Infected Family Members Research Articles

Ethical Aspects of the Institutionalization Process of Children from Outbreaks of Tuberculosis

The Republic of Moldova is the country with the highest incidence of tuberculosis in the European WHO region. The severity of this epidemic is conditioned by socio-economic problems. Children are exposed to the TB pathogen when interacting with infected family members. In socially vulnerable families, the education and overall care of the child is often neglected. Children are at risk of malnutrition, which increases their susceptibility to tuberculosis. Even if the family is considered the most suitable environment for the development of a child, there are cases when children must be entrusted to care institutions. A mixed, quantitative (grid application) and qualitative (observation and individual interviews) study was conducted to assess the degree of respect for ethical principles and the rights of the institutionalized children. Two phtisiopneumological rehabilitation centers for children from families with tuberculosis were evaluated. The study identified that institutionalization does not appear as a form of protection, but as a limitation of children`s rights. Stigmatization and discrimination of children is a common phenomenon. Children’s access to adequate education and health services is limited. Even if these children are not suffering from tuberculosis, they were unjustly isolated, reducing their contact with the family or relatives, as well as with society in general. Children aren’t encouraged to have an opinion, their access to information being insufficient. Gaps have been highlighted that need to be addressed without delay to ensure adequate conditions for the protection of children from families with tuberculosis, respecting their personality, in a non-discriminatory manner, based on moral values and fundamental child` rights.

Prevalence of COVID-19 antibodies among operating room and critical care staff at a tertiary teaching hospital: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives:To identify the prevalence of COVID-19 antibodies among operating room and critical care staff.Methods:In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 319 Healthcare workers employed in the operation theater and intensive care unit of King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), a tertiary teaching hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia between August 9, 2020 and November 2, 2020. All participants completed a 20-item questionnaire on demographic data and COVID-19 risk factors and provided blood samples. Antibody testing was performed using an in-house enzyme immunoassay and microneutralization test.Results:Of the 319 participants, 39 had detectable COVID-19 antibodies. Five of them had never experienced any symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, and only 19 were previously diagnosed with COVID-19. The odds of developing COVID-19 or having corresponding antibodies increased if participants experienced COVID-19 symptoms (odds ratio [OR], 3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-7.5) or reported contact with an infected family member (OR, 5.3; 95% CI, 2.5-11.2). Disease acquisition was not associated with employment in the ICU and involvement in the intubation of or close contact with COVID-19 patients. Of the 19 previously diagnosed participants, 6 did not possess any detectable COVID-19 antibodies.Conclusions:Healthcare workers may have undiagnosed COVID-19, and those previously infected may not have long-lasting immunity. Therefore, hospitals must continue to uphold strict infection control during the COVID-19 pandemic.

An Experience of 436 COVID-19 Patients in Bangladesh

SARS-CoV-2 corona virus infection (COVID-19) is a public health emergency of international concern causing many deaths. The aim of this study was to assess demography, clinical presentation, blood group, disease severity and outcome of COVID-19 infected patients in Bangladesh. This is a cross sectional, observational study of 436 COVID- 19 infected patients, confirmed by RT-PCR assay's on nasopharyngeal swab specimens, presented at Faridpur Medical College Hospital and Kurmitola General Hospital during the month of May to September, 2020. Data were collected in a preformed data sheet and analyzed for variables included demography, source of infection, spreading within family, clinical features, blood group, disease severity and outcome. Study showed mean age 41.27±16.65 years with slight male predominance (1.87:1), most were service holder (47%), source of infection was unknown (40%), from infected family members (35%) and working place (23%). In 44% cases, family members of infected index cases were unaffected. Common co-morbidities were Diabetes Mellitus (19.7%) and Hypertension (19%). Blood group of most (41.29%) was B positive. Disease spectrum ranged from asymptomatic (15%), mild (53%), moderate (19%) and severe (13%) disease. Common presenting symptoms were fever (72.2%), cough (42.9%) dyspnoea (29.6%), myalgia (22.9%), anorexia (17.9%), fatigue (17.4%), diarrhea (13.5%), headache (12.4%) and anosmia (12.4%). Majority (75.2%) had nonspecific (fever, mayalgia, fatigue) symptoms and in 16.28% cases it was the only presentation. Respiratory (61.9%) and GI (28.4%) symptoms presented either concomitantly or with nonspecific symptoms (55%). Majority (95%) of patients recovered and only 5% died. Faridpur Med. Coll. J. Jan 2020;15(2): 53-57

