Dataset Information

Smoking, distress and COVID-19 in England: Cross-sectional population surveys from 2016 to 2020.

ABSTRACT: Changes in the prevalence of psychological distress among smokers during the COVID-19 pandemic in England may exacerbate existing health inequalities. This study examined the prevalence of psychological distress among smokers following the onset of the pandemic compared with previous years. Cross-sectional data came from a representative survey of smokers (18+) in England (n = 2,927) between April-July in 2016, 2017 and 2020. Logistic regressions estimated the associations between past-month distress across 2016/2017 and 2020, and age. Weighted proportions, chi-squared statistics and stratified logistic regression models were used to compare the distributions of moderate and severe distress, respectively, within socio-demographic and smoking characteristics in 2016/2017 and 2020. Between the combined April-July 2016 and 2017 sample and April-July 2020 the prevalence of moderate and severe distress among past-year smokers increased (2016/2017: moderate 20.66%, 19.02-22.43; severe 8.23%, 7.16-9.47; 2020: moderate 28.79%, 95%CI 26.11-31.60; OR = 2.08, 95%CI 1.34-3.25; severe 11.04%, 9.30-13.12; OR = 2.16, 1.13-4.07). While there was no overall evidence of an interaction between time period and age, young (16-24 years) and middle-age groups (45-54 years) may have experienced greater increases in moderate distress and older age groups (65+ years) increases in severe distress. There were increases of moderate distress among more disadvantaged social grades and both moderate and severe distress among women and those with low cigarette addiction. Between April-July 2016/2017 and April-July 2020 in England there were increases in both moderate and severe distress among smokers. The distribution of distress among smokers differed between 2016/2017 and 2020 and represents a widening of inequalities.

SUBMITTER: Kock L

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8193154 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:ObjectivesThe UK faces major problems in retaining general practitioners (GPs). Scotland introduced a new GP contract in April 2018, intended to better support GPs. This study compares the career intentions and working lives of GPs in Scotland with GPs in England, shortly after the new Scotland contract was introduced.Design and settingComparison of cross-sectional analysis of survey responses of GPs in England and Scotland in 2017 and 2018, respectively, using linear regression to adjust the differences for gender, age, ethnicity, urbanicity and deprivation.Participants2048 GPs in Scotland and 879 GPs in England.Main outcome measuresFour intentions to reduce work participation (5-point scales: 1='none', 5='high'): reducing working hours; leaving medical work entirely; leaving direct patient care; or continuing medical work but outside the UK. Four domains of working life: job satisfaction (7-point scale: 1='extremely dissatisfied', 7='extremely satisfied'); job stressors (5-point-scale: 1='no pressure', 5='high pressure); positive and negative job attributes (5-point scales: 1='strongly disagree', 5='strongly agree').ResultsCompared with England, GPs in Scotland had lower intention to reduce work participation, including a lower likelihood of reducing work hours (2.78 vs 3.54; adjusted difference=-0.52; 95% CI -0.64 to -0.41), a lower likelihood of leaving medical work entirely (2.11 vs 2.76; adjusted difference=-0.32; 95% CI -0.42 to -0.22), a lower likelihood of leaving direct patient care (2.23 vs 2.93; adjusted difference=-0.37; 95% CI -0.47 to -0.27), and a lower likelihood of continuing medical work but outside of the UK (1.41 vs 1.61; adjusted difference=-0.2; 95% CI -0.28 to -0.12). GPs in Scotland reported higher job satisfaction, lower job stressors, similar positive job attributes and lower negative job attributes.ConclusionFollowing the introduction of the new contract in Scotland, GPs in Scotland reported significantly better working lives and lower intention to reduce work participation than England.

Project description:BackgroundThe number of people presenting to hospital emergency departments after self-harming has increased in England. However, most people who self-harm do not present to hospitals, so whether this rise reflects an increase in the prevalence of self-harm in the community is unknown. Also unknown is whether the prevalence of non-suicidal self-harm (NSSH) or suicidal self-harm, or both, has increased. We aimed to establish temporal trends in the prevalence of NSSH in England.MethodsWe analysed data from participants in the 2000 (n=7243), 2007 (n=6444), and 2014 (n=6477) Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Surveys of the general population, selecting those aged 16-74 years and living in England. We used weighted data and controlled for complex survey design. We generated temporal trends in lifetime prevalence and methods of, and motivations for, NSSH, and consequent service contact. We used multiple variable logistic regression analyses to investigate factors associated with service contact.FindingsThe prevalence of self-reported lifetime NSSH increased from 2·4% (95% CI 2·0-2·8) in 2000, to 6·4% (5·8-7·2) in 2014. Increases in prevalence were noted in both sexes and across age groups-most notably in women and girls aged 16-24 years, in whom prevalence increased from 6·5% (4·2-10·0) in 2000, to 19·7% (15·7-24·5) in 2014. The proportion of the population reporting NSSH to relieve unpleasant feelings of anger, tension, anxiety, or depression increased from 1·4% (95% CI 1·0-2·0) to 4·0% (3·2-5·0) in men and boys, and from 2·1% (1·6-2·7) to 6·8% (6·0-7·8) in women and girls, between 2000 and 2014. In 2014, 59·4% (95% CI 54·7-63·9) of participants who had engaged in NSSH reported no consequent medical or psychological service contact, compared with 51·2% (42·2-60·0) in 2000 and 51·8% (47·3-56·4) in 2007. Male participants and those aged 16-34 years were less likely to have contact with health services than were female participants and older people.InterpretationThe prevalence of NSSH has increased in England, but resultant service contact remains low. In 2014, about one in five female 16-24-year-olds reported NSSH. There are potential lifelong implications of NSSH, such as an increased frequency of suicide, especially if the behaviours are adopted as a long-term coping strategy. Self-harm needs to be discussed with young people without normalising it. Young people should be offered help by primary care, educational, and other services to find safer ways to deal with emotional stress.FundingNHS Digital, English Department of Health and Social Care, and the National Institute for Health Research.

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Smoking, distress and COVID-19 in England: Cross-sectional population surveys from 2016 to 2020.

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