Levels Of Psychosocial Distress Research Articles

Mental healthcare utilization and psychosocial outcomes among patients with recently diagnosed cancer: A National Health Interview Survey report.

12096 Background: Individual's diagnosed with cancer (IWC) often experience heightened psychosocial distress. Studies suggest 25-50% of IWC experience some form of psychosocial distress (Mehnert-Theuerkauf et al., 2023). Further, research shows that an individual's risk of developing a new mental disorder increases by 30% during the first year after being diagnosed with cancer (Hu et al., 2023). Although many IWC experience distress, literature depicts the underutilization of psychosocial services, with estimates suggesting that fewer then 10% of IWC receive support for their distress (Forsyth et al., 2013). This is concerning as research in rodents and humans shows that unaddressed distress can lead to faster growing tumors and rapidly advancing disease (Eckerling et al., 2021). The present study aimed to characterize mental healthcare utilization among Americans recently diagnosed with various types of cancer. We also aimed to illustrate prevalence of anxiety and depression in this population. Methods: Data from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey was used in this report. A total of 667 recently diagnosed IWC were included in the final analytic sample. Cancer type was divided into five subcategories: blood cancers (n=76), breast cancer (n=193), gynecologic cancer (n=87), colorectal cancer (n=72), lung cancer (n=62), and prostate cancer (n=177). Participants’ mental healthcare utilization at the time of the survey and within the last 12 months was assessed. The General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) was used to measure participants’ anxiety levels and the Personal Health Questionnaire Depression Scale (PHQ-8) was used to assess depressive symptoms. Results: Over 28% of recently diagnosed IWC reported moderate-severe levels of anxiety on the GAD7, and 43% of participants reported high levels depression on the PHQ8. One-way ANOVA demonstrated significant differences in PHQ8 (F(5, 666)=3.332, p=0.006) and GAD7 (F(5,666)=3.35, p=0.005) scores across cancer groups. Post Hoc testing found that participants coping with colorectal cancers reported the highest levels of anxiety and depression compared to other cancer types. Of newly diagnosed patients, only 1.2% of patients reported currently receiving psychosocial support from a mental health professional, and only 13.6% reported receiving therapy from a mental health professional in the last year. Conclusions: Consistent with many studies, psychosocial distress among recently diagnosed IWC was very common, yet mental health care utilization remained low. These results indicate that efforts to target newly diagnosed IWC with psychosocial support interventions remains challenged. As such, our results underscore the importance of developing novel means of reaching IWC, and particularly colorectal cancer, as these individuals continue to struggle with significant levels of psychosocial distress.

Australian university student coping profiles and psychosocial distress: a latent profile analysis

ABSTRACT Compared to the general population, university students experience unique demands and stressors that impact psychosocial distress. High levels of psychosocial distress can affect students academically, socially, and professionally. Strategies students use to cope with stress on their own, particularly problem- and emotion-focused strategies, can decrease distress levels. While individual coping strategies can lower distress, it remains unclear which strategies are most effective among students and whether distinct profiles of strategies and their effectiveness exist. This study aimed to explore how Australian university students use individual coping strategies to manage stress using Latent Profile Analysis. 376 students completed an online survey of coping strategies, psychosocial distress, and general wellbeing, between November and December 2022 (Mean age = 25.76; 68.62% female). Psychosocial distress levels were characterised by anxiety, depression, perceived stress, social isolation, and emotional support. Four coping profiles were extracted: no effective/no coping, problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, and emotion-focused religion-dominant coping. Students endorsing problem-focused coping had significantly lower levels of psychosocial distress compared to the no effective/no coping and emotion-focused religion-dominant coping profiles, but showed no difference compared to emotion-focused coping. The no effective/no coping profile was associated with the highest levels of psychosocial distress. This underscores the importance of supporting students to endorse primarily problem-focused coping strategies, as well as emotion-focused coping strategies and educating students on how to effectively employ strategies, especially those not endorsing any effective strategies. These results may inform university support services and training for educators working directly with students on how to educate students about coping with stress.