Depression and anxiety symptoms to COVID-19 outbreak among the public, medical staff and patients during the initial phase of the pandemic: an online questionnaire survey by a WeChat Mini Program

ObjectivesTo survey anxiety and depression symptoms to COVID-19 outbreak in the public, medical staff and patients during the initial phase of the pandemic.DesignCross-sectional online survey administered through WeChat Mini Program...

SARS-CoV-2 Infection Risk Factors among Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients and Health Care Personnel In Outpatient Hemodialysis Centers.

Increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with community prevalence.Increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with exposure to infected family members and personal infection prevention measures.

Knowledge, perception, and confidence of healthcare workers about COVID-19 preventive measures during the first wave of the pandemic: a cross-sectional study from Egypt.

The ongoing coronavirus-disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic had a variable history with differences in its various stages. This study evaluates the status of knowledge, perception, and confidence about COVID-19 preventive measures during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Egypt. A cross-sectional study was conducted during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, in July 2020, in Egypt. An-online-based questionnaire was used to collect data. It included items to record demographic data, and an assessment of knowledge, the perception of healthcare facilities preparedness, and HCW confidence about applying infection prevention measures. A total of 465 responses were analyzed. HCWs' mean age was 36.76 ± 9.57 years, 94.2% (n=438) had an adequate level of knowledge, 31% (n=144) had an adequate perception level, and 39.4% (n=183) had an adequate confidence level. The main source of information was international organizations' websites 46.5% (n=216). The main barriers to applying preventive measures were the overcrowding of patient care areas 73.1% (n=339), and limited infection control supplies 68% (n=316). Factors associated with COVID-19 among HCWs were COVID-19 infected family members (OR: 5.86), inability to protect themselves and their families (OR: 5.73), uncertainty about the available hand hygiene supplies (OR: 3.76), male gender (OR: 3.07), and single HCWs (OR: 2.88). Although the majority reported an adequate knowledge level, lower rates of adequate perception and confidence were observed. Revision of preparedness plans in different facilities should be further studied. Psychological support and gender differences should be considered in response programs.

COVID-19’s Impact on Cancer Care: Increased Emotional Stress in Patients and High Risk of Provider Burnout

BackgroundCOVID-19’s precise impact on cancer patients and their oncologic care providers remains poorly understood. This study aims at comparatively analyzing COVID-19’s effect on cancer care from both patient and provider perspectives. MethodsA multi-institutional survey was developed to assess COVID-19-specific concerns regarding treatment, safety, and emotional stress through 5-point Likert-type prompts and open-ended questions before and during the pandemic. Wilcoxon signed-rank and rank-sum tests were used to analyze before/during answers for providers and patients independently. Open-ended responses were assessed using inductive thematic analysis. ResultsThe survey was completed by 104 (69.3%) patients and 50 (50%) providers. Patients demonstrated a significant change in only 1 of 15 Likert prompts. Most significant were increased concern regarding susceptibility to infection [z = 2.536, p = 0.011] and concerns regarding their cancer outcome [z = 4.572, p < 0.001]. Non-physician providers demonstrated significant change in 8 of 13 Likert prompts, whereas physicians had all 13 Likert prompts change in the COVID-19 setting. Physicians believed care to be more poorly planned [z = −3.857, p ≤ 0.001], availability of protective personal equipment to be more limited [z = −4.082, p < 0.001], and were significantly concerned infecting family members [z = 4.965, p < 0.001]. ConclusionsWhile patients had more difficulty coping with their cancer, they did not perceive significant differences in their actual treatment. This suggests the need for a renewed focus on patients coping with cancer. Among providers, physicians more than any other provider group had a strong negative perception of COVID-19’s impact on healthcare, suggesting the need for novel approaches to target physician burnout.

