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Mental Health Disorders and Nursing Implications in the COVID-19 Era
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Mental Health Disorders and Nursing Implications in the COVID-19 Era

A special issue of Psych (ISSN 2624-8611). This special issue belongs to the section "Neuropsychology, Mental Health and Brain Disorders".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2022) | Viewed by 16147

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Elsa Vitale

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Mental Health, Local Healthcare Company Bari, Via X Marzo, 43, 70026 Modugno, BA, Italy
Interests: psychiatric nursing; holistic nursing; orthopedic nursing; gender role research
Prof. Dr. Eman Salman Taie

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Nursing, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt
Interests: nursing administration; nursing education; human resource development (nurses and others); artificial intelligence in nursing

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The present Special Issue will explore mental health disorders and nursing implications in the COVID-19 era across all areas of nursing to provide a multidimensional overview of the present issue.

Since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has brought about rapid and unprecedented changes to daily activities, the spread of the virus, its death toll and the drastic measures taken to contain the disease have continued to be significant. Despite the considerable efforts to enact measures to identify infected people, mental health needs have been relatively neglected. In past mass tragedies, particularly those caused by infectious diseases, the general population experienced fear and anxiety, negatively impacting their psychological well-being. In fact, studies have reported many psychiatric symptoms in the earliest stage of the pandemic, such as persistent depression, anxiety, panic attacks and even self-harm, and there were higher levels of depression in people who had been quarantined or whose families and friends had been quarantined due to possibility of infection.

The global COVID-19 pandemic also has challenged healthcare leaders everywhere to rapidly address challenges in quality, safety, patient family and the workforce. Nursing leaders have organized emergency care management; adapted infection prevention guidelines; developed supply chain methods; and directly cared for patients, families and nursing personnel through their constant presence on the site.

The present Special Issue will underline mental health disorders occurring among nurses and the general population and nursing implications of these conditions in the context of COVID-19. Additionally, research on conditions related to the COVID-19 era, such as nurse leaders' challenges, empowering leader behavior, nursing workload, nursing work environmental organization and technology innovations, will be considered for this multidisciplinary issue on the COVID-19 era and related nursing implications.

Dr. Elsa Vitale
Prof. Dr. Eman Salman Taie
Guest Editors

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • mental health disorders: anxiety, depression, insomnia
  • nursing implications
  • nurse leaders' challenges
  • empowering leader behavior in COVID-19
  • nursing education
  • general population and nursing interventions
  • nursing workload
  • nursing work environment organization
  • communication
  • technology innovations

