Dataset Information

Using Mixed Methods to Identify the Primary Mental Health Problems and Needs of Children, Adolescents, and Their Caregivers during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic.

ABSTRACT: Our understanding of child, adolescent, and caregiver mental health (MH) problems during the coronavirus pandemic, and which interventions are needed, may be advanced by consumer input. 133 general population caregivers reported top MH problems and needs for themselves and their children (Mage?=?8.21; SD?=?4.94), using standardized and idiographic measures. We applied linear regression models to quantitative data and thematic analysis to qualitative data. Caregivers' COVID-era depression and anxiety symptom means fell within the clinical range, as did their children's MH symptoms. Caregiver-reported child and adolescent symptoms were positively associated with number of children in the home. Caregiver and caregiver-reported child and adolescent symptoms were more pronounced in regions with more lenient COVID-19 restrictions. Among the kinds of help most urgently needed, MH services were ranked #1 for caregivers and adolescents, #2 for 6-12 year-olds, and #3 for 1-5 year-olds. Top problems identified for each age group highlight pressing pandemic-related intervention targets.

SUBMITTER: Fitzpatrick O

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7590914 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Using Mixed Methods to Identify the Primary Mental Health Problems and Needs of Children, Adolescents, and Their Caregivers during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic.

Fitzpatrick Olivia O Carson Amani A Weisz John R JR

Child psychiatry and human development 20201027 6

Our understanding of child, adolescent, and caregiver mental health (MH) problems during the coronavirus pandemic, and which interventions are needed, may be advanced by consumer input. 133 general population caregivers reported top MH problems and needs for themselves and their children (M<sub>age</sub> = 8.21; SD = 4.94), using standardized and idiographic measures. We applied linear regression models to quantitative data and thematic analysis to qualitative data. Caregivers' COVID-era depress ...[more]

PMID: 33108612

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Project description:BackgroundThe World Health Organisation declared the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a global pandemic on 11th March 2020. Since then, the world has been firmly in its grip. At the time of writing, there were more than 767,972,961 million confirmed cases and over 6,950,655 million deaths. While the main policy focus has been on controlling the virus and ensuring vaccine roll-out and uptake, the population mental health impacts of the pandemic are expected to be long-term, with certain population groups affected more than others.MethodsThe overall objectives of our 'Coronavirus: Mental Health and the Pandemic' study were to explore UK adults' experiences of the Coronavirus pandemic and to gain insights into the mental health impacts, population-level changes over time, current and future mental health needs, and how these can best be addressed. The wider mixed-methods study consisted of repeated cross-sectional surveys and embedded qualitative sub-studies including in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with the wider UK adult population. For this particular inequalities and mental health sub-study, we used mixed methods data from our cross-sectional surveys and we carried out three Focus Group Discussions with a maximum variation sample from across the UK adult population. The discussions covered the broader topic of 'Inequalities and mental health during the Coronavirus pandemic in the UK' and took place online between April and August 2020. Focus Groups transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis in NVIVO. Cross-sectional survey data were analysed using STATA for descriptive statistics.ResultsThree broad main themes emerged, each supporting a number of sub-themes: (1) Impacts of the pandemic; (2) Moving forward: needs and recommendations; (3) Coping mechanisms and resilience. Findings showed that participants described their experiences of the pandemic in relation to its impact on themselves and on different groups of people. Their experiences illustrated how the pandemic and subsequent measures had exacerbated existing inequalities and created new ones, and triggered various emotional responses. Participants also described their coping strategies and what worked and did not work for them, as well as support needs and recommendations for moving forward through, and out of, the pandemic; all of which are valuable learnings to be considered in policy making for improving mental health and for ensuring future preparedness.ConclusionsThe pandemic is taking a long-term toll on the nations' mental health which will continue to have impacts for years to come. It is therefore crucial to learn the vital lessons learned from this pandemic. Specific as well as whole-government policies need to respond to this, address inequalities and the different needs across the life-course and across society, and take a holistic approach to mental health improvement across the UK.