Feelings of loneliness and mental health needs and services utilization among\xa0Chinese residents during the COVID-19 epidemic

BackgroundDue to the implementation of social distancing and quarantine measures, loneliness has been a major public health concern during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, few studies have examined loneliness in Chinese residents during the COVID-19 epidemic, as well as its associations with mental health needs and services utilization.MethodsThe present study was a cross-sectional survey during the COVID-19 outbreak in China. A total of 7741 adults were invited and completed an online self-administered questionnaire. The Chinese 12-item General Health Questionnaire was used to screen for common mental health problems, loneliness was measured with a single-item self-report question (“How often do you feel lonely in recent days?”), and two standardized questions were used to assess perceived needs for and use of mental health services.ResultsIn total, 24.2 % of the participants felt lonely in recent days. Age of 16–29 years (OR = 1.36, P = 0.020), marital status of never-married (OR = 1.47, P < 0.001), marital status of “others” (re-married, co-habiting, separated, divorced, and widowed) (OR = 1.72, P < 0.001), having infected family members or close relatives (OR = 1.64, P = 0.026), and having infected colleagues, friends, or classmates (OR = 1.62, P < 0.001) were significant correlates of loneliness. Rates of mental health needs (17.4 % vs. 4.9 %, P < 0.001) and services utilization (2.7 % vs. 1.0 %, P < 0.001) were significantly higher in lonely than not lonely participants. After adjusting for socio-demographic and epidemic characteristics and common mental health problems, loneliness was still significantly associated with mental health needs (OR = 2.50, P < 0.001) and services utilization (OR = 1.62, P = 0.020).ConclusionsFeelings of loneliness are prevalent among Chinese residents affected by the COVID-19 epidemic and the presence of loneliness is associated with high levels of mental health needs and greater services utilization. Effective measures aiming at preventing or reducing loneliness are potentially beneficial for the mental wellbeing of COVID-19-affected population and reducing the use of the limited mental health service resources during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tied Infections: How Social Connectedness to Other COVID-19 Patients Influences Illness Severity.

Expanding on recent research on the transmission of COVID-19 via social networks, this article argues that exposure to familial and other close contacts who already have the disease may increase the severity of one’s subsequent illness. We hypothesize that having family members or close contacts who were diagnosed with COVID-19 before one’s own diagnosis exacerbates illness severity due to several potential mechanisms including changes in available social support access, increased stress and strain, and increased viral load due to the nature of one’s exposure to the novel coronavirus. We analyze administrative data of all 417 patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 in the Chinese city of Shenzhen between January 8 and February 25, 2020. Our analyses show that, when patients had family members or close ties diagnosed with COVID-19, they experienced more severe illness. We also find that patients with infected family members or close contacts did not have significantly extended total illness duration, due to their reduced time to diagnosis. The implications of both findings are discussed.

Resident Wellness During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Nationwide Survey of Orthopaedic Residents.

The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the resident workforce to a particularly powerful and unexpected extent. Given the drastic changes to resident roles, expectations, and responsibilities, many valuable lessons regarding resident concerns and wellness can be garnered from this unique experience. A voluntary survey was sent to 179 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited orthopaedic surgery residency program directors to distribute to their residents. Questions focused on issues that may have occurred, program's responses, and expectations of programs during the pandemic. In total, 507 residents completed the survey, and 10% reported being deployed to do nonorthopaedic-related care, with junior classes being more likely to receive this assignment (P < 0.001). The greatest concern for respondents was the possibility of getting family members sick (mean = 3.89, on scale of 1-5), followed by personally contracting the illness (mean = 3.38). The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in numerous changes and novel sources of adversity for the orthopaedic surgery resident. Contrary to popular opinion, most residents are comfortable with the proposition of providing nonorthopaedic care. The possibility of bringing a pathogen to the home environment and infecting family members seems to be an overarching concern, and efforts to ensure resident and family safety are key.

