Significant Levels Of Anxiety Research Articles

English

Objectives: The main aim of this article was to analyze the emotional levels of anxiety amongst health professionals employed in prisons during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic. Material and method: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted by means of a validated anxiety questionnaire answered by 100 clinical nurses and nursing assistants residing in Spain and working in prisons. Alongside the demographic information, the test included 14 items related to anxiety levels. The questionnaire turned out to be highly reliable after carrying out an analysis with a Cronbach´s alpha of 0.935, demonstrating high reliability. Results: Over one third of health participants presented severe anxiety levels, with a greater impact on women than on men. The situation in centers for the elderly appears to be more tense and complex than in prisons, although the latter are far more overcrowded. However, both institutions show common factors, such as the vulnerability of their populations and a possible explosive outbreak, which would exceed the resources available in such institutions. Discussion: The significant levels of anxiety that nursing professionals showed in the study make it necessary to implement measures to avoid more serious future consequences in the medium and long term.

Perceived Detention Environment and Mental Health of Detainees in Immigration Detention Centers in Spain.

The increase in migratory flows worldwide has led to the creation of detention centers as a form of control of irregular migration. Recipient countries are responsible for protecting detainees' right to mental health, but the literature suggests that immigration detention centers are environments associated with complex mental health needs among the detainees. This study aims to approach the mental health of people detained in the immigration detention centers in Spain, a southern border of Europe. Eighty-seven migrants coming from different Latin American and African countries were interviewed using an adaptation of the Measure of Quality of Life in Detention (MQLD; Bosworth & Gerlach, 2020) to measure the perceived detention environment and The Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25 (HSCL-25; Derogatis et al., 1974) to assess mental health. The results show a high prevalence of detainees with significant levels of anxiety and depression (69%) and attempts at self-harm within the detention centers (19.5%). A more positive perception of the detention environment-especially concerning institutional decency and the relationship with officers-is related to a lower degree of negative mental health symptoms. Finally, people detained for more than 2weeks assess the detention environment more negatively than those detained for less time. Scientific contributions and social implications to ensure the mental health of detainees from a human rights-based approach are discussed.

Association between anxiety, depression and quality of life in male and female German students during the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundStudies show that three-quarters of mental disorders appear during young adulthood, which makes students a risk group. Especially people with anxiety and depression experience lower Quality of Life (QoL) compared to healthy persons. Furthermore, previous research found that there was a wide range of negative mental consequences triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to examine the association between anxiety, depression and QoL in male and female students at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: 297 German students (121 men, age spanmen: 18–41 years; 176 women, age spanwomen: 18–52 years) filled in the following questionnaires: World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Symptom-Checklist-90-R. Men and women did not differ significantly in their physical, psychological, environmental and global QoL. Results: While women showed higher raw anxiety scores, groups did not differ in terms of their raw depression scores. Furthermore, we found main effects of anxiety and depression on the four QoL subscales. Students´ QoL was highest if they were not affected by anxiety and depression, independently of gender. Psychological and social QoL was worst if the students reported marginal and particularly clinically significant levels of anxiety and depression. Men experienced worse psychological and social QoL than women for clinically significant anxiety levels. Conclusions: Interventions should target especially the psychological and the social subscales of QoL, as these areas are most affected by anxiety and depression. Possible interventions could be psychoeducational programs or participation in sports because it offers an opportunity for social interaction and goal-directed activity.

The burden of atopic dermatitis in Portuguese patients: an observational study

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin condition that significantly affects patients' lives and imposes both economic and non-economic burdens. The precise societal and individual consequences of AD remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to characterize AD in Portuguese patients and assess its personal, familial, and societal implications, including health status and quality of life. The research, conducted from June 2019 to January 2020, involved 204 confirmed AD patients in Portugal, who completed a 70-question questionnaire. Results show that, on average, patients experienced a two-year delay in diagnosis, with two-thirds having allergic comorbidities. Late-onset AD (after age 20) was found to be correlated with worsening symptoms post-diagnosis. Globally, patients reported substantial effects on health, quality of life, and mental well-being. Effects include significant levels of anxiety, frustration and sleep disorders. Severe AD correlated with more suffering and reduced perceived health, indicating a link between disease severity and quality of life. Remarkably, despite questionable effectiveness, 92% of severe AD patients were prescribed antihistamines, while only 19% received biological treatments. In Portugal, delayed AD diagnosis hinders timely treatment, and despite its profound impact and high comorbidity rates, AD patients tend to remain undertreated. Recognizing the personal and societal repercussions is crucial for enhancing care, contributing to improving QoL, social functioning and global well-being.