Cinnamomum impressinervium meisn.: antioxidant and antimicrobial activities

Background: Medical interns develop apprehensions about the vulnerability of their exposure to infection while treating COVID-19 patients, which may further affect their work patterns and efficiency. Studies have shown that the outbreak of infectious diseases would result in mental health issues. Because of this, our study aims to assess psychosocial factors such as anxiety, depression, stress, relationships with peers, and changes in personal roles among medical interns at a private medical college. Methodology: This cross-sectional was conducted among 248 medical interns using a simple random sampling method. Depression, anxiety, and stress were assessed using a standardized 21-item depression, anxiety, and stress questionnaire (DASS– 21). A pretested semi-structured questionnaire was used to acquire information regarding the study participants' socio-demographic data and social elements. Results: The overall prevalence of Depression [58%], Anxiety [70%], and Stress [44%] were found among the 248 study participants. Around [70.6%] of the study participants reported that their social life had been affected. The prevalence of various factors associated with depression, anxiety, and stress were assessed. Conclusion: This study reports higher levels of psychosocial distress among the study participants. Adequate knowledge about the pandemic and stress management measures will be the top priority among these budding medicos during such unfavorable pandemic situations.

Association Between Symptoms of Chronic Psychological Distress and Myocardial Ischemia Induced by Mental Stress in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease.

Background Mental stress-induced myocardial ischemia is a frequent phenomenon in patients with coronary artery disease and is associated with a greater risk of future cardiovascular events. The association between chronic symptoms of psychological distress and mental stress-induced ischemia is not clear. Methods and Results We used a composite score of psychological distress derived from symptoms of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, anger, and perceived general stress. Participants underwent myocardial perfusion imaging with both mental (public speaking task) and conventional (exercise or pharmacological) stress testing. Overall, 142 (15.9%) patients experienced mental stress-induced myocardial ischemia. After adjusting for demographic factors, medical history, and medication use, patients in the highest tertile of psychological distress score had 35% higher odds of having mental stress-induced ischemia compared to those in the lowest tertile (odds ratio [OR], 1.35 [95% CI, 1.06-2.22]). Stratified analyses showed that the association between psychological distress score and mental stress-induced myocardial ischemia was significantly associated only within the subgroup of patients with a prior myocardial infraction, with patients with a prior myocardial infarction in the highest tertile having a 93% higher odds of developing myocardial ischemia with mental stress (95% CI, 1.07-3.60). There was no significant association between psychological distress and conventional stress-induced ischemia (OR, 1.19 [95% CI, 0.87-1.63]). Conclusions Among patients with a history of myocardial infarction, a higher level of psychosocial distress is associated with mental stress-induced myocardial ischemia but not with ischemia induced by a conventional stress test.

Assessment and Evaluation of Psychosocial Distress in Outpatients with Cancer at a University Hospital in Germany

Introduction: Cancer patients (pts) suffer from a significant amount of psychosocial distress related to tumor disease itself or straining treatments. Despite recommendations on how to screen for and to deal with psychosocial distress in cancer pts, data about implementation of psycho-oncological interventions (poi) in outpatient settings of cancer pts are scarce. The aim of this study was to identify outpatients with cancer in need of poi and to evaluate different assessment instruments. Methods: N = 200 outpatients with hemat-/oncological malignancies were interviewed between October 2015 and December 2017 at the University Hospital Mannheim using the Basic Documentation for Psycho-Oncology (PO-Bado) and the Hornheider Screening Instrument (HSI) – both clinician-administered assessment tools – followed by descriptive, univariate, and agreement analysis. Results: N = 61 cancer pts (31%) were identified to be in need for poi considering the results of both questionnaires. The number of identified pts in need of poi was lower when analyzing the results of the PO-Bado (n = 42, 21%) and the HSI (n = 39, 20%) separately. The degree of agreement between the results of PO-Bado and HSI was low (kappa = 0.3655). Several factors like gender, age and diagnosis were identified to have significant impact on the need for poi (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: Our study underlines that different screening instruments for psychosocial distress may identify disparate populations of cancer pts. The study data also revealed significant characteristics that might be associated with elevated levels of psychosocial distress and a clear indication for poi. However, further analyses on larger populations of cancer pts are needed to provide information how to transfer positive screening to poi in clinical routine.