Mental health among outpatient reproductive health care providers during the US COVID-19 epidemic

IntroductionBoth inpatient and outpatient providers may be at increased risk of stress, anxiety and depression from their roles as health providers during the COVID-19 epidemic. This study explores how the US COVID-19 epidemic has increased feelings of stress, anxiety and depression among outpatient reproductive health providers.MethodsWe conducted a survey with open-ended responses among outpatient reproductive health providers across the U.S. engaged in contraceptive care to collect data on their experiences with stress, anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 epidemic. The study population included physicians, nurses, social workers, and other health professions [n = 288]. Data were collected from April 21st–June 24th 2020. We used content analysis of free text responses among providers reporting increased stress, anxiety or depression.ResultsTwo-thirds (184) of providers reported increased stress and one-third (96) reported increased anxiety or depression related to care provision during the COVID-19 epidemic. The major sources of stress, anxiety and depression were due to patient care, worry about becoming infected or infecting family members, work- and home-related concerns, experiencing provider burnout, and fear of the unknown. Concerns about quality of patient care, providers’ changing responsibilities, lack of personal protective equipment, and difficulty coping with co-worker illness and absence all contributed to provider stress and anxiety. Worries about unemployment and childcare responsibilities were also highlighted. Providers attributed their stress, anxiety or depression to feeling overwhelmed, being unable to focus, lacking sleep, and worrying about the unknown.ConclusionsUS outpatient providers are experiencing significant stress, anxiety, and depression during the US COVID-19 epidemic. Policy and programmatic responses are urgently needed to address the widespread adverse mental health consequences of this epidemic on outpatient providers, including reproductive health providers, across the US.Plan English summaryBoth inpatient and outpatient providers may be at increased risk of stress, anxiety and depression from their roles as health providers during the COVID-19 epidemic. This study explores how the US COVID-19 epidemic has increased feelings of stress, anxiety and depression among outpatient reproductive health providers across the US. We conducted a survey from April 21st to June 24th, 2020 among outpatient reproductive health providers, including physicians, nurses, social workers and other health professions. We asked open-ended questions to understand why providers reported increased stress, anxiety and/or depression. Two-thirds (184) of providers reported increased stress and one-third (96) reported increased anxiety or depression from care provision during the COVID-19 epidemic. Major sources of stress, anxiety and depression were due to patient care, worry about becoming infected or infecting family members, work- and home-related concerns, experiencing provider burnout, and fear of the unknown. Concerns about quality of patient care, providers’ changing responsibilities, lack of personal protective equipment, and difficulty coping with co-worker illness and absence all contributed to provider stress and anxiety. Worries about unemployment and childcare responsibilities were also highlighted. Providers attributed their stress, anxiety or depression to feeling overwhelmed, being unable to focus, lacking sleep, and worrying about the unknown. This study highlights that US outpatient reproductive health providers are experiencing significant stress, anxiety, and depression during the US COVID-19 epidemic. Policy and programmatic responses are urgently needed to address the widespread adverse mental health consequences of this epidemic on outpatient providers, including reproductive health providers, across the US.

COVID-19 in children ranging from asymptomatic to a multi-system inflammatory disease: A single-center study.

Objectives:To identify clinical and laboratory characteristics of the Saudi children with confirmed COVID-19.Methods:Eighty-eight children (0-14 years) with COVID-19 who were admitted to Prince Sultan Military Medical City (PSMMC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from April to June 2020 were recruited.Results:Mean age was 5.74 ± 4.7 years with 41 (49.4%) males and 42 (50.6%) females. The length of hospital stay (LOS) ranged from 1 to 17 days. The main source of infection was infected family members. Mean values of C-reactive protein (CRP), serum ferritin, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were noticeably above normal. Degree of severity and length of stay was significantly correlated with lymphopenia (r= -0.36; p=0.001), whereas it was positively correlated with absolute neutrophil count and with high inflammatory markers, such as CRP, LDH, and others.Conclusions:Identifying the clinical and laboratory characteristics of the Saudi children with confirmed COVID-19 will improve understanding of this disease’s presentation and will help put rapid and proper management strategies into place to face this pandemic. A high index of suspicion is needed for cases presenting with multi-system inflammatory disease, which represented 5.7% of the included study population.

