Worries About COVID-19 Infection and Psychological Distress at Work and While Commuting

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the relationship between worry about COVID-19 infection in the workplace and while commuting to work and psychological distress in Japan. Methods: An internet monitor study was conducted. Out of a total of 33,302 participants, 26,841 people were included. The subjects were asked single-item questions about whether they were worried about COVID-19 infection in general, at work and while commuting to work. K6 was used to assess psychological distress. Results: The OR was significantly higher in association with worry about infection in the workplace at 1.71 (95%CI 1.53 to 1.92) and worry about infection while commuting at 1.49 (95%CI 1.32 to 1.67). Conclusions: This study suggests the need for psychological intervention to reduce worry about infection in response to public mental health challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Perceived Adequacy of Infection Control Practices and Symptoms of Anxiety Among In-Person Elementary School Educators in Ontario

“…The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and GAD-7 have been demonstrated to be highly correlated with each other, 30 and the corresponding prevalence rates of moderate and severe anxiety in our sample were 60.1% among women and 49.1% among men. Our results are consistent with a recent systematic review that documents the importance of employer-based infection control strategies to reduce psychological ill health among health care workers 31 and other studies on PPE and ICP adequacy and mental health among health care 10,12 and non–health care workers 13,14 …”

“…Our results are consistent with a recent systematic review that documents the importance of employer-based infection control strategies to reduce psychological ill health among health care workers 31 and other studies on PPE and ICP adequacy and mental health among health care 10,12 and non-health care workers. 13,14 Our study offers important insights into ICPs in Ontario during the reopening of schools. Within a hierarchy of controls, ICPs and PPE sit across different locations, with PPE referring to items worn by workers to prevent infection, whereas ICP refers to changes in how workers perform their duties, administrative controls to increase distancing, or the use of engineering controls in the workplace.…”

“…The mechanisms that lead to inadequate access to protections and mental health are likely through perceptions of increased risk, more negative work experiences, and greater stress 11 . Specifically related to COVID-19, inadequate provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) and infection control practices (ICPs) has been associated with higher levels of symptoms of anxiety among both health care 10,12 and non–health care workers 13,14 . The objectives of this article were to extend this work into the elementary school setting, to examine both the adequacy of ICPs and PPE among a sample of education workers in Ontario during the first 4 months of schools reopening in the province during the 2020–2021 school year, and to examine the relationship between the adequacy of ICPs and provision of PPE and symptoms of anxiety.…”

The impact of Chinese COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of peripheral facial nerve paralysis after optimizing policies

“…Supporting this hypothesis, study on PFNP patients who visited the emergency department during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy also found a similar pattern (14). Another reason could be that patients, both those who have had COVID-19 and those who have not, have concerns about worsening their condition by seeking medical care in hospitals (15). Older adult with underlying conditions such as hypertension and diabetes may choose to observe their symptoms at home instead of visiting hospitals for treatment.…”