An assessment of the psychosocial distress and problems faced by street children living in Kolkata city: a cross-sectional study

Background: Street children constitute a marginalized group in most societies. These children experience social and behavioural problems resulting from their environmental influences, school and peer interactions, home and family settings, or any combination of these. Keeping in view the prevalence of psychosocial distress among street children, this study was undertaken to assess the levels of psychosocial distress and problems faced by orphan and vulnerable children (OVC) living in Kolkata city. Methods: This was a cross sectional analytical study. A total of 127 children were interviewed with the help of pre-validated semi-structured questionnaire. GHQ-12 scale was used to measure the symptoms of the psychosocial distress. Bivariate analysis with the help of Chi-square test was done to determine variations in the psychosocial distress experienced by OVC by age, gender, duration of stay on streets, education. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 15±2 years. About one third of the children showed symptoms of severe psycho-social distress with 30% of children showing signs of intentional self-harm. Age, education and duration of living on the streets were some of the factors that showed significant correlation with the levels of psychosocial distress. Conclusions: The study concludes that although institutional care and support from NGOs takes care of basic amenities such as shelter, food and education, there is a need to address the psychological needs of the children through teacher sensitization programmes. A well-informed caregiver would be able to address the needs of children under his supervision and care.

Early Bereavement Psychosocial Outcomes in Parents of Children Who Died of Cancer With a Focus on Social Functioning.

The early grief experience of parents of children who died of cancer remains understudied. Understanding psychosocial symptomology and functioning of parents early in their bereavement is essential to developing supportive interventions aimed at offsetting poor mental and physical outcomes. Parents of children from two centers who died of cancer 6 to 24 months before were mailed a survey that included validated tools and additional Likert scale-based questions. We used correlation and univariate and multiple regression analyses to assess the associations between psychosocial and grief outcomes and parental social functioning. One hundred twenty-five parents representing 88 children completed the survey. Most respondents identified as female (63%), White (84%), and non-Hispanic (91%). The mean time since child's death was 14.7 (range, 8-26) months. Bereaved parents' mean score for social functioning was only slightly below normative values, and most parents indicated post-traumatic growth and adaptive coping. Parents had high symptom levels for depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and prolonged grief, with those identifying as female having significantly higher symptom scores. Using multivariate analysis, parental scores for resilience and continuing bonds were associated with higher social functioning scores and parental scores for depressive symptoms and prolonged grief were associated with lower social functioning scores. Although bereaved parents exhibit resilience and positive coping, they also show high levels of psychosocial distress in the first 2 years after their child's death, which may reflect the typical parental bereavement experience. Screening for low parental social functioning may identify parents who would benefit from additional support early in bereavement.

Prospective Study of Psychosocial Distress and Perceived Social Support among Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy for CNS Tumours

Background and aim: The lack of social support in patients undergoing radiotherapy for CNS tumours can lead to psychosocial distress (depression and anxiety), which often goes undiagnosed or unnoticed. It is our aim to analyse the social support by the patient’s family, friends, special person and psychosocial distress so as to assist patients in coping with treatment and improve their quality of life. Methods: In the study, all patients with CNS tumours who had radiotherapy indications were included. Patients were assessed for depression, anxiety and social support at their first radiotherapy session. They were reassessed again for depression and anxiety at the last day of radiotherapy completion and two months after radiotherapy in the first follow-up. We assessed social support through the MSPSS (multidimensional perceived social support) questionnaire and HADS (hospital anxiety depression scale) questionnaire were used to assess depression and anxiety. Results: The results of our study indicate that 56% of the population received high levels of social support, 34% received moderate support and 10% received low support. There is a statistically significant difference in terms of different age group wise and the social support they receive. (p < 0.05). An initial incidence of borderline depression population was increased from 28% to 53%, then decline to 32%. The incidence of depression was initially 18% population and then increased to 47%. On follow-up there were no signs of depression. An initial incidence of borderline anxiety of 46% population, later dropped to 44%, followed by a continuation of the same 46%. Initially, there were 20% of population reported anxiety then it increased to 56% and on follow-up there had been no signs of anxiety. There is a statistically significant difference in terms of different age group wise and the level of psychosocial distress (depression and anxiety). (p < 0.05). Conclusion: We found in our study that most CNS tumour patients managed to perceive high social support, especially from their families. However, if we consider friends and special person support, we find that more than 50 years age group population do not receive adequate support. Significant numbers of patients in this study were borderline depressed and anxious even before they began radiotherapy. Depression and anxiety are more intense after completing radiotherapy and then decrease when patients come for their first follow-up. As part of cancer treatment social support and depression, anxiety should be assessed and treated as needed.