Acute psychological impact on COVID-19 patients in Hubei: a multicenter observational study

We conducted a multicentre cross-sectional survey of COVID-19 patients to evaluate the acute psychological impact on the patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during isolation treatment based on online questionnaires from 2 February to 5 March 2020. A total of 460 COVID-19 patients from 13 medical centers in Hubei province were investigated for their mental health status using online questionnaires (including Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Patient Health Questionnaire-15, and Insomnia Severity Index scales). Among all 460 COVID-19 patients, 187 (40.65%) of them were healthcare workers (HCWs). 297 (64.57%) of them were females. The most common psychological problems were somatization symptoms (66.09%, n = 304), followed by depression (53.48%, n = 246), anxiety (46.30%, n = 213), problems of insomnia (42.01%, n = 171), and then self-mutilating or suicidal thoughts (23.26%, n = 107). Of all the patients, 15.65% (n = 72) had severe somatization symptoms, and 2.83% (n = 13) had severe (almost every day) self-mutilating or suicidal thoughts. The most common psychological problems for HCWs were somatization symptoms (67.84%, n = 125), followed by depression (51.87%, n = 97), anxiety (44.92%, n = 84), problems of insomnia (36.18%, n = 55), and then self-mutilating or suicidal thoughts (20.86%, n = 39). Patients with lower education levels were found to be associated with higher incidence of self-mutilating or suicidal thoughts (odds ratio [OR], 2.68, 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.66–4.33 [P < 0.001]). Patients with abnormal body temperature were found to be associated with higher incidence of self-mutilating or suicidal thoughts (OR, 3.97, 95% CI, 2.07–7.63 [P < 0.001]), somatic symptoms (OR, 2.06, 95% CI, 1.20–3.55 [P = 0.009]) and insomnia (OR, 1.66, 95% CI, 1.04–2.65 [P = 0.033]). Those with suspected infected family members displayed a higher prevalence of anxiety than those without infected family members (OR, 1.61, 95% CI, 1.1–2.37 [P = 0.015]). Patients at the age of 18–44 years old had fewer somatic symptoms than those aged over 45 years old (OR, 1.91, 95% CI, 1.3–2.81 [P = 0.001]). In conclusion, COVID-19 patients tended to have a high prevalence of adverse psychological events. Early identification and intervention should be conducted to avoid extreme events such as self-mutilating or suicidal impulsivity for COVID-19 patients, especially for those with low education levels and females who have undergone divorce or bereavement.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome Associated With COVID-19 Infection: A Case Report With Review of Literature

COVID-19 has become a pandemic. It affects multiple systems of the body including the nervous system. It invades the nervous systems through multiple routes - either olfactory tract, bloodstream (by binding to endothelial receptors) or via ACE-2 receptors in the brain. We report a case of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) variant (acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN type)) associated with COVID-19 infection with positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for COVID-19 and positive contact history with infected family member. GBS and its variants like AMAN can occur due to COVID-19 infection through its immune-mediated effects. Diagnosis of GBS should depend on the clinical and supportive criteria. The treatment should be started early to prevent progression and disease co-morbidities.

Effectiveness of interventions as part of the One Health approach to control coronavirus disease 2019 and stratified case features in Anhui Province, China: A real-world population-based cohort study