The Role of Ocimene in Decreasing α-Synuclein Aggregation using Rotenone-induced Rat Model.

Parkinson's disease is defined by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain of substantia nigra associated with Lewy bodies. The precise mechanism is not yet entirely understood. The study aims to determine whether ocimene has antiparkinsonian activity by reducing α-Synuclein aggregation levels in the brains of rotenone-induced rat models. 36 male rats were used for six groups, with six animals in each group. Vehicle, control (rotenone, 2.5 mg/kg, i.p), standard (L-Dopa, 10 mg/kg, i.p), Test drug of low dose (66.66 mg/kg, i.p), medium dose (100 mg/kg, i.p), and high dose (200 mg/kg, i.p) were administered to the rats. The open field, actophotometer, hanging wire, and catalepsy tests were used to assess the rat's motor performance. The expressions of biomarkers such as AchE, D2 Receptor, and α- Synuclein were evaluated, and their level of expression in the brain samples was checked using ELISA. Histopathological analysis was also carried out to determine the degree of neuron degeneration in the brain samples. The open field test showed significant anxiety levels, whereas test groups showed fewer anxiety levels but increased motor activity. The biochemical tests revealed that rotenonetreated rats had higher levels of AchE, but ocimene-treated rats had a significant decrease in AchE levels. The test drug-treated rats also expressed high levels of D2 receptors. In ocimenetreated rats, α-Synuclein aggregation was reduced, however, in rotenone-treated rats' brain samples, higher clumps of α-Synuclein were observed. Ocimene has neuroprotective properties. As a result, this essential oil might be helpful as a therapeutic treatment for Parkinson's disease.

Fear of giving birth alone: Experiences of psychological distress, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and coping- strategies of childbearing women during COVID-19

BackgroundPsychological distress during pregnancy is a well-documented risk factor for adverse maternal outcomes. Distress related to the COVID-19 pandemic may further increase the vulnerability of pregnant women to negative mental health outcomes. AimTo explore the mental health experiences of pregnant women, focusing on mental health outcomes, challenges related to the pandemic, coping strategies, and factors buffering mental health factors during the restricted COVID-19 lockdown period. MethodsA mixed-methods survey study was conducted, examining symptoms of anxiety, depression, and burnout among 21 pregnant women. Qualitative data were gathered through open-ended questions about participants’ experiences of challenges, coping strategies and buffering factors amid the pandemic. Symptoms of anxiety, depression and burnout were calculated, and qualitative data was thematically analyzed. ResultsApproximately one-third (24 %) of the respondents reported clinically significant levels of depression, 19 % reported clinically significant levels of anxiety, and 43 % reported experiencing burnout. All participants reported distress and emotional burden, including fear, worry, stress and anxiety related to the pandemic. Specific concerns such as fear of giving birth alone, fear of the consequences due to lockdown restrictions, insufficient information, disruption of prenatal healthcare services, and fear of miscarriage were prevalent among the participants. Social support, financial stability, stable relationships, adherence to daily routines, reduced stress and social demands, a calmer daily life, physical activity, and less work-related stress including working from home, emerges as buffering factors that aided women in coping with pandemic-related distress. ConclusionHealthcare providers should prioritize stability, predictability, and minimizing disruptions to prenatal care. Broad-based screening is crucial to identify women at risk of depression, anxiety, and burnout. Recommendations for clinical pathways aimed at pregnant women are discussed.

Anxiety Predicts Worse Cardiorespiratory Fitness Outcomes in Cardiac Rehabilitation for Lower Socioeconomic Status Patients.