Psychosocial distress in young adults surviving hematological malignancies: a pilot study

PurposeSurvivors of cancer during young adulthood face multiple psychosocial challenges following treatment. This study explores psychosocial distress and unmet needs among young adult survivors treated of hematological malignancies.MethodsA total of 85 young adults aged between 18 and 39 years at time of diagnosis, were invited to join the survey after the completion of treatment with curative intent. Sociodemographic data and the need for advice were gathered with a self-report questionnaire. A set of standardized questionnaires for quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30), psychosocial stressors (PHQ-S), fear of progression (PA-F-KF), cancer-related fatigue (EORTC QLQ-FA12), and symptoms of anxiety (GAD-7) or depression (PHQ-9) was employed. Descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis were conducted.ResultsForty-seven young adult cancer survivors responded. A quarter of patients (26%) reported depressive symptoms, 15% suffered from anxiety, 36% from fear of progression, and 21% reported increased psychosocial stressors. They had a lower QoL than the general population and reported poorer outcomes on all single-item and multi-symptom scales. Employment was significantly associated with lower levels of psychosocial distress, anxiety, fatigue, and better QoL.ConclusionYoung adult cancer survivors exhibited a high disposition for psychosocial distress. They reported excessive demands in everyday life and resumption of work. However, a longitudinal study of young adult cancer survivors is needed to confirm the results of this pilot study. In future, psycho-oncological and social support need to become an inherent part of the aftercare of survivors of young adult cancer survivors.

Developing an mHealth Intervention to Reduce COVID-19-Associated Psychological Distress Among Health Care Workers in Nigeria: Protocol for a Design and Feasibility Study.

Globally, COVID-19-related psychological distress is seriously eroding health care workers' mental health and well-being, especially in low-income countries like Nigeria. The use of mobile health (mHealth) interventions is now increasingly recognized as an innovative approach that may improve mental health and well-being. This project aims to develop an mHealth psychological intervention (mPsyI) to reduce COVID-19-related psychological distress among health care workers in Nigeria. Our objective is to present a study protocol to determine the level of COVID-19-related psychological distress among health care workers in Nigeria; explore health care workers' experience of COVID-19-related psychological distress; develop and pilot test mPsyI to reduce this distress; and assess the feasibility of this intervention (such as usability, engagement, and satisfaction). A mixed (quantitative and qualitative) methods approach is used in which health care workers will be recruited from 2 tertiary health care facilities in southwest Nigeria. The study is divided into 4 phases based on the study objectives. Phase 1 involves a quantitative survey to assess the type and levels of psychosocial distress. Phase 2 collects qualitative data on psychosocial distress among health care workers. Phase 3 involves development of the mHealth-based psychological intervention, and phase 4 is a mixed methods study to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. This study was funded in November 2020 by the Global Effort on COVID-19 Health Research, and collection of preliminary baseline data started in July 2021. This is the first study to report the development of an mHealth-based intervention to reduce COVID-19-related psychological distress among health care workers in Nigeria. Using a mixed methods design in this study can potentially facilitate the adaptation of an evidence-based treatment method that is culturally sensitive and cost-effective for the management of COVID-19-related psychological distress among health care workers in Nigeria. DERR1-10.2196/36174.