BackgroundCoronavirus-Disease-2019 (COVID-19) caused by Severe-Acute-Respiratory-Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is rapidly spreading worldwide causing a pandemic. To control the pandemic, the One Health approach (https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/one-health) is very important. We herein provide a real-world example of efficient COVID-19 control in Anhui Province, China with outbreak originating from imported cases through implementation of a series of measures as part of the One Health approach and describe the stratified cases features. MethodsSince the identification of the first imported COVID-19 case on Jan 22, 2020, Anhui immediately initiated a sequence of systematic and forceful interventions. We detailed the control measures and analyzed the effects as demonstrated by the corresponding temporal changes of overall epidemiology data on confirmed, cured, and hospitalized cases and contacts. An accumulated number of 991 cases were confirmed, with a total number of 29,399 contacts traced. We further retrieved individual-level data of confirmed cases and compared them across stratifications by sex, age group, linkage to Wuhan, and period of diagnosis. ResultsWith a series of interventions including active field investigation, case tracing, quarantine, centralization, education, closed management, and boundary control implemented, number of hospitalized COVID-19 cases peaked, new case disappeared, and all cases were discharged 21, 36, and 46 days after the identification of the initial case, respectively. Male patients were younger, more often had linkage to Wuhan, and received timelier care, but less often had infected cohabitants. Patients aged 25–44 years most often had linkage to Wuhan, while such frequency was lowest in those ≥65 years. Cases <25 years most often had a known contact with COVID-19 patients and any infected family member and cohabitant and were beforehand quarantined, and received fastest management. Patients with linkage to Wuhan were younger, less often had infected family member, had longer incubation period, and received earlier quarantine and timelier care. With more recent periods, the proportion of cases with linkage to Wuhan markedly decreased while the proportion of cases with known contact with COVID-19 cases dramatically increased; the proportions of patients with any infected family member or cohabitant, those beforehand quarantined, and those taking drugs before admission increased; incubation period lengthened, and patients received timelier professional care. Nonspecific systemic symptoms were most common, whose proportion decreased in more recent periods. ConclusionsTimely and powerful measures as part of the One Health approach (https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/one-health) effectively and efficiently controlled the COVID-19 outbreak in Anhui, which can be a good real-world example strongly demonstrating the usefulness of such measures in places with outbreaks originating from imported cases. Precise and dynamic prevention and control measures should be implemented and based on features including sex, age group, exposure history, and phase of outbreak.

Covid-19 and front-line nurses' mental health: a literature review

The Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic caused a severe health crisis that has affected millions of people and quarantined half of the world's population. The health emergency from Covid-19 has seen health workers on the front line face all the difficulties related to the burden of care and the reorganization of procedures, roles, and tools at the hospital level. One of the most significant and probably underestimated aspects is the psychological stress of frontline nurses. The article aims to analyze the literature relating to the impact on the mental health of nurses engaged in the management and care of Covid-19 patients. A systematic review of the published articles on the subject was conducted from January 2020 to November 2020. The search for papers was conducted on scientific databases like PubMed, Scopus and Embase. The results show the onset of anxiety, depression and stress and insomnia in healthcare workers. These aspects are closely related to numerous factors, including the fear of contracting the disease and infecting family members, stressful shifts and little rest, leading to a state of psychological and physical tension capable of activating pathological behaviours. The literature highlights the importance of support interventions for frontline personnel to avoid the onset of psycho-pathophysical severe problems. The review suggests that frontline nurses during the emergency phase of Covid- 19 may be prone to psychological disorders that can compromise mental health. Therefore, the surveillance and monitoring of symptoms, together with targeted support interventions, should be guaranteed daily to all professionals involved to prevent the onset of psychological disorders.

Improving The Organization Of Nursing Care In Treatment And Prevention Facilities For Patients With Covid-19

The study examined the situation of patients and nurses in Uzbekistan during the COVID-19 pandemic, the nurse and the work process, the proper use of personal protective equipment and the misuse of personal protective equipment. The impact of the nurses’ work process on their personal lives was also partially covered. COVID-19 It also describes the knowledge and skills that nurses have during the pandemic. He sought to understand how disruptions in patient-nurse relationships, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, affected the mental and emotional well-being of nurses, its negative consequences, and the underlying problems that followed. Psychological instability in nurses during the early stages of the pandemic and changes in attitudes toward patients with COVID - 19 were also reported the difficulties of the work of nurses in clinics specializing in the treatment of a number of COVID-19 diseases, biological and technical problems in the conduct of work, lack of resources were also listed. In the second place, there is a shortage of nursing staff and the fear of infecting family members with the virus in the fight against the pandemic, and the causes of deaths as a result.

