Stoma-forming surgery can have extensive, negative impacts on a patient\'s psychological wellbeing. Although this has been known for several decades, little progress has been made in addressing the issue. Several areas of concern have been repeatedly identified in the literature: loss of control; reduced self-esteem; psychosexual issues; and the impact of enhanced recovery on psychological outcomes. While these issues have the potential to significantly affect patients undergoing stoma-forming surgery, they can be mitigated against. While identifying and addressing psychological morbidity at an early stage is the most effective approach, additional interventions can also be useful. The promotion of self-care and independence can minimise the feeling of loss of control, the selection of discreet, leak-proof products can help address self-esteem issues, and open, honest conversation can significantly improve a patient\'s feelings regarding sexuality and intimacy.

UNASSIGNED: Prior research has revealed substantial psychological impacts of COVID-19 among the general population. However, there is a noticeable gap in studies addressing the enduring anxiety levels before and during lockdown periods of the COVID-19 pandemic.
UNASSIGNED: The study assessed and compared the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic before and during lockdown periods among the general population in Saudi Arabia.
UNASSIGNED: A validated and reliable General Anxiety Disorder (GAD)-7 instrument was used to quantify stress levels by measuring anxiety. Nonprobability snowball sampling was used to collect data from 516 participants residing in Saudi Arabia. The difference in scores for each of the seven related questions of GAD-7 was determined using a non-parametric Wilcoxon rank test.
UNASSIGNED: A mild level of anxiety was consistently observed both before and during the lockdown, as indicated by GAD-7 scores of 6.17 (SD = 5.5) before the lockdown and 6.42 (SD = 5.7) during the lockdown. There were no differences in GAD-7 scores before 6.17 (SD = 5.5) and during 6.42 (SD = 5.7) the lockdown periods. However, levels of moderate anxiety increased by 5% during the lockdown period. Anxiety levels before and during lockdown were significantly associated with gender (χ2 (3, n = 516) =11.23 p = 0.01) and employment status (χ2 (3, n = 516) = 9.41 p = 0.024). Among the GAD-7 questionnaire items, item number 1 (\"Feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge\") (p= 0.00) and item number 7 (\"Feeling afraid as if something awful might happen\") (p= 0.025) showed a significant association with anxiety levels before and during the lockdown periods.
UNASSIGNED: The enduring prevalence of mild anxiety, persisting both before and during the lockdown periods, underscores the profound impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of the general population in Saudi Arabia.
This study aimed to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the mental well-being of people in Saudi Arabia, specifically looking at anxiety levels before and during lockdown. We used a survey with 516 participants and found that, overall, people reported mild anxiety both before and during the lockdown. However, there was a 5% increase in moderate anxiety during the lockdown. Interestingly, we discovered that gender and employment status were linked to anxiety levels. Women and those with certain employment statuses reported different anxiety levels. Specific questions in the survey, such as feeling nervous or afraid, were mainly associated with anxiety during both periods. In conclusion, even though anxiety levels were generally mild, some groups and specific concerns showed differences. This information can help us understand how to better support people’s mental health during challenging times like a pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is widely accepted as a transdiagnostic vulnerability factor for a range of mental health problems. It is considered a transsituational vulnerability factor associated with a range of responses to different stressful life situations. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to examine the association between IU and specific psychological responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and the moderators of this relationship drawn from IU research and other studies on COVID-19.
METHODS: The studies included were as follows: (i) English-language articles published in peer-reviewed journals or thesis/dissertations; (ii) reporting specific psychological impacts of COVID-19; (c) reporting IU; (iii) case-control studies, prospective cohort studies, experimental studies and cross-sectional studies of large populations and (iv) reporting correlation coefficients between the variables of interest. Studies on participants with a diagnosis of neurological and/or organic impairment were excluded. The databases searched were Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and ProQuest, up until 31 December 2022. The risk of bias was assessed using the Risk of Bias Utilized for Surveys Tool (ROBUST, Nudelman et al., 2020). Sensitivity analysis was conducted using the one-study remove method, and studentized residuals and Cook\'s distance were examined. A random effects model was used.
RESULTS: We examined the association between IU and COVID-19-related psychological impacts across 85 studies from 22 countries (N = 69,997; 64.95% female; mean sample age, 32.90 ± 9.70). There was no evidence of publication bias. We found a medium and positive association between IU and COVID-19-related psychological impacts (N = 69,562, r = 0.35, k = 89, 95% CI [0.32, 0.37]), which was independent of the IU measure used or whether the psychological impact was measured in relation to the virus alone or broader aspects of the pandemic. It was also independent of severity, publication year, sample type and size, study quality, age and sample levels of anxiety, depressive symptoms, stress, mental well-being and social support. However, the observed association varied significantly between countries and country income levels (stronger among low-incomes) and across genders (stronger among males) and was stronger for measures with greater reliability and more items, but lower among samples with more people who had been exposed to COVID-19.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings support that IU is a higher order transsituational vulnerability factor related to cognitive, behavioural and distress responses during the pandemic. Limitations include English-language-only sources, reliance on a wide range of measures that were coded using a novel system and variable risk of bias across studies. The implications are considered in relation to the management of psychological consequences of major situational stressors experienced at a global scale, but the variations at a national and socioeconomic level also have implications for different or localized stressors at a regional or community level.