New approaches for mental health of social minorities

Mental health of social minorities is a challenge of modern psychiatry. It is largely described that people reporting sexual, cultural, religious variations are exposed to an amount of social stress deriving from the contrast between their minority status and the dominant societal norms and values. Minority stress leads to higher level of psychosocial distress and mental illness among these vulnerable populations. This conceptual research paper reports on evidences regarding the mental health issues related to the minority social condition and proposes a set of actions to address these challenges in a global perspective. Specifically, political, social and educational interventions are discussed in order to contrast stigma, discrimination, promote integration and health services for vulnerable populations. Policymakers are invited to deliver ad-hoc policies on minorities and homeless people with specific funding to address related public mental health issues. Educational programs are encouraged in the school setting as well as in the training of health care professionals in order to improve the level of acceptance and competencies in the treatment of minorities’ health needs. We firmly believe there is no healthy society without healthy minorities.

Breast cancer survivors and behavior: cancer care in the time of COVID-19 in Indonesia

The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant disruptions in cancer care, and preliminary research suggests that these disruptions are associated with increased levels of psychosocial distress among cancer survivors. Indonesia initially reported positive cases in early March 2020, followed by regular extensive occurrences across 34 provinces. The disease causes acute respiratory failure among people with specific comorbidities, including geriatric disorders, diabetes, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and cancer. Consequently, the patients’ conditions become more severe, possibly leading to a higher mortality rate. Individuals with cancer are at particularly elevated risk of a severe course of COVID-19 because they tend to be of older age and are at a greater risk for needing intensive care and for mortality. A reasonably good comprehension of the current COVID-19 outbreak, poor awareness of the primary disease and subsequent therapy program, and minimal understanding of the importance of continuing treatment during the pandemic are the probable factors causing the fear of contracting the COVID-19 virus that poses a significant threat of aggravating the existing breast cancer conditions in most patients. This anxiety shows a drastic impact in altering the behavioral patterns of survivors undergoing therapy. There is a very good understanding of how it is caused by the SARS-COV2 virus. Meanwhile, there is a severe lack of understanding of cancer and the therapeutic program. The patients are more afraid of contracting this virus than they are of their cancer. Patients prefer development of their cancer to contracting the SARS-COV2 virus. Therefore, massive education and supervision are needed for cancer patients to understand the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure that routine checks are appropriately managed.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection; a systematic review of physical and psychosocial recovery following discharge from hospital

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Edinburgh Napier University Introduction Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is increasingly recognised as an important cause of myocardial infarction, particularly among women. SCAD survivors may not know what physical activity is safe and effective and there may be a psychosocial burden of living with a SCAD diagnosis. This review aimed to determine the evidence regarding physical activity, cardiovascular risk factors, or associated factors, and the psychosocial impact of SCAD for SCAD survivors after hospital discharge. Methods A systematic review completed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines Results The review included 28 studies. These used a range of methods. None were randomised controlled trials. There were 4167 SCAD participants although some were sourced from the same SCAD registries, so may not be unique. They were mainly female (n=3897 93.5%, range=57.7%-100%), with mean age 48.0±9.8 years at index event. Participants mostly came from the USA, Canada, or the Netherlands. We found very limited evidence for cardiorespiratory fitness improvements following cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Existing CR was not tailored to SCAD specific needs and SCAD survivors lacked guidance about appropriate physical activity. Some participants had high levels of psychosocial distress. SCAD survivors highlighted the need for tailored support that included family members. Many SCAD survivors have traditional risk factors including hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and overweight/obesity. Chest pain following SCAD is common. Conclusions There is an urgent need to develop physical and psychological recovery programmes for SCAD survivors, and test effectiveness via randomised controlled trials. Psychosocial support is particularly required, given the high burden of psychosocial issues.

Psychosocial distress and the quality of life of cancer patients in two health facilities in Cameroon

