Mental Health Outcomes and Coping Strategies Among Health Care Workers Exposed to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Abstract

Background: The recent pandemic condition developed from the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, have a profound effect on almost all the aspects of society. This outbreak has greatly compromised both the mental and physical health of the frontline healthcare workers and supporting hospital staff since they are responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of infected individuals with COVID-19. This study aimed to investigate the psychological impacts and factors causing stress among the healthcare workers & supporting hospital staff during the COVID-19 outbreak and also to identify the preferred coping strategies. Methodology: This cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted from 1st to 30th February 2020. The sample comprised of frontline healthcare workers & hospital staff providing supporting services like laboratory personnel & administrative workers. The data was collected using a structured self-administered online questionnaire focusing on the impacts of COVID-19, factors causing stress and the coping strategies used by frontline medical workers to deal with the psychological impacts of such pandemics. Results: A total of 127 frontline medical workers completed the survey. The findings from the present study suggested that frontline healthcare workers & hospital staff experience both psychological as well as emotional impacts due to COVID-19. The mean Impact of Event Scale (IES) score was 24.44±19.41 indicating partial PTSD or at least a few symptoms of PTSD. The major factor causing stress among these health workers was their fear of inflicting COVID-19 on family (33.1%). Among the coping strategies, emotion-focused coping techniques and positive thinking were found to be the most preferred strategies among the frontline medical workers and hospital staff in coping stress associated with the COVID-19 outbreak. Conclusion: The current study emphasizes the significance of the psychological impacts of COVID-19 among healthcare workers and the importance of psychiatric help for these long-term traumatic influences.

Clinical Variants, Characteristics, and Outcomes Among COVID-19 Patients: A Case Series Analysis at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan

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Effects of Thai Chi exercises, and laughter therapy on active aging in community-dwelling older adults: A systematic review.

“…The following quality criteria were applied to the articles: quasiexperimental and experimental design; loosen the geographical relevancy and included all geographically related articles for review with Happy-age intervention evaluation. For critically appraising studies specific to geriatric health and public health practice 25,72 . The selection of articles was reviewed in combination with the Population Intervene Comparison is on and Outcome (PICO) methodological quality assessment tool.…”

“…According to the theory of Active-aging and lifelong learning, education and skill development training can help older adults maintain their biological condition and productivity over time and increase social participation 22,23 . To assist senior citizens in achieving the goal of active aging 24 , a participatory and fun-based learning approach creates a standardized model 25 . Older people can increase their knowledge through staying active, socializing, or simply because they enjoy learning 26,27 .…”

“…To deal with such issues, long-distance Happy-age programs, including laughter therapy and Thai Chi exercise 36 , can effectively promote Active aging in Pakistani elders 37 . Consider active-aging to be the lifetime process of maximizing one's ability to function and socialize 25,38,39 . It will helps to improve social governance, maintain social harmony and stability, and promote high-quality economic development by improving the quality of life 25,40 .…”

“…Consider active-aging to be the lifetime process of maximizing one's ability to function and socialize 25,38,39 . It will helps to improve social governance, maintain social harmony and stability, and promote high-quality economic development by improving the quality of life 25,40 .…”