The purpose of this study was to show that patients in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) with lower socioeconomic status (SES) have worse clinical profiles and higher rates of psychiatric difficulties and they have lower cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) improvements from CR than their counterparts with higher SES. Improvement in CRF during CR predicts better long-term health outcomes. Research suggests that higher anxiety impairs CRF in structured exercise regimes and is overrepresented among patients with lower SES. However, no study has determined whether this relationship holds true in CR. This study is a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial to improve CR attendance among patients with lower SES. Anxiety (ASEBA ASR; Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment, Adult Self Report) and CRF measures (metabolic equivalent tasks [METs peak ]) were collected prior to CR enrollment and 4 mo later. Regression was used to examine the association of anxiety with CRF at 4 mo while controlling for other demographic and clinical characteristics. Eight-eight participants were included in the analyses, 31% of whom had clinically significant levels of anxiety ( T ≥ 63). Higher anxiety significantly predicted lower exit CRF when controlling for baseline CRF, age, sex, qualifying diagnosis, and number of CR sessions attended ( β =-.05, P = .04). Patients with clinically significant levels of anxiety could be expected to lose >0.65 METs peak in improvement. The results from this study suggest that anxiety, which is overrepresented in populations with lower SES, is associated with less CRF improvement across the duration of CR. The effect size was clinically meaningful and calls for future research on addressing psychological factor in CR.

Differences in the health-related quality of life in patients with asthma living in urban and rural areas in the Amur Region of Russian Federation

Background Asthma usually arises from an interaction between host and environmental factors. Growing attention has been paid to a place of residence as a factor shaping health-related quality of life (QoL). This study investigated the rural-urban disparity in QoL among adult asthma patients in the Amur region of Russian Federation. Materials and methods This cross-sectional study included 351 randomly selected adults with asthma. We analyzed QoL (SF-36 and AQLQ scores), asthma control (ACT), and anxiety and depression (HADS) depending on the place of residence (urban vs. rural). Results The scale “Role Emotional” (RE) of SF-36 was significantly lower in patients from rural areas compared to urban residents (59.3±3.1 vs. 70.4±2.3 points; p = 0.0042). In the urban group, the correlation analysis demonstrated a clear influence of RE on patients’ own assessment of their physical functioning (PF, r = 0.53; p<0.0001). Both groups demonstrated low “Social Functioning” (SF). In the group of urban residents, correlation analysis revealed the presence of positive correlations of SF-36 domains reflecting physical (PF, RP, BP) and social functioning (SF, VT) with most scales of both QoL questionnaires. The domains of the emotional sphere (RE and MH) positively correlated with all scales of both QoL questionnaires among urban residents. In the group of rural residents, a comparative analysis showed the absence of significant correlations between more of the QoL scales. Although Asthma Control Test did not differ between groups, we noted a significantly higher need for β2-agonists in rural areas compared to urban areas (4.2±0.6 vs. 2.7±0.3 inh/day, respectively; p = 0.0221). The frequency of urban residents with a clinically significant level of anxiety (56 persons, or 25.2%) turned out to be lower compared to rural residents (45 persons, or 34.8%; χ2 = 34.08; p<0.001). Conclusion The burden of asthma introduces a greater imbalance in the health-related QoL of rural residents compared to urban residents in the Amur region of the Russian Federation. The absence of interrelationships of some QoL domains in rural residents suggested a disunity of the physical, psychological and social aspects of life. The rural residents suppress physical discomfort by the more frequent use of short bronchodilators. They often showed emotional instability with a predominance of anxiety, which affected the decrease in QoL in the psycho-emotional sphere.

The Mediating Effect of Resilience on the Relationship Between Symptom Burden and Anxiety/Depression Among Chinese Patients with Primary Liver Cancer After Liver Resection.