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 620 KiB  
Article
Socio-Occupational and Health Conditions in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Professionals during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain
by Fernanda Gil-Almagro, Fernando Jose García-Hedrera, Francisco Javier Carmona-Monge, Cecilia Peñacoba-Puente and Patricia Catalá-Mesón
Psych 2022, 4(4), 868-881; https://doi.org/10.3390/psych4040064 - 3 Nov 2022
Viewed by 1494
Abstract
Objective: The aim of this research is to analyze the socio-occupational and health conditions of Intensive Care Units (ICU) health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. In addition, with regard to the working conditions (availability of personal protective equipment—PPE, workload and patient/professional [...] Read more.
Objective: The aim of this research is to analyze the socio-occupational and health conditions of Intensive Care Units (ICU) health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. In addition, with regard to the working conditions (availability of personal protective equipment—PPE, workload and patient/professional ratio), this research aims to analyze the possible differences depending on the Spanish region that was sampled and their professional category, as well as their relationship with the characteristic symptoms of COVID-19 (myalgias and respiratory distress). Method: A cross-sectional study performed with an online questionnaire, which was spread throughout all of the Spanish autonomous communities/regions. Results: The sample consisted of 461 ICU professionals in Spain, of whom, 94% reported an increase in their workload, and 43% reported a patient/professional ratio that was higher than it usually is. The median professional experience in the ICU was 9.73 years, with 47% of them having less than 5 years of experience in it. About 80% had undergone some diagnostic tests. There is a significant difference in ‘Serology (+)’ in terms of sex, with males having a serology (+) in 26% of the cases and females having it in 13% of the cases (p = 0.011). Most of the professionals (80%) were concerned about a possible infection, and up to 96% were worried about infecting their family members. The most common COVID-19 symptom was a headache, with there being a higher incidence of this in women. Significant differences were observed with respect to the availability of appropriate PPE depending on the Spanish region (i.e., Cataluña had best rate of PPE availability) (p = 0.005). The higher incidence of myalgias and respiratory distress were associated with a lower availability of PPE and a higher patient/professional ratio. Conclusions: The ICU staff reported an increase in their workload, with an increase in the amount of staff who had less experience. A high percentage of them have suffered symptoms, although the proportion of positive tests was low. The most characteristic symptoms of COVID-19 seem to be related to the working conditions. The results show the socio-occupational and health conditions of Spanish ICU professionals during the pandemic and point to the need to establish occupational risk-prevention measures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health Disorders and Nursing Implications in the COVID-19 Era)
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11 pages, 579 KiB  
Article
Stress and Resilient Coping among Nurses: Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic
by Hussein M. Magdi
Psych 2022, 4(3), 615-625; https://doi.org/10.3390/psych4030047 - 19 Sep 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3806
Abstract
(1) Background: the COVID-19 pandemic is still taking over the world, and with new virus strains, the burden on the health systems and healthcare teams is yet to end. The study explored stress and employed resilient coping measures among nurses working with COVID-19 [...] Read more.
(1) Background: the COVID-19 pandemic is still taking over the world, and with new virus strains, the burden on the health systems and healthcare teams is yet to end. The study explored stress and employed resilient coping measures among nurses working with COVID-19 patients. (2) Methods: the current study used a convergent triangulation design using a qualitative and quantitative approach, with a sample of 113 nurses working at Beni-Suef University Hospital between November 2021 and April 2022 using an online form. Data were collected using a sociodemographic characteristics questionnaire, the Nursing Stress Scale, Brief Resilient Coping Scale, and a qualitative interview. (3) Results: the studied nurses experienced severe stress, with moderate-to-low resilient coping in total. There was a strong negative highly statistically significant correlation between stress and coping. Qualitative data analysis showed that attention to the spiritual side, communicating with friends and family, accepting the current situation, and helping others in need were key themes that emerged to moderate studied nurses’ stress. (4) Conclusions: nurses who work with COVID-19 patients experience high levels of stress regardless of their characteristics; spiritual coping strategies, communication with family, and helping others were the dominant resilient coping approaches employed by nurses to moderate stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health Disorders and Nursing Implications in the COVID-19 Era)
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12 pages, 481 KiB  
Article
COVID-19 Pandemic Highlights the Importance of Inclusive Leadership in Egyptian Hospitals to Improve Nurses’ Psychological Distress
by Eman Salman Taie and Mohamed A. Zoromba
Psych 2022, 4(3), 537-548; https://doi.org/10.3390/psych4030041 - 29 Aug 2022
Viewed by 2111
Abstract
Background: The pandemic has highlighted the crucial role of nurses in health services. Nurses work at the forefront of the healthcare system, provide infection control training, and help reduce the spread of misinformation about the pandemic. Inclusive leaders create psychological safety that [...] Read more.
Background: The pandemic has highlighted the crucial role of nurses in health services. Nurses work at the forefront of the healthcare system, provide infection control training, and help reduce the spread of misinformation about the pandemic. Inclusive leaders create psychological safety that improves motivation and boosts job performance. Aim: To explore the effect of nurse managers’ inclusive leadership style on nurses’ psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic in Egyptian hospitals. Method: This was a quasi-experimental study. The study subjects consisted of two groups: managers (171) and staff nurses (1573). The study was conducted in four hospitals (one university hospital, one private hospital, one therapeutic institution, and one health insurance hospital). Three tools were used for collecting data (Inclusive Leader Questionnaire, Nurse Managers’ Knowledge about Inclusive Leadership, and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale). Results: In total, 67.25% of staff nurses perceived their nurse managers as poor inclusive leaders, and only 12.86% perceived them as good inclusive leaders. Regarding nurse managers’ knowledge about inclusive leadership, 76.023% had unsatisfactory knowledge levels before awareness sessions, and only 7.017% had a satisfactory level compared to after awareness sessions, when the majority of them had satisfactory knowledge levels. Furthermore, before awareness sessions, staff nurses experienced mild to moderate psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic, and only 8.2% were severe. After awareness sessions, 58.55% of them experienced mild psychological distress, and others became well (25.8%). Conclusions: Nurse managers lack knowledge about inclusive leadership before conducting awareness sessions. The majority of staff nurses perceived their nurse managers as poor inclusive leaders. Satisfactory knowledge levels among nurse managers after awareness sessions improved nurses’ psychological distress. Finally, there were strong, statistically significant positive correlations between inclusive leadership and nurses’ psychological distress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health Disorders and Nursing Implications in the COVID-19 Era)
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10 pages, 276 KiB  
Article
Anxiety, Depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Physicians Compared to Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Observational, Cross Sectional, Multicentric Study
by Roberto Lupo, Stefano Botti, Alessandra Rizzo, Alessia Lezzi, Antonino Calabrò, Luana Conte, Cosimo Petrelli, Cosimo Longo and Elsa Vitale
Psych 2022, 4(3), 465-474; https://doi.org/10.3390/psych4030036 - 2 Aug 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2419
Abstract
(1) Background: The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the precarious health situation of our country, thanks to the grueling workloads caused by understaffing and fear of contracting COVID-19. By considering this critical situation, frontline healthcare professionals who have been directly involved in the diagnosis, [...] Read more.
(1) Background: The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the precarious health situation of our country, thanks to the grueling workloads caused by understaffing and fear of contracting COVID-19. By considering this critical situation, frontline healthcare professionals who have been directly involved in the diagnosis, treatment, and care of SARS-CoV-2 patients are now at risk of developing psychological distress and other mental health symptoms, accomplices of the fear of contracting the COVID-19 and the exhausting workloads. (2) Methods: An observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study was conducted by administering an online questionnaire to all Italian physicians and nurses who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic. The questionnaire consists of socio-demographic characteristics, an assessment of anxiety levels with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), which also assessed trait and state anxiety, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to evaluate the condition of depressive severity, and, finally, the Impact of Event Scale–Revised (IES–R), which was administered in order to quantify the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among the participants. (3) Results: A total of 770 Italian healthcare workers were enrolled in this study. Of these, 95 (12.30%) were physicians and 675 (87.70%) were nurses. By considering PTSD, anxiety, and depression levels between the physicians and nurses recruited, a significant difference was reported in the STAI-1 assessment, as both physicians and nurses reported slight and moderate levels (p = 0.033). (4) Conclusions: Physicians and nurses, who have been subjected to physical impoverishment, with the infinite physical forces spent to support the pace of work at the limits of the possible, but above all mental capacity, with the anxiety of having to face an unknown enemy, such as COVID-19. This has resulted in a significant increase in anxiety, depression, post-traumatic symptoms, and sleep disturbances, with possible repercussions not only on the quality of life of the physicians and nurses but also on the quality of assistance provided. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health Disorders and Nursing Implications in the COVID-19 Era)
9 pages, 269 KiB  
Article
Exploring Internet Addiction in Italian Nurses during the COVID-19 Outbreak
by Roberto Lupo, Simone Zacchino, Alessia Lezzi, Pierluigi Lezzi, Antonino Calabrò, Maicol Carvello, Luana Conte and Elsa Vitale
Psych 2022, 4(2), 292-300; https://doi.org/10.3390/psych4020026 - 2 Jun 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2210
Abstract
(1) Background: Nomophobia is considered a digital and virtual contemporary society disorder and refers to discomfort, anxiety, nervousness, or distress caused by being out of contact with a cell phone or computer. The present study had a twofold objective: to evaluate the expert [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Nomophobia is considered a digital and virtual contemporary society disorder and refers to discomfort, anxiety, nervousness, or distress caused by being out of contact with a cell phone or computer. The present study had a twofold objective: to evaluate the expert use of the Internet among Italian nurses by correlating it with socio-demographic characteristics, such as: sex, years of work experience, professional role, and level of nursing education; and to assess a possible increase in the levels of nomophobia among Italian nurses during COVID-19 compared to the pre-pandemic period. (2) Methods: An observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study was conducted from April to September 2020, such as during the First Wave of the COVID-19 outbreak. (3) Results: A total of 502 nurses were enrolled in the present study. Significantly differences were reported in the IAT (Internet Addiction Test) levels according to socio-demographic characteristics since males reported significantly higher IAT levels than females (p < 0.001). Nurses who worked more than 6 years reported significantly higher IAT levels (p = 0.031) than their younger colleagues. More nursing managers and coordinators reported significantly higher IAT levels than registered nurses (p < 0.001). This trend was repeated by considering the nursing educational level, as nurses who recorded more years of nursing educational level reported significantly higher IAT levels than the others (p = 0.003). Additionally, significant differences were reported according to all the socio-demographic characteristics considered and IAT subdimensions, namely: Salience, Excessive Use, Neglect Work, Anticipation, and Lack of Control. (4) Conclusions: The study revealed higher levels of Internet addiction in men than in women during the COVID-19 pandemic period, as well as a significant correlation between nomophobia, years of work experience, and the role of nursing coordinator/manager. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health Disorders and Nursing Implications in the COVID-19 Era)

