Search

BackgroundDue to strict, nationwide, comprehensive COVID-19 protective measures, including home quarantine, all Chinese medical students began taking web-based classes beginning in the spring semester of 2020. Home quarantine, web-based classes, and the stress surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic may have triggered an increased incidence of mental health problems among medical students. Although there have been increasing amounts of literature on depression among medical students, studies focusing on positive psychological resources, such as resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, still need to be expanded. ObjectiveThis study aims to assess depression among medical students who are taking web-based classes during the COVID-19 pandemic and to investigate the role of coping styles as mediators between resilience and depression. MethodsA cross-sectional study of 666 medical students involving stratified sampling in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China, was completed between March 20 and April 10, 2020. The participants responded to a self-administered, smartphone-based questionnaire, which included the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire, and Ego Resilience 89 Scale. Hierarchical linear regression and structural equation modeling were used in this study. ResultsThe prevalence of depression among the participants was 9.6% (64/666) in this study. The regression analysis revealed that grade (the year in which the medical student was in training) (P=.013), how well students adapted to web-based classes (P

BackgroundThe rapid outbreak of COVID-19 around the world has adversely affected the mental health of the public. The prevalence of anxiety among the public has increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are few studies evaluating the effects of positive psychological responses and information-seeking behaviors on anxiety experienced among social media users during the COVID-19 pandemic. ObjectiveThis study evaluated the prevalence of anxiety and its associated factors among WeChat users in mainland China during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsFrom February 10 to February 24, 2020, a nationwide, web-based cross-sectional survey study was carried out using convenience sampling. Participants’ levels of anxiety, positive psychological responses, and information-seeking behaviors were assessed. The survey was distributed among WeChat users via the WeChat smartphone platform. Chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the factors associated with anxiety. ResultsThis study found that the prevalence of anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item [GAD-7] scale score ≥7) among WeChat users in China was 17.96% (446/2483) during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results of multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that information-seeking behaviors such as cannot stop searching for information on COVID-19, being concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic, and spending more than 1 hour per day consuming information about the pandemic were found to be associated with increased levels of anxiety. Additionally, participants who chose social media and commercial media as the primary sources to obtain information about the COVID-19 pandemic were found more likely to report anxiety. Conversely, participants who were confident or rational about the COVID-19 pandemic were less likely to report anxiety. ConclusionsThis study found that positive psychological responses and information-seeking behaviors were closely associated with anxiety among WeChat users during the COVID-19 pandemic in China. It might be paramount to enhance mental well-being by helping people respond to the COVID-19 pandemic more rationally and positively in order to decrease symptoms of anxiety.

Background: Though internal migration in Ghana has become increasingly common in recent years, research has not focused on the gendered experiences and perceptions of migration and the association with sexual and reproductive health risks for male and female migrants. Method: A qualitative study using semistructured interviews among migrant market workers and market leaders working in Agbogbloshie in Accra, Ghana, was completed in April 2018. Interview domains for the migrant interviews included the following: expectations of migration, current working and living conditions, sexual and reproductive health, access to health care, and self-reported health status. Qualitative data were analyzed using a combination of inductive and deductive coding in MAXQDA. Results: Data indicate that migrant workers have a variety of perceptions surrounding their migration experience. In the urban destination, migrants face a number of challenges that negatively affect their health, including poor accommodation, safety concerns, and low levels of social support. Reported risks to sexual and reproductive health were unsafe sexual encounters, such as low condom use and sexual assault. Discussion: The negative sexual and reproductive health outcomes among migrant populations in urban poor settings are a result of a confluence of factors, including perceptions of destination locations, working and living conditions, social support, and gender norms. A complex systems approach to understanding the sexual health of migrants is warranted. Conclusion: Findings from this research illustrate the complexity of health risks among migrants in Agbogbloshie. Further research is needed to explore the increased vulnerability of migrants compared with nonmigrants in urban poverty and the long-term implications of sexual and reproductive health risks in vulnerable migrant communities.

Introduction: Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide and has become a health issue of global concern. Based on the "System of Health Accounts 2011" (SHA 2011) for patients with depression, this paper studies the changes in the current curative expenditure (CCE) of outpatient depression in Liaoning Province, China, and provides policy recommendations. Method: A stratified multistage random sample of 56,994 patients with depression included from 1,227 healthcare facilities in Liaoning Province were included. The significance of differences in variables within groups was analyzed by univariate analysis (including descriptive statistics analysis, Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-WallisH test), and factors influencing depression outpatient CCE were analyzed by multiple linear regression analysis and constructing structural equation models (SEM). Results: The CCE of outpatient depression was ranging from CNY 75.57 million to CNY 100.53 million in 2015-2020, with the highest of CNY 100.53 million in 2018, CNY 103.28 million in 2019. Medical expenditures are mainly concentrated in general hospitals and provincial healthcare institutions, accounting for about 90% of all provincial scope expenditures. The multiple regression results show that provincial healthcare institutions, purchase of drug, select medical treatment for depression, general hospitals and urban employees' health insurance are the main influencing factors for depression outpatient CCE. The results of SEM show that insurance status negative impact outpatient expenditure. Conclusion: Health insurance is an important factor in equitable access to healthcare resources for patients, and medication expenditure is the influential factor affecting the high expenditure of outpatient clinics. It is of great importance to reduce the medical burden of patients by increasing the coverage of medical insurance, increasing the proportion of bills that are eligible for reimbursement, and improving the system by guaranteeing the supply of psychotropic medication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social support has been identified as a significant factor in addressing treatment barriers and facilitating treatment adherence. Using a descriptive design, this qualitative study aims at sharing personal feelings and social support-related experiences among pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients in Western India. A semi-structured interview guide was designed, and thirty-seven in-depth interviews were conducted. Descriptive thematic analysis was employed for reporting the themes and the results. The participants highlighted diverse social support experiences like empathy, compassion, trust, neglect, tangible aid, strained relationships with in-laws, health provider's support, strength, and motivation which influences their treatment adherent behaviour. Contrasting differences of social support experiences among adherent and non-adherent TB patients were also reported. The study has important ramifications for developing patient-centric social support intervention strategies, TB policy, and practice. The study has shown, 'if not for this support', patients would have left the treatment, and it is mainly because this debilitating disease robs people of their physical, social, economic, psychological, and emotional well-being far beyond the period when treatment is being administered. However, we resonate that addressing social support is not the only way, and TB elimination overall will require an optimal mix of enhanced biomedical, social, economic, and policy interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]