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced unprecedented challenges to global healthcare systems, including heightened psychological stress among patients. This study evaluates the preoperative anxiety levels among patients scheduled for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This cross-sectional observational study was conducted between April 2020 and March 2022. Adult patients aged 18-80 years, scheduled for elective or emergency surgery, were included. Exclusion criteria were mental illness, impaired communication, and hemodynamic instability. A pre-validated questionnaire addressing demographics, prior surgery exposure, surgery-related anxiety, and COVID-19-related fears was administered. Anxiety levels were scored on a 1-5 Likert scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 (IBM Corp., Armonk, USA). Results A total of 112 patients participated, with a mean age of 42.3±14.2 years. The majority were female (61 patients, 54.5%), married (96 patients, 85.7%), and resided in urban areas (85 patients, 75.9%). Most patients had no prior surgical history (87 patients, 77.7%). Surgery-related fears were prevalent, with 110 patients (98.2%) fearing surgical complications and 111 patients (99.1%) fearing postoperative pain. COVID-19-related fears were also significant, with 108 patients (96.4%) fearing infection during hospital stay and 100 patients (89.3%) fearing infecting family members. Mild fear was the most common anxiety level (70 patients, 62.95%), followed by moderate fear (25 patients, 22.5%). Discussion The study highlights the dual stressors of surgery and the pandemic, contributing to heightened preoperative anxiety. Findings indicate that significant anxiety levels were present, driven by fears related to surgery, anesthesia, and COVID-19. This aligns with other studies that report high preoperative anxiety levels exacerbated by the pandemic. The comprehensive assessment of anxiety factors underscores the need for tailored interventions to mitigate these anxieties. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased preoperative anxiety among surgical patients. Addressing both surgical and pandemic-related anxieties is crucial for improving patient outcomes. Healthcare providers should implement psychological support programs to alleviate these anxieties. Understanding the multifaceted nature of preoperative anxiety during the pandemic can enhance patient care.

A cross-sectional online survey was undertaken (July-August 2020) to ascertain parents\' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic of being at home with their newborn baby in the first 6 weeks. Participants (n = 371) were mostly biological mothers (n = 369, 99.4%), white British (n = 351, 94,5%), first baby (n = 186, 50%). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between maternal confidence and number of children (rho (369) = 0.295, p < .001) and baby\'s age at time of participation (rho (369) = 0.139, p = .009). Participants without higher educational qualifications (median = 62, SIQR = 3.5) had statistically significant higher confidence (U = 11831.500, p < .001) than participants with higher educational qualifications (median = 58, SIQR = 2). Parents of babies without health issues at birth (median, 61, SIQR = 3.5) had statistically significant higher confidence (U = 13213.500, p < .001) than parents of babies with health issues at birth (median = 58, SIQR = 5). Three qualitative themes have emerged: the impact of \"no partner\" restrictions; mixed emotions and lack of information and support. In conclusion, parenting during a pandemic created anxiety and fear, affected by \"no partner\" restrictions, not being allowed to appointments, scans, and during labor. Some parents were more confident and indicated benefits including heightening bonding with baby and partner during social distancing.
The strain of the pandemic on the mental health and well-being of parents could have a negative impact on future parenting.Healthcare professionals should not underestimate the potential consequences of declining perinatal mental health and should be vigilant to screen, enquire, and refer.Further research on this cohort of parents and children exploring the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their ongoing health and wellbeing could be beneficial for future health-care policies and guidance.

The aim of this scoping review was to synthesise the literature to identify what the psychological impacts of family court processes were on mothers who had experienced DFV. Twenty-five articles met inclusion criteria with four themes capturing the findings: Perpetrators using the system as a mode of coercive control; Secondary victimisation as a result of interacting with the system; Required to relive their abuse; and, Long-term psychological consequences of having engaged with the system. Key findings were that perpetrators manipulated the system to perpetrate further abuse and continue/reassert their control. Secondary re-victimisation was common, with poor knowledge of DFV and limited understanding of coercive control tactics and how these were employed by perpetrators by legal professionals identified as contributing factors. This review suggests that mothers who engage with the family court system experience a range of short- and long-term psychological impacts and court processes facilitate ongoing abuse by the perpetrator.

The concept of youth sport specialization has evolved over the past decade, from a focus on the risk of overuse injury to a broader awareness of its effects on mental health, social well-being, quality of life, growth and maturation, sport performance, and long-term athletic success. This review article considers a recently revised definition of youth sport specialization, as well as guidelines and consensus statements from various sports medicine organizations, with practical applications for young athletes.

