t-test, Pearson’s correlation test, and simple linear and multiple regression analyses were performed to analyze the data. ResultsDuring the pandemic, 55.4% of the participants reported using CAM methods, but only 22.6% were using CAM before the pandemic. The participants who used CAM during the pandemic also scored higher on the fear of COVID-19 and coronavirus anxiety scales (20.69 ± 5.37 and 13.09 ± 6.29, respectively) compared to the participants who did not use CAM (9.29 ± 2.72 and 6.35 ± 2.06, respectively). Fear of COVID-19 accounted for 52% of the CAM attitude score, while coronavirus anxiety accounted for 15% of the CAM attitude score. Fear of COVID-19 and coronavirus anxiety together accounted for 53% of CAM attitude. ConclusionGynecological cancer patients with high levels of COVID-19-related anxiety and fear during the pandemic used CAM more. Given that the psychological effects of the pandemic will continue in the coming years, CAM use should be evaluated as a coping strategy, especially due to the COVID-19-related anxiety and fear experienced by patients with gynecological cancer. While the rational and effective CAM methods should be supported, strategies should be developed to prevent misuse of CAM and its interference in prescribed medical treatments.Please cite this article as: Uslu-Sahan F, Yesilcınar I, Kurt G, Hancer E, Guvenc G. Effects of COVID-19 fear and anxiety on attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine use in women with gynecological cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(4): 377–384.

Effect of biological, psychological, and social factors on maternal depressive symptoms in late pregnancy: a cross-sectional study.

Depression commonly occurs during pregnancy and has become a major public health concern. Depression not only affects the individual but also causes adverse consequences for families and children. However, little is known regarding the depression status and its influencing factors in women during late pregnancy in China. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of maternal depressive symptoms in late pregnancy during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and further explore the effect of biological, psychological, and social factors on depressive symptoms. An institution-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among eligible women in the late pregnancy stage and underwent prenatal examination at Lianyungang Maternal and Child Health Hospital in Jiangsu Province, Eastern China from December 2022 to February 2023. Data regarding depressive symptoms and biological, psychological, and social factors of the pregnant women were collected via a structured questionnaire. Chi-square test, Fisher's exact tests, and binary logistics regression were used to analyze the data. In total, 535 women in the late pregnancy stage were included in this study, 75 (14.0%) of whom exhibited depressive symptoms. A binary logistic regression analysis revealed that pregnant women who were multiparous (OR: 2.420, 95% CI: 1.188-4.932) and had moderate or severe insomnia symptoms (OR: 4.641, 95% CI: 1.787-12.057), anxiety (OR: 8.879, 95% CI: 4.387-17.971), high fear of COVID-19 (OR: 2.555, 95% CI: 1.255-5.199), moderate or severe family dysfunction (OR: 2.256, 95% CI: 1.141-4.461), and poor social support (OR: 2.580, 95% CI: 1.050-6.337) tended to show depressive symptoms. Conversely, pregnant women who received regular prenatal care (OR: 0.481, 95% CI: 0.243-0.951) and had good drinking water quality at home (OR: 0.493, 95% CI: 0.247-0.984) were more likely to avoid developing depressive symptoms. This study found that the prevalence of maternal depressive symptoms during late pregnancy was high and had multiple influencing factors. Thus, screening for depressive symptoms in women in the late pregnancy stage and providing special intervention programs are necessary, especially for those with risk factors.

Investigating autistic traits, social phobia, fear of COVID-19, and internet use disorder variables in the context of videoconference fatigue

In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many individuals turned to synchronous online video communication technologies as a substitute for real-world face-to-face interactions. Evidence indicates that some users of such technologies show symptoms of exhaustion and fatigue during and after videoconferences (VCs) – this phenomenon is referred to as Videoconference fatigue (VC fatigue). Research characterizing the possible vulnerability factors for VC fatigue is still scarce and considered to be in its early stage. Contributing to closing this gap in the existing literature is the motivation for the present study. Survey data was collected from 311 German-speaking participants to explore the relationships of VC fatigue with several psychological factors including autistic traits, social phobia, Fear of COVID-19, tendencies towards Internet Use Disorders (IUD tendencies), and Fear of Missing Out (FoMO, trait and state variables). Results showed that VC fatigue was significantly positively correlated with all of these psychological factors except state-FoMO, and cross-sectional mediation analyses provided further evidence for the positive association between autistic traits and VC fatigue. Specifically, the relationship between autistic traits and VC fatigue was mediated by Fear of COVID-19 and IUD tendencies rather than social phobia, with the latter being a preregistered hypothesis. This study adds to the literature by revealing several possible vulnerability factors associated with VC fatigue. In essence, the present work sheds light on the complex association between autistic traits and VC fatigue. We discuss the implications of our study as well as its limitations and potential avenues for future research.

Mediating effect of resilience and fear of COVID-19 on the relationship between social support and post-traumatic stress disorder among campus-quarantined nursing students: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe emergency of Omicron variants, spreading in China and worldwide, has sparked a new wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The high infectivity and persistence of the pandemic may trigger some degrees of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for nursing students experiencing indirect trauma exposure to the epidemic, which hinders the role transition from students to qualified nurses and exacerbates the health workforce shortage. Thus, it’s well worth an exploration to understand PTSD and its underlying mechanism. Specifically, PTSD, social support, resilience, and fear of COVID-19 were selected after widely literature review. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between social support and PTSD among nursing students during COVID-19, to address the mediating role of resilience and fear of COVID-19 between social support and PTSD, and to provide practical guidance for nursing students’ psychological intervention.MethodsFrom April 26 to April 30, 2022, 966 nursing students from Wannan Medical College were selected by the multistage sampling method to fill the Primary Care PTSD Screen for the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), Brief Resilience Scale, Fear of COVID-19 Scale, and Oslo 3 Items Social Support Scale. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, spearman’s correlation analysis, regression analysis, and path analysis.Results15.42% of nursing students had PTSD. There were significant correlations between social support, resilience, fear of COVID-19, and PTSD (r =-0.291 ~ 0.353, P <0.001). Social support had a direct negative effect on PTSD (β =-0.216; 95% confidence interval, CI: -0.309~-0.117), accounting for 72.48% of the total effect. Analysis of mediating effects revealed that social support influenced PTSD through three indirect pathways: the mediated effect of resilience was statistically significant (β =-0.053; 95% CI: -0.077~-0.031), accounting for 17.79% of the total effect; the mediated effect of fear of COVID-19 was statistically significant (β =-0.016; 95% CI: -0.031~-0.003), accounting for 5.37% of the total effect; the chain mediating effect of resilience and fear of COVID-19 was statistically significant (β =-0.013; 95% CI: -0.022~-0.006), accounting for 4.36% of the total effect.ConclusionThe social support of nursing students not only directly affects PTSD, but also indirectly affects PTSD through the separate and chain mediating effect of resilience and fear of COVID-19. The compound strategies targeted at boosting perceived social support, fostering resilience, and controlling fear of COVID-19 are warranted for reducing PTSD.