Project description:Adolescents with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are at greater risk for mental health problems than their HIV-negative counterparts. However, there is a dearth of evidence on the need for mental health services, including interventions for depression in adolescents with HIV (AWHIV), in most low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study's objective was to explore the unmet mental health needs of AWHIV to inform the development and implementation of a psychological intervention for depression in AWHIV in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. A descriptive phenomenological qualitative study design was used. Consultative meetings with providers and 45 in-depth interviews were conducted with AWHIV, caregivers, and healthcare providers (HCPs) to explore their experiences and unmet mental health needs for AWHIV. Data from the consultative meetings were triangulated to validate the obtained information with those from interviews. Data were organized and managed with the aid of NVIvo-11. The thematic analysis framework guided data analysis. Five major themes emerged: Experience of complex symptoms, unmet need for services, impact of the unmet needs, ways utilized in managing symptoms, and preferred intervention. Complex depressive symptoms expressed as physical, behavioral, or somatic complaints adversely affected ART adherence and academic performance, led to substance use, and compromised overall quality of life in AWHIV. HIV-Care and Treatment Centers (HIV-CTCs) did not conduct formal mental health screenings. Instead, caregivers and HCPs addressed the symptoms of mental health problems with death threats and corporal punishments. No evidence-based depression interventions existed in HIV-CTCs for observed symptoms. This study reports on unmet mental health needs with a clear impact on the lives of AWHIV, which may have significant implications for treatment adherence. There is an urgent need to develop and implement effective and scalable interventions to address these mental health needs.

Project description:IntroductionMore than 17% of German children and adolescents have clinically relevant mental health problems (MHP). Typically, general paediatricians are often the first contact for children with MHP, and referrals to specialised care tend to be the standard approach. A statutory health insurance fund developed a programme for children with MHP (Health Coaching (HC)) aiming to offer targeted but low-threshold services. However, little is known about whether HC has the potential for optimising patient care. The aim of the PrimA-QuO study is to examine the effectiveness and the acceptance, barriers and facilitators of all stakeholders of this structured primary care programme for children affected by the most frequently encountered MHP in paediatric practice.Methods and analysisIn this mixed-methods approach, children (n=800; aged 0-17 years) with MHP meeting all inclusion criteria will be identified in the health insurance database according to International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision diagnoses between 2018 and 2019. The qualitative component uses a series of semistructured interviews with programme developers, paediatricians trained in HC, adolescents with MHP treated according to the programme guidelines and their parents. In addition, a prospective, pragmatic, parallel-group cohort study will be conducted using an online questionnaire to examine the effects of HC on health-related quality of life of affected children and their families as well as on change in MHP. Children treated according to the HC guidelines form the intervention group, whereas all others serve as controls. Primary data from the cohort study are linked to children's health insurance claims data to calculate the costs of care as proxies for healthcare utilisation. The hypothesis is that HC is an effective and efficient primary care programme with the potential to improve patients' and their families' health outcomes.Ethics and disseminationThe study was approved by the Ethical Committee of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. Grant number 01VSF16032 (funded by the German Innovationsfonds).

Project description:BackgroundCancer survivors and their caregivers may have various unmet needs that are medically difficult to solve. Previous studies have suggested the relations between individuals' backgrounds and their unmet needs. We conducted a large-scale analysis to clarify the influence of individuals' backgrounds, primarily cancer type, on specific types of unmet needs.MethodsUsing a mixed-methods approach, we analyzed records of first-time callers to a cancer-focused telephone consultation service that was provided by the Kanagawa Cancer Clinical Research Information Organization from October 2006 to May 2014. The qualitative approach concerned extracting unmet needs mentioned in each consultation and classifying them into themes of specific needs, while the quantitative approach comprised multi-variated analysis of the relationships between the frequency by which the needs in each theme arose and the associated callers' backgrounds.ResultsA total of 1938 consultation cases were analyzed. In the qualitative analysis, the needs were classified into 16 themes. The mean number of unmet needs for each caller was 1.58 (standard deviation = 0.86). In the multi-variated analysis, caregivers for colorectal cancer survivors had a lower frequency of "emotional/mental health" needs (OR: 0.31, 95%CI: 0.11-0.88, p = 0.028) than did caregivers for breast-cancer survivors. Nevertheless, this was the only significant difference in needs frequency among callers (including survivors and their caregivers) with specific cancer types. Meanwhile, there significant difference in the frequency of occurrence of each unmet need theme was found among items concerning other background elements. Among survivors, sex was related to the frequency of needs among "physical" and "resources" themes, and "emotions/mental health"; their age group with "employment"; treatment course with "physical" and "resources" themes and "cure"; residence with "physical" themes; presence of symptom with "physical," "education/information," "resources," "emotions/mental health," and "cure" themes.ConclusionsThis large-scale study suggests that cancer type is not a significant factor for specific unmet needs and that individuals' backgrounds and presence of symptoms play a more important role. Through this study, it was found that instruments to predict people's needs and a system to provide individualized cancer care across cancer types should be developed in the future.