Primary liver cancer (PLC) is a common cancer of the digestive system. Patients with PLC often experience a heavy symptom burden and along with a significant levels of anxiety and depression after liver resection. High levels of symptom burden can lead to increased anxiety and depression, whereas high levels of resilience can alleviate these conditions. Therefore, we aimed to explore the relationships among symptom burden, resilience, and anxiety/depression in Chinese patients with PLC after liver resection and to determine whether resilience mediates the relationship between symptom burden and anxiety/depression. A total of 223 postoperative PLC patients were recruited from two public hospitals in Anhui Province, China. All participants completed the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). The mediating effect of resilience was estimated using the bootstrap method via IBM SPSS AMOS 26.0. The mean HADS score was 12.37 ± 6.03 points in postoperative PLC patients. Among these patients, 78 (34.98%) had anxiety, and 64 (28.70%) had depression, as indicated by a subscale score ≥ 8. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that anxiety/depression was positively associated with symptom burden (p < 0.05) and negatively associated with resilience (p < 0.05). Furthermore, resilience partially mediated the relationship between symptom burden and anxiety/depression (β = 0.04; 95% confidence interval: 0.01-0.08). The levels of anxiety and depression in postoperative PLC patients should be decreased. Resilience partially mediated the relationship between symptom burden and anxiety/depression, but the indirect effect was much weaker than the direct effect of symptom burden on anxiety/depression. Consequently, rather than focusing primarily on resilience interventions, joint symptom-psychological interventions focusing on symptoms should be considered for patients with PLC after hepatectomy to reduce the levels of anxiety/depression.

Assessing the Anxiety and Knowledge about Monkeypox Virus: A Cross-Sectional Cohort Study.

Introduction Recent cases of human monkeypox virus (MPXV) infections have raised global health concerns, as sporadic instances have occurred in various regions, prompting investigations into the potential for increased transmission. This underscores the importance of effective communication strategies in addressing the emerging challenges associated with this viral ailment. The study was conducted to understand public anxiety and knowledge related to MPXV infection, particularly in the context of emerging infectious diseases. Our aims included assessing anxiety levels and knowledge about monkeypox infection among the Saudi population, as well as their willingness to receive vaccinations if available. Methods A cross-sectional cohort study among the adult Saudi population was conducted. A questionnaire with four sections, including demographic data and disease knowledge, comprised optimized questions of the standard generalized anxiety disorder assessment (GAD-7) as well as questions related to acceptance of getting the vaccine if it could be afforded. Results Out of a total of 5298 participants, 927 (17.5%) showed different degrees of GAD-7 anxiety. Females showed a significantly higher rate of anxiety (487/2189, 22.2%) than males (440/3109, 14.2%). People aged 46 to 55 and >55 years old showed significantly higher rates of anxiety (30.7% and 27.2%). There is an overall decrease in knowledge and awareness about the MPXV. Interestingly, 59% of the participants admitted that they would get the MPXV vaccine if it were made available. There was a positive correlation between the anxiety level and the response of people toward the MPXV vaccine if it were available. Conclusion Our study underscores a significant level of anxiety and a notable lack of awareness concerning MPXV infection. Although a substantial number of participants expressed their willingness to receive an MPXV vaccine, our findings emphasize the pressing need for improved public education and awareness campaigns to alleviate anxiety levels and enhance understanding of this infectious disease. This effort is crucial for mitigating health concerns and facilitating well-informed decision-making among the Saudi population.

Stress, depression, anxiety, and quality of life among the healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic in Syria: a multi-center study

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic emerged as an expected source of stress and anxiety as the healthcare workers had to work for long hours in close contact with infected patients, thus increasing the probability of medical errors and threatening the patients’ safety. This study aims to measure the levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and stress among Syrian healthcare workers and their quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in six central hospitals in Damascus, Syria. Data were collected from 1 to 30 June—2021. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale—21 (DASS-21) was used to evaluate depression, anxiety, and stress among healthcare workers. Quality of life was assessed using the EUROHIS-QOL 8-item index.ResultsA total of 700 participants were included in this study. 61.6% (n = 431) were males and 38.4% (n = 269) were females. Younger ages (18–29 years old) were significantly associated with higher levels of depression and stress (p < 0.0083). Female healthcare workers had higher significant levels of anxiety (p < 0.05). Significant anxiety and stress levels were reported when healthcare workers had contact with COVID-19 patients, even if they had protective equipment (p < 0.05). Half of the participants (50%; n = 349) reported a good quality of life.ConclusionStress levels and depressive symptoms were remarkably higher in healthcare workers of ages 18 and 29 years old, whereas anxiety levels were significantly higher and more severe in female healthcare workers. Moreover, direct interaction with COVID-19 patients was associated with higher levels of stress and anxiety symptoms.