Job Demands and Resources among Healthcare Professionals during Virus Pandemics: A Review and Examination of Fluctuations in Mental Health Strain during COVID‐19

The present article examines how job demands and resources are related to indices of strain among healthcare professionals during virus pandemics. The article also presents the results of a study examining the relationships between COVID‐19 demands (e.g., lack of personal protective equipment, concerns about infecting family members), resources (meaningful work, social support), and mental health strain within a sample of emergency medicine personnel over six consecutive weeks. COVID‐19‐related demands and hours worked were hypothesized to be positively related to mental health strain, whereas meaningful work and social support were hypothesized to be negatively related to mental health strain. Hours worked the prior week were hypothesized to exacerbate the positive relationships between COVID‐19 demands and mental health strain, whereas the resources of meaningful work and social support were expected to buffer the relationships. Multilevel models controlling for mental health strain the prior week revealed that COVID‐19 demands, along with hours worked, were each related to higher mental health strain during the week. Hours worked magnified the within‐person relationship between personal COVID‐19 demands and mental health strain. In contrast to the hypotheses, social support and meaningful work were not related to mental health strain. Discussion focuses on the implications of the findings for healthcare professionals.

Immediate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the work and personal lives of Australian hospital clinical staff.

Objective This study investigated the short-term psychosocial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital clinical staff, specifically their self-reported concerns and perceived impact on their work and personal lives. Methods Nurses, midwives, doctors and allied health staff at a large metropolitan tertiary health service in Melbourne, Australia, completed an anonymous online cross-sectional survey between 15 May and 10 June 2020. The survey assessed respondents' COVID-19 contact status, concerns related to COVID-19 and other effects of COVID-19. Space was provided for free-text comments. Results Respondents were mostly concerned about contracting COVID-19, infecting family members and caring for patients with COVID-19. Concerns about accessing and using personal protective equipment, redeployment and their ability to provide high-quality patient care during the pandemic were also reported. Pregnant staff expressed uncertainty about the possible impact of COVID-19 on their pregnancy. Despite their concerns, few staff had considered resigning, and positive aspects of the pandemic were also described. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic has had a considerable impact on the work and personal lives of hospital clinical staff. Staff, particularly those who are pregnant, would benefit from targeted well-being and support initiatives that address their concerns and help them manage their work and personal lives. What is known about the topic? The COVID-19 pandemic is having an impact on healthcare workers' psychological well-being. Little is known about their COVID-19-related concerns and the perceived impact of the pandemic on their work and personal lives, particularly hospital clinical staff during the 'first wave' of the pandemic in Australia. What does this paper add? This paper contributes to a small but emerging evidence base about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the work and personal lives of hospital clinical staff. Most staff were concerned about their own health and the risk to their families, friends and colleagues. Despite their concerns, few had considered resigning. Uncertainty about the possible impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy was also reported. What are the implications for practitioners? During the current and future pandemics, staff, especially those who are pregnant, would benefit from targeted well-being and support initiatives that address their concerns and help them manage the impact on their health, work and personal lives.

Human resource challenges experienced by nurse managers at a South African rural district hospital during COVID-19 pandemic

Background: The Coronavirus disease of 2019 [COVID-19] has drastically transformed the health care system. People are infected almost every day with COVID-19. Some of the people infected end up in the hospitals leading to overcrowding of the wards. Thus, the nurse managers are expected to ensure that the hospital and wards are well managed. The situation may be worse in rural hospitals where the resources are limited. Aim: This study explored the human resource challenges experienced by nurse managers during the COVID19 pandemic, in the district hospital of Vhembe, Limpopo Province. Method: The researchers followed a descriptive phenomenological approach. Data were collected through telephonic in-depth individual interviews from seven purposively selected nurse managers. Data analysis followed the seven procedural steps by Colaizzi. Results: Results indicate that nurse managers had to deal with staff shortages on a daily basis. The staff shortage resulted from absenteeism due to COVID-19 infection or COVID-19 infected family members at home. Shortage of staff was also worsened by early retirement, resignation or death of nurses. The nurse managers ensured that the hospital remains functional by devicing means of curbing the shortage through provision of COVID-19 centred management and flexible allocation. Conclusion: The study findings highlighted that managers has to deal with staff shortage on daily basis. The shortage seems to be worsening. The situation highlights the urgent need of improving staffing at the hospital and supporting available nurses in rural public hospitals to ensure that they continue to provide services. There is need for providing incentives for the nurses who are continuously risking their lives in ensuring that patients with COVID-19 receive care. This revealed a need for the government to provide continuous support to nurse managers, more specifically during a pandemic like COVID-19.