The role of life events has not been extensively studied in the context of tinnitus. There is, however, evidence about the psychological impact of tinnitus and about the influence of psychological processes as mediators of the tinnitus experience. On the basis of this evidence, the possibility that stressful life events can act as a trigger for tinnitus is discussed; although the evidence is fragmentary and indirect, the possibility cannot be discounted. It is argued that the onset of tinnitus and the associated clinical encounters can constitute an acute stressful life event, and the ongoing experience of tinnitus can be regarded as a chronic stressful life event. Interactions between ongoing tinnitus and other life events are discussed. Possible mechanisms in terms of stress influencing predictive processing and signal detection judgments are considered.
UNASSIGNED: Die Rolle von Lebensereignissen wurde im Kontext von Tinnitus nur wenig untersucht. Es gibt jedoch Hinweise auf die psychologischen Auswirkungen von Tinnitus und auf den Einfluss psychologischer Prozesse als Mediatoren des Erlebens von Tinnitus. Unter Berücksichtigung dieser Hinweise wird die Möglichkeit diskutiert, dass stressige Lebensereignisse Auslöser für Tinnitus sein können; obwohl die Belege fragmentarisch und indirekt sind, kann diese Möglichkeit nicht ausgeschlossen werden. Es wird argumentiert, dass der Beginn des Tinnitus und die damit verbundenen klinischen Kontakte ein akutes belastendes Lebensereignis darstellen können und die fortlaufende Tinnituserfahrung als chronisches belastendes Lebensereignis betrachtet werden kann. Wechselwirkungen zwischen fortbestehendem Tinnitus und anderen Lebensereignissen werden diskutiert. Mögliche Mechanismen im Hinblick auf Stress, der die prädiktive Verarbeitung und Beurteilungen der Signalerkennungbeeinflusst, werden in Betracht gezogen.

BACKGROUND: Stress has been linked to worsening symptoms and increased disease activity in patients with Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Life-events are individual stress points, and there is conflicting evidence regarding their role in SLE activity and disease perception.
METHODS: Adult SLE patients were recruited for the study. Clinical and laboratory features of SLE were recorded, and previous diagnosis of anxiety or depression were retrieved from patients\' electronic charts. Flares were defined by the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity (SLEDAI) flare Index, and flares during the previous year were documented. During a routine visit, they completed validated Portuguese translations of the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Life Experience Survey (LES) for the previous year.
RESULTS: A total of 47 female SLE patients were recruited. Ten patients (21.3%) had experienced recent flares. Patients with recent flares reported fewer life events, with lower positive, negative, and total weightings sums compared to those without recent flares. Although 42.2% of patients perceived pathological levels of stress in the previous month, 48.9% had anxiety symptoms, and 34% were at high risk for an anxiety disorder, these psychometric measures did not differ significantly between the recent flare and no-flare groups.
CONCLUSIONS: There is a high prevalence of pathological levels of stress among SLE patients. SLE patients with recent flares report less psychological impact from life events, both positive and negative, independent of other psychological or pharmacological factors.

BACKGROUND: Moral distress has been an issue under consideration in healthcare practice. The COVID-19 pandemic became a critical factor that contributed to heightened moral distress and injury among healthcare professionals, including radiographers. Despite the substantial engagement of radiographers in the management of COVID-19 patients, the consequent moral distress and injury states experienced by this critical frontline workforce have not been widely explored. This study investigated the level of moral distress and the coping mechanisms employed by radiographers in Ghana during the pandemic to provide valuable information to support radiographers and prepare the workforce better against any future pandemics.
METHODS: Utilising a cross-sectional design, a survey approach was employed for data collection between June 2023 and August 2023 from clinically-active radiographers who worked before and during the pandemic in Ghana. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were generated using Microsoft Excel 2019 and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (v.26).
RESULTS: Hundred (100) radiographers participated in the study. The result demonstrated that the COVID-19 pandemic escalated the risk of moral distress among radiographers from 22 % (n = 22) to 43 % (n = 43), with 33 % (n = 33) exhibiting signs of moral injury. This escalation impacted the mental health of 12 % (n = 12) of respondents and was reported as a contributor to career-changing decisions among radiographers. Notably, many of those affected did not seek formal support but relied on personal coping strategies and family support. Inadequate resources (69 %, n = 69), particularly regarding consumables, emerged as the primary cause of moral distress. The study underscored that the most effective means of mitigating moral distress in radiographers was through the provision of resources and additional staff support (66 %, n = 66).
CONCLUSIONS: This study sheds light on the state of moral distress and injury among radiographers during the COVID-19 pandemic, impacting the mental health of a minority and contributing to career-changing decisions. The findings emphasise the importance for healthcare institutions to proactively implement systems, such as resource provision, improved staffing, and emotional support, now and during similar future pandemics. This is crucial to address moral distress and cater to the mental health needs of radiographers, ensuring a resilient clinical radiography workforce.