BackgroundPsychosocial distress interferes with the ability to cope effectively with cancer, its physical symptoms and treatment. This in turn leads to poor outcomes in patients.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess the level of psychosocial distress, emotional distress and the quality of life of cancer patients in two health facilities in Cameroon.MethodsThis study used a cross-sectional hospital-based design. The study was carried out over a period of three months from July–September 2020. The sample size was 120 cancer patients. A consecutive sampling technique was used to select participants. Three validated questionnaires were used: DT, HADS and EORTC QLQ-C30 to assess, psychosocial distress, emotional distress and quality of life respectively. Results were presented using descriptive (frequency, percentage, mean) and inferential statistics (Chi square, Pearson’s correlation, ANOVA). Data were analysed with SPSS version 21. All statistics were considered significant at an alpha value set at 0.05 level.ResultsThe majority of patients 83 (69.2%) presented with clinically significant distress, with financial difficulties 87 (72.5%), fatigue 83 (69.2%), transportation 73 (60.8%) and difficulties with work/school 69(57.5%) being the most reported problems. Fifty nine (50.0%) and 56(47.5%) had moderate to severe anxiety and depression symptoms respectively. Overall on HADS, 67 patients (56.8%) presented with emotional distress. The quality of life was fair, with a mean of 52.4 ± 21.3.There was a statistically significant negative relationship (P < 0.0001), between psychosocial distress and quality of life of patients.ConclusionCancer patients suffer from psychosocial distress, which has a negative relationship on their quality of life. It is important that healthcare professionals working in these settings, assess psychosocial distress early in patients with cancer to improve the quality of care and enhance quality of life.

Financial and Psychosocial Distresses of Breast and Cervical Cancer Patients at the University College Hospital, Ibadan

PURPOSE The burden of Breast and Cervical cancer is increasing rapidly and these are leading causes of morbidity and mortality in women worldwide. The treatment and management of these illnesses are accompanied with both financial and psychological distresses to the patients. This study investigated the financial and psychosocial distresses of Breast and Cervical cancer patients at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. METHODS This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study that employed a convergent parallel, mixed method design. The study was conducted among 105 breast and cervical cancer patients receiving treatment from the Radiotherapy clinic at the Radiation Oncology Department of the University College Hospital, Ibadan. Data was obtained using a semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire and in-depth interview guide. The quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics and qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS The mean age of the respondents was 48.8 ± 10.0 years and almost half of the participants (45%) were aged between 51 and 60 years. Majority of the respondents (67.6%), were breast cancer patients while (32.4%) were cervical cancer patients. This study found out that (95.2%) of the respondents experienced high financial distress and (73.3%) of the respondents had a high level of psychosocial distress. There was an association between the level of financial distress of breast and cervical cancer patients and their psychosocial distress ( P = .001). Factors that contributed to the financial and psychosocial distresses as deduced from the qualitative interviews were; high cost of treatment, loss of income and negative body image. CONCLUSION This study revealed that breast and cervical cancer patients experience a high level of financial and psychosocial distresses and multi-component interventions such as health financing, advocacy, counseling, training and public enlightenment are proposed to address these challenges and improve quality of cancer care.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection: a systematic review of physical and psychosocial recovery following discharge from hospital.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is increasingly recognized as an important cause of myocardial infarction, particularly among women. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection survivors may not know what physical activity is safe and effective, and there may be a psychosocial burden of living with a SCAD diagnosis. This review aimed to determine the evidence regarding physical activity, cardiovascular risk factors, or associated factors, and the psychosocial impact of SCAD for SCAD survivors after hospital discharge. A systematic review was completed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. We searched Medline, Embase, CinAHL, PsychInfo, and Google Scholar until November 2021. Outcomes of interest were physical activity participation levels, cardiovascular risk factors and associated risk factors, and psychosocial recovery from SCAD. We included any study (qualitative or quantitative) that reported data pertinent to understanding the impact of SCAD on physical activity and psychosocial aspects of recovery. We also included papers that reported cardiovascular risk or associated risk factors where studies reported outcomes of SCAD survivors. We excluded papers that only provided information on in-hospital management. Any reports that were non-empirical were excluded. The review included 28 studies. These used a range of methods. None were randomized controlled trials. There were 4167 SCAD participants although some were sourced from the same SCAD registries, so they may not be unique. They were mainly female (n = 3897, 93.5%, range = 57.7-100%), with mean age 48.0 ± 9.8 years at index event. Participants mostly came from the USA, Canada, or The Netherlands. We found very limited evidence for cardiorespiratory fitness improvements following cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Existing CR was not tailored to SCAD specific needs and SCAD survivors lacked guidance about appropriate physical activity. Some participants had high levels of psychosocial distress. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection survivors highlighted the need for tailored support that included family members. Many SCAD survivors have traditional risk factors including hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, and overweight/obesity. Chest pain following SCAD is common. There is an urgent need to develop physical and psychological recovery programmes for SCAD survivors and test effectiveness via randomized controlled trials. Psychosocial support is particularly required, given the high burden of psychosocial issues. Prospero CRD42021254798.