Project description:BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic led to major changes in people's lives via protective strategies aimed at limiting the transmission of COVID-19, including social distancing, lockdowns, cancelled or limited leisure activities and tutorials and supervision for students taking place digital. All of these changes may have influenced students' health and quality of life.AimTo describe and explore fear of COVID-19 and psychological distress, as well as general health and quality of life, among baccalaureate nursing students at 1 year into the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodWe used a mixed method study design, including quantitative data from University of Agder, data that was a part of a national survey of baccalaureate nursing students nearly one year into the pandemic. All the nursing students at the university were invited to take part between 27 January and 28 February 2021. The quantitative survey included 396 (out of total 858) baccalaureate nursing students (response rate: 46%). The quantitative data were collected using well-validated measures of fear of COVID-19, psychological distress, general health and quality of life, and the data were analysed using the ANOVA-tests for continuous data and chi-square tests for categorical data. Qualitative data were gathered from focus group interviews from the same university two-three months later. Five focus group interviews were conducted with a total of 23 students (7 men, 16 women). The qualitative data were analysed using systematic text condensation.ResultsThe mean score (standard deviation [SD]) for fear of COVID-19 was 2.32 (0.71), for psychological distress was 1.53 (1.00), for general health was 3.51 (0.96) and for overall quality of life was 6.01 (2.06). In the qualitative data, we identified the overarching theme effect of COVID-19 on students' quality of life and the three main themes; importance of personal relations, physical health challenges and mental health challenges.ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic influenced negatively nursing students' quality of life and physical and mental health, and they often felt lonely. However, most of the participants also adapted strategies and resilience factors to cope with the situation. Via the pandemic situation, the students learned additional skills and mental mindsets that may be useful in their future professional lives.

Project description:BackgroundHealthcare workers (HCWs) from COVID-19 hotspots worldwide have reported poor mental health outcomes since the pandemic's beginning. The virulence of the initial COVID-19 surge in Spain and the urgency for rapid evidence constrained early studies in their capacity to inform mental health programs accurately. Here, we used a qualitative research design to describe relevant mental health problems among frontline HCWs and explore their association with determinants and consequences and their implications for the design and implementation of mental health programs.Materials and methodsFollowing the Programme Design, Implementation, Monitoring, and Evaluation (DIME) protocol, we used a two-step qualitative research design to interview frontline HCWs, mental health experts, administrators, and service planners in Spain. We used Free List (FL) interviews to identify problems experienced by frontline HCWs and Key informant (KI) interviews to describe them and explore their determinants and consequences, as well as the strategies considered useful to overcome these problems. We used a thematic analysis approach to analyze the interview outputs and framed our results into a five-level social-ecological model (intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, community, and public health).ResultsWe recruited 75 FL and 22 KI interviewees, roughly balanced in age and gender. We detected 56 themes during the FL interviews and explored the following themes in the KI interviews: fear of infection, psychological distress, stress, moral distress, and interpersonal conflicts among coworkers. We found that interviewees reported perceived causes and consequences across problems at all levels (intrapersonal to public health). Although several mental health strategies were implemented (especially at an intrapersonal and interpersonal level), most mental health needs remained unmet, especially at the organizational, community, and public policy levels.ConclusionsIn keeping with available quantitative evidence, our findings show that mental health problems are still relevant for frontline HCWs 1 year after the COVID-19 pandemic and that many reported causes of these problems are modifiable. Based on this, we offer specific recommendations to design and implement mental health strategies and recommend using transdiagnostic, low-intensity, scalable psychological interventions contextually adapted and tailored for HCWs.

Dataset Information

Using Mixed Methods to Identify the Primary Mental Health Problems and Needs of Children, Adolescents, and Their Caregivers during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic.

Publications

Using Mixed Methods to Identify the Primary Mental Health Problems and Needs of Children, Adolescents, and Their Caregivers during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic.

Similar Datasets

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