B - 95 A Case Study of Suspected Klein-Levin Syndrome and Associated Anxiety.

Neuropsychological assessment of ethnoracially diverse patients can be challenging for various reasons, including limited normative data, differing worldviews, stigma, and mental health service utilization and access. This case study describes the use of a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment to assist with differential diagnosis and treatment recommendations. The patient was a 25-year-old Asian and White female who was referred to rule out attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Her history included homeschooling through 8th grade, uncommon sleep disturbances, seasonal allergies, and a diagnosis of major depressive disorder. Regarding sleep disturbance, she endorsed monthly episodes of sleeping for up to 12hours at a time, sometimes sleeping and waking on the floor or elsewhere not in her bedroom. She underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation. The patient's cognitive profile was generally intact, with relative cognitive inefficiencies in visuospatial/visuoconstructional abilities, working memory, and processing speed domains. She also endorsed clinically significant levels of anxiety. These findings, in conjunction with family history and sleep disturbance, raised concern for Klein-Levin Syndrome (KLS) and the impact of co-occurring anxiety. A sleep study, educational/vocational accommodations, psychotherapy, and follow up evaluation in one year were recommended. While sleep-wake disorders and ADHD can co-occur, sleep-wake disorders can be overlooked by mental health professionals, thus increasing the likelihood of misdiagnosis and potential for harm. Adding additional complexity, expressions of psychological distress vary cross-culturally. Taken together, neuropsychological training must include frameworks that attend to cultural and contextual factors. These cases may frequently be seen in the context of educational or vocational concern referrals.

Competition Anxiety in Combat Sports and the Importance of Mental Toughness.

Combat sports require participants to engage in potentially dangerous forms of contact-based competition. Pressure to succeed, coupled with the risk of severe injury can induce significant levels of anxiety, which if uncontrolled, can negatively impact performance and possibly promote unsporting conduct. The present study examined competitive anxiety levels of combat sports athletes and determined whether self-reported scores were associated with mental toughness and Sportspersonship attitudes. A cross-sectional survey design was used whereby participants (N = 194) completed a battery of questionnaires measuring competitive combat sport experiences, demographic details, Sportspersonship traits (compliance towards rules, respect for opponents, and game perspective), and competition anxiety (somatic, cognitive, and self-confidence; reported retrospectively). Results suggest that mentally tough athletes experience lower levels of cognitive and somatic anxiety, and higher self-confidence, prior to competitions. Findings also found that athletes endorsing more altruistic and respectful attitudes in sport (Sportspersonship) reported higher levels of competition anxiety. The findings demonstrate that mental toughness is allied to positive attributes and could potentially be operationalized to improve both the retention and performance of combat sports athletes. Thus, the authors advocate the use of mental toughness coaching interventions within combat sports.

Validity, Reliability, and Cross-Cultural Comparability of a Problematic Overstudying Scale across European, North American, and Asian countries

AbstractProblematic overstudying has been conceptualized as a potential addictive disorder and an early form of work addiction. Previous studies have shown that it is a different phenomenon from healthy learning engagement and is associated with considerable functional impairments. A valid, reliable, and convenient screening measure is warranted to provide cross-culturally comparable and generalizable findings, particularly from large epidemiological studies. The seven-item Bergen Study Addiction Scale (BStAS), based on an addiction framework, was administered alongside learning engagement and anxiety measures in a total sample of 5,884 university students from three continents and five countries: India, Norway, Poland, Portugal, and the United States. The modified five-item version of the scale showed measurement invariance across countries and between genders and allowed for meaningful cross-cultural and gender comparisons. Scores on the BStAS were positively associated with learning engagement, anxiety, and female gender across countries. Clinically significant anxiety levels occurred about 1.7 times more often among students who scored above the cutoff for study addiction. It is concluded that the five-item BStAS is a valid, reliable scale that can be used in different cultures and provides comparable and generalizable results. Future studies with the BStAS may provide greater insight into the nature of problematic overstudying.

