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Aim: Studies of the effects of COVID‐19, especially post‐acute COVID‐19 syndrome, on psychological health in non‐severe cases are limited. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence and associated risk factors of psychological symptoms, and quality‐of‐life in three groups of outpatients, hospitalized and intensive care patients. Methods: A total 276 patients, previously confirmed with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, attending the COVID‐19 follow‐up outpatient clinic from December 2020 to July 2021 were interviewed face‐to‐face. In this cross‐sectional, retrospective study, all participants were asked our self‐designed demographic and screening questions to assess their psychological symptoms and administered the WHQOOL‐BREF survey to evaluate quality of life. Results: In screening questions, major depressive disorder symptoms were detected at a rate of 20.3%, generalized anxiety disorder symptoms at a rate of 16.7%, panic attack symptoms at a rate of 10.9%, post‐traumatic stress disorder symptoms at a rate of 28.6% and obsessive‐compulsive disorder symptoms at a rate of 18.1%. The outpatient group with COVID‐19 infection had a higher risk of developing psychological symptoms and decreased quality of life. Conclusion: COVID‐19 infection was found to have a considerable psychological impact on those treated as outpatients despite the less severe course of their illness. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Post‐intensive care syndrome affects physical, cognitive and psychological health.It is associated with symptoms such as generalized weakness, memory disturbances, cognitive function impairment, depression, anxiety and post‐traumatic stress disorder.Some physical and psychological symptoms persist for over 12 weeks in some patients and have been classified as 'Post‐acute COVID‐19 Condition or Syndrome' (PCS). What this paper adds? At the post‐acute‐COVID‐19 period, a considerable number of outpatients with COVID‐19 infection were at higher risk for psychological distress symptoms than those who had been treated in the hospital or intensive care unit.Depression, anxiety, panic disorder and PTSD symptoms were found to be higher in outpatients and those with these symptoms were also shown to have a lower quality of life.Our findings highlight the significant psychological impact of COVID‐19 on patients, even after their reported recovery from the acute manifestations of this disease. The implications of this paper: Ongoing psychological symptoms in the post‐COVID period are not associated with the severity of the disease in the acute phase.It is important that healthcare professionals are equally concerned not only with physical condition of post‐COVID‐19 patients but also with their psychological state and the patient's psychology‐related quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID‐19 pandemic and restrictions imposed to eradicate it have affected healthy lifestyle‐related behaviours. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of COVID‐19 on lifestyle‐related behaviours. Methods: This cross‐sectional web‐based survey research was performed with a convenience sample of 1020 adults residing in Turkey. Data were collected with self‐report data collection tools on 8–28 April 2021: a sociodemographic characteristics form and the impact of COVID‐19 on lifestyle‐related behaviours questionnaire. Results: Eating behaviours, physical activity and sleep patterns of the participants were negatively affected during COVID‐19 pandemic (p < 0.001). More than half of the participants experienced weight gain during the pandemic. Also, stress levels and smoking increased (p < 0.01). The participants reported having changes in their lifestyles most frequently due to the fear of COVID‐19 infection, stress, decreased motivation, closure of the facilities for social and sports activities and increased food prices. Predictors of lifestyle‐related behaviours were found to be education (β =.189), income (β = −.101), residing in a village (β =.113) and the presence of a chronic disease (β =.075) (p < 0.001). Conclusions: During the pandemic, COVID‐19‐related restrictions should be applied whilst taking account of both social distancing measures and maintenance of healthy lifestyle‐related behaviours. Nurses should offer counselling for maintenance of healthy lifestyle‐related behaviours. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Studies performed at the beginning and during the course of COVID‐19 pandemic in different countries have shown that lifestyle‐related behaviours are negatively affected.Few studies have used a valid and reliable tool to determine the effect of COVID‐19 on lifestyle‐related behaviours.The effect of COVID‐19 on lifestyle‐related behaviours has not been examined from a nursing perspective. What this paper adds? In the present study, which was performed at a time when night curfews and weekend shutdowns were imposed in Turkey, lifestyles of the participants were found to be negatively affected.More than half of the participants gained weight and had increased stress and smoking and a decreased sleep quality.The negative effect on lifestyle‐related behaviours was more severe in participants with low education and income levels, living in a village and suffering from a chronic disease. The implications of this paper: Restrictions introduced during the pandemic should both take account of social distancing measures and allow healthy lifestyle‐related behaviours.Nurses playing a role in first line health care services should offer education and counselling for maintenance of healthy lifestyle‐related behaviours by utilizing information and communication technology (e.g., video calls). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study was conducted to determine media use, positive and negative emotions, and stress levels of adults during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Background: Using media tools in the pandemic process has impacted the mental health of individuals. As the COVID‐19 outbreak is a new disease fear, anxiety and stress about this situation can cause strong emotions in adults. Methods: The research was carried out using a cross‐sectional design. The sample consisted of 1541 adults. The Positive and Negative Emotion Scale, and the Perceived Stress Scale were used to collect the data. Results: The Positive Emotion Scale mean scores were lower (p < 0.05) for those people whose daily media use time was more than 4 h and who followed the developments about COVID‐19 through the media once a day. It was found that those with daily media use of more than 4 h/day had higher Perceived Stress Scale scores than those with lower use (p > 0.05). Conclusion: This study concluded that the use of media in adults increased during the COVID‐19 outbreak and that media use was associated with positive and negative emotions and stress levels. Health professionals should assess the effect of the COVID‐19 outbreak on mental health in various community groups and develop interventions to prevent negative consequences of increased media use. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? The mental health of adults in the community has been affected due to the unexpected COVID‐19 pandemic.The media use of adults staying at home during the pandemic has increased.The relationships between increasing media use and mental health needs during the COVID‐19 pandemic are yet to be revealed. What this paper adds? The positive emotion scores of adults with greater use of media tools during the COVID‐19 pandemic were lower.During the COVID‐19 pandemic, age, gender, education level, marital status, employment and income level affected the mean scores of negative emotions and perceived stress.The frequency by which people followed the developments regarding COVID‐19 from the media during the day was related to their emotional state. The implications of this paper Demonstrating that various characteristics of adults are related to mental health during the pandemic will guide researchers and policy makers for mental health promotion practices.The relationship between the frequency of use of media tools and positive emotions during the pandemic emphasizes the importance of providing reliable and sufficient information to individuals during the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]