Psychosocial Distress in Parents with Children Awaiting Surgery during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Due to resource restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, many pediatric patients are facing substantial delays for surgery, potentially resulting in additional distress for caregivers. We aimed to assess the experiences and psychosocial distress of parents during COVID-19 as they relate to the pandemic, waiting for surgery, and the combined effects of both events. The was a cross-sectional qualitative study. Parents with children who faced treatment delays during the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic for elective, non-emergent procedures across a variety of surgical specialties were recruited. Semi-structured telephone interviews and thematic analysis were utilized. Thematic saturation was reached with eighteen participants. Four themes were identified: coping with COVID-19, distress levels, quality and nature of communication with the surgical team, and the experience of COVID-19 related hospital restrictions. Participants reported varying levels of distress due to the delay in surgery, such as the fear of developmental delay or disease progression for their child. They also indicated their own physical and mental health had been impacted by emotional distress related to both COVID-19 and delays in treatment. Most participants experienced the COVID-19-related hospital restrictions as distressing. This related predominantly to limiting in-hospital caregivers to only one caregiver. Participants were found to have substantial levels of psychosocial distress. Targeted social and emotional support may be helpful in reducing parental distress as the pandemic timeframe continues. Within the limits of individual health systems, reducing restrictions to the number of allowed care givers may help allay distress felt by parents.

Emerging Adults and Social Distancing During COVID-19: Who Was More Likely to Follow Guidelines and What Were the Correlates With Well-Being and Weight-Related Behaviors?

The aim of this study is to identify the prevalence, predictors, and psychosocial well-being (depressive symptoms, stress) and weight-related behavior (eating behaviors, physical activity, and sedentary behavior) correlates of social distancing during COVID-19 among emerging adults. A rapid-response survey was sent to participants ( n=720; mean age=24.7 ± 2.0 years, 62% female) in a population-based cohort study in Minnesota during April–October 2020. Half of emerging adults reported fully social distancing. Emerging adults from White backgrounds were least likely to social distance while those from Asian backgrounds were most likely to social distance, in addition to those living with a parent. Females who partially/did not social distance reported less healthy eating behaviors, while males and “essential workers” reported higher levels of psychosocial distress. Public health messaging and practical supports for social distancing may need to be made more relevant to emerging adults during public health crises. Resources may need to differ depending on sex of emerging adult.

High levels of psychosocial distress among Australian frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey

BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a profound and prolonged impact on healthcare services and healthcare workers.AimsThe Australian COVID-19 Frontline Healthcare Workers Study aimed to investigate the severity...

Transition experiences of newly qualified registered graduate nurses employed in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

ObjectiveTo explore the experiences of newly qualified registered graduate nurses’ clinical and professional learning experiences, during their first six-months of post registration employment within a graduate nurse transition program in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). MethodNarrative inquiry with thematic analysis was used to explore the newly qualified registered graduate nurses’ accounts via semi-structured interviews, conducted between January 2018 – January 2019, of their clinical and professional learning during their employment in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. SettingIn total, eight newly qualified registered graduate nurses employed at two Western Australian Hospitals sites were recruited. FindingsThemes identified included: feeling unprepared; experiences of horizontal violence; the need for a supportive structural environment and seeking feedback. Participants reported overwhelming feelings of stress, emotional exhaustion, concerns for patient safety and for some, fear of early career burnout. ConclusionIn this study, newly qualified registered graduate nurses were clinically underprepared for entering a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with all participants reporting high levels of psychosocial distress. This was further compounded by a lack of structured support, horizontal violence, and inadequate or no regular feedback from preceptors, resulting from a negative workplace culture and poor educator behaviours. Recommendations for improving the experiences of newly qualified registered graduate nurses employed in the Neonatal Intensive Care are discussed.