Predictors of parental anxiety in a paediatric emergency department

BackgroundChildren experience significant anxiety in the paediatric ED. Although research from preoperative and primary care samples indicates that parents experience anxiety surrounding their children’s medical procedures, less is known about...

Prevalence of Anxiety among Paramedic Students in Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND: Anxiety disorders are among the most common psychiatric illnesses, resulting in considerable functional impairment and distress. The stressful nature and complex work demands of studying and practicing paramedics make them more prone to psychiatric illnesses, one of which is anxiety. AIM: This study aims to determine the prevalence of anxiety among paramedic students in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among paramedic students in the 3rd and 4th year of the Emergency Medical Services of the College of Applied Medical Sciences at all King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Science branches in Jeddah, Riyadh, and Al-Ahsa’a, Saudi Arabia. We obtained the data from our sample size during May 2020. The study utilized the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) test to screen for anxiety and assess its severity in paramedic students. RESULTS: There were 181 participants, of which 133 (73.5%) were male students. Most participants reported being unmarried, 99.4%. Regarding the GAD-7 test, 32.6% had no anxiety, whereas the most had mild anxiety, 43.1%, and 14.9% had moderate anxiety, with the fewest, 9.4% having severe anxiety. CONCLUSION: Significant anxiety level was reported among the students, and most showed excessive worrying and nervousness, which affected them academically and occupationally. More research is required to assess the prevalence of anxiety among paramedic practitioners. Addressing the impact of anxiety on students at an earlier stage can improve their academic and work performance.

Procedure videos to support rare clinical procedures in acute cardiac nursing, an implementation evaluation

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Central Coast Local Health District Research Grant. Background Cardiology procedures are often lifesaving and time-critical, but some are so infrequent that nurses may have rarely encountered them in practice. Videos demonstrating rare procedures can potentially support clinicians performing rare clinical procedures. We evaluated using locally created nursing clinical procedure videos as an adjunct to traditional written procedures. Purposes This study evaluated the implementation of 7 newly created clinical procedure videos on temporary cardiac pacing (n=3), non-invasive ventilation (NIV) (n=2) and pericardiocentesis (n=2). Methods A pre/ post -implementation Survey based on the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), Clinical Reasoning Cycle and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was distributed via email and Facebook groups to over 500 eligible nurses in the implementation sites. In addition, data from the hosting platform Vimeo for the implementation period and procedure numbers (15 October 2020 to 15 March 2021) were analysed. Results 122 respondents, 86% female, viewed the videos, mean age of 40.75 years (20 to 71 years). The most common procedure during the implementation period was NIV (n=170), followed by Pericardiocentesis (n=7) and Temporary Cardiac Pacing (n=5). The total number of video views over the 6 months was 598, temporary pacing-preparation (n=152), NIV Mask why and when (n=137), NIV Set up and Patient Care (n=89), Pacing: Procedure (n=62), Cardiac Tamponade (n=52), Pacing: Threshold testing and Pericardiocentesis Procedure (n=51 each). Participants agreed /strongly agreed that video procedures increased their recall (93.8%), made learning a better experience (98.3%), and was time-saving (88.0%) (Figure 2). Participants preferred videos to be an adjunct to existing written procedures and not a replacement (78%). Major themes from qualitative feedback included participants describing them as "clear and easy to understand" and the benefits of videos for rare procedures "Rarely seen in ED easy to follow and fast refresher when the procedure is time critical". Prior to implementation, the mean score for state anxiety before a rare procedure was 41.43 (SD= 9.307) with scores over 40 indicating clinically significant levels of anxiety. Older age and a higher number of years in the role were significantly correlated with lower anxiety levels (r = -0.144 p = .037; and r = 0.532 p = .000) perceived anxiety related to rare procedures did not significantly change from pre- to post-implementation. Conclusion Clinical procedure videos at the point of care are acceptable and valued. Findings suggest videos are a useful adjunct to written procedures for time-critical or rare procedures.Figure 2:Experience with video.