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12 pages, 553 KiB  
Systematic Review
Interventional Studies on Nurses’ Mental Health in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review
by Selmin Köse and Merve Murat
Psych 2022, 4(3), 525-536; https://doi.org/10.3390/psych4030040 - 18 Aug 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2984
Abstract
This systematic review’s primary aim is to examine the interventional studies on the mental health of nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the secondary aim is to determine the interventions that can be planned for future pandemics. For this, databases were searched, and [...] Read more.
This systematic review’s primary aim is to examine the interventional studies on the mental health of nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the secondary aim is to determine the interventions that can be planned for future pandemics. For this, databases were searched, and a total of 12 studies meeting the inclusion criteria were included. It was determined that most of the studies were conducted online due to pandemic restrictions. The effects of the interventions (diaphragmatic breathing relaxation, emotional freedom techniques, sending motivational messages, a mobile wellness program, acceptance and commitment therapy, a neuro-meditation program, laughter yoga, gong meditation, distant Reiki, e-aid cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based breathing, and music therapy) on the parameters affecting the mental health of the nurses working actively in the COVID-19 pandemic were examined. In these studies, the interventions applied to nurses were seen to have positive results on mental health and well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic, which is a traumatic experience for healthcare professionals, shows that more interventional studies are needed to protect and improve the mental health of nurses who take care of critically ill patients during difficult times. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health Disorders and Nursing Implications in the COVID-19 Era)
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