Effect of COVID-19 Lockdown on Health of Police Personnel in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh

Background: COVID-19 has had an impact on all sectors of society. However, the impacts on police personnel has not been discussed enough. This study aims to identify the effects that COVID-19 lockdown duties had on the police personnel of Eluru, India. Methods: Data was collected from the available personnel in the substations of Eluru (n=82). After taking informed consent, a questionnaire was administered with three parts: A (socio-demographic details, co-morbidities information and vitals), B (DASS-21 questionnaire), and C (sleep schedule and habits). Results: Among the total respondents, 30.4% of the total respondents have significant levels of stress and 17.07% have significant levels of anxiety. Psychological impact had a positive correlation with gender, marital status and age group. Females, married officers and officers in older age groups were found to have higher levels of anxiety. Majority of the respondents got 7 hours or more sleep. The police regularly use stimulants with tea being the most common (84.1%), drinking an avg. 2 cups per day. This study found no correlation between BMI, presence of comorbidity (Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus), and the sleeping habits with psychological impact; however, there was a notable increase in the blood pressure and blood sugar levels post-lockdown. Conclusion: Due to the retrospective nature of the study, the police personnel of Eluru have grown accustomed to the lockdown duties and appear to have developed coping mechanisms. Regardless, it is recommended to encourage further studies regarding the health of police officers and the COVID-19 impacts on the health of police personnel.

Generalised anxiety disorder, depressive symptoms and their subjective change after the first wave of COVID-19 among gamers in Poland

Previous studies have indicated that levels of emotional distress were considerably elevated during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, some longitudinal studies did not confirm these findings. There is a very limited number of studies on specific subpopulations, such as video gamers in this particular period. Playing video games may have either a beneficial influence on mental health by diminishing stress or a detrimental impact in terms of increasing depression and anxiety. It is, therefore, important to establish whether regular gamers differ from the general population in terms of symptoms of depression and anxiety during COVID-19. A total of 1023 participants (aged 18–50) participated in the study. The sample was composed of gamers and was representative of the Polish population. Participants completed a modified version of GAD-7, PHQ-9 online, addressing subjective change in anxiety and depressive symptoms. 25% of the sample reported clinically significant anxiety levels, and 35% mentioned depression. There were no differences in anxiety and depression levels between the investigated sample of gamers and the general population. However, up to 30% of individuals reported an increase in subjective change in anxiety or depressive symptoms during COVID-19. A further 30% reported a downward subjective change in anxiety or depressive symptoms during COVID-19. The remaining 40% declared a lack of change in the subjective change in anxiety or depressive symptoms during COVID-19. Those who reported an increase scored substantially higher in anxiety and depression than other groups. This indicates that the COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted people's mental health along a syndemic-syndaimonic continuum. COVID-19 might have been harmful to those with already poorer mental health and beneficial to those with good mental health. It is also important to plan interventions targeting vulnerable individuals who report clinically significant levels of anxiety and depression – women and younger adults and those who subjectively perceive their emotional condition to deteriorate during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Ducks, elephants and sharks: Using LEGO® Serious Play® to surface the ‘hidden curriculum’ of equality, diversity and inclusion

Despite widespread agreement on the importance of preparing management students for working in diverse organisations, there is evidence that this is often ignored or marginalised in formal curricula. Our article draws on the concept of the hidden curriculum to present the results of a project in which business school academics and support staff explored the ‘unthought knowns’ that influence how equality, diversity and inclusion are, or are not, engaged with in the classroom. Our data were generated during workshops using the LEGO® Serious Play® methodology in which participants built LEGO® models to develop their own understandings of equality, diversity and inclusion. The models, and the discussions about them, uncovered complexities and contradictions inherent within these topics, alongside significant levels of anxiety and fear. Our study makes two contributions: first, through the animal metaphors that featured in the models, we identify some of the anxieties that are generated by these topics which are likely to influence the hidden curriculum. Second, our innovative use of LEGO® Serious Play® contains important implications about the actual mechanism through which such insights can be ‘surfaced’ so that they become available for reflection and thought.