Background: Mental health issues have been increasing globally, especially among university students. The pandemic of COVID-19 has aggravated this pre-existing and serious problem. This study aimed to assess the stress and depression levels and mental health status of Egyptian university students during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted on medical and non-medical Egyptian university students. A total of 1470 participants completed the electronic anonymous online survey containing Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Perceived Stress Scale(PSS). Results: Of the 1470 participants, 10.9% have moderately severe depression and 6.1% have severe depression. Moreover, 77.6% reported moderate stress, 16.3% reported low stress, and 6.2% reported high stress. There was strong positive correlation between depression and stress among participants (r = 0.815) (p < 0.001). The significant predictors for depression were age between 18 and 20 years, female sex, presence of chronic diseases, and presence of friends or relatives diagnosed with COVID-19. The significant predictors for stress were age between 18 and 20 years, female sex, presence of friends or relatives diagnosed with COVID-19, and medical faculties.Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a majority of university students of Egypt showed moderate to high level of stress, and about one-third of them had moderate to severe depression. Younger age, female sex and having a relative or friend diagnosed with COVID-19 were significant predictors for high stress level and depression. Psychological interventions for university students during the COVID-19 pandemic are strongly recommended to promote their mental health and improve academic achievement.

Background: Mental health issues have been increasing globally, especially among university students.The pandemic of COVID-19 has aggravated this pre-existing and serious problem. This study aimed to assess the stress and depression levels and mental health status of Egyptian university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted on medical and non-medical Egyptian university students. A total of 1470 participants completed the electronic anonymous online survey containing Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Perceived Stress Scale(PSS).Results: Of the 1470 participants, 10.9% have moderately severe depression and 6.1% have severe depression. Moreover, 77.6% reported moderate stress, 16.3% reported low stress, and 6.2% reported high stress. There was strong positive correlation between depression and stress among participants (r = 0.815) (p < 0.001). The signi cant predictors for depression were age between 18 and 20 years, female sex, presence of chronic diseases, and presence of friends or relatives diagnosed with COVID-19. The signi cant predictors for stress were age between 18 and 20 years, female sex, presence of friends or relatives diagnosed with COVID-19, and medical faculties.Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a majority of university students of Egypt showed moderate to high level of stress, and about one-third of them had moderate to severe depression. Younger age, female sex and having a relative or friend diagnosed with COVID-19 were signi cant predictors for high stress level and depression. Psychological interventions for university students during the COVID-19 pandemic are strongly recommended to promote their mental health and improve academic achievement.

Background: Mindfulness-based program incorporating meditation practices and self-efficacy are gaining popularity among cancer patients. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of a mindfulness-based program and perceived self-efficacy for patients with lung cancer. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted in the outpatient clinics and nuclear medicine clinic at the New Cancer Institute at Menoufia University, Shebien Elkom City, Egypt. A purposive sample of 160 patients with lung cancer was enrolled, from whom data were collected through 5 tools: Tool (1): Structured interview questionnaire including demographic and medical data, Tool (2): Condensed Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (pre/post), Tool (3): Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (pre/post), Tool (4): Self-Efficacy Pulmonary Rehabilitation Adapted Index (pre/post) and Tool (5): Questionnaire about mindfulness which includes knowledge, reported practice and five-facet mindfulness (pre/post). Results: This study displayed statistically significant improvements in symptoms (5.65 ± 1.33 to 3.00 ± 1.36), performance status (1.75 ± .83 to 2.25 ± .86), mindfulness (18.62 ± 2.32 to 29.75 ± 4.06), breathing meditation (1.17 ± 1.64 to 5.70 ± 1.60), self-efficacy (20.37 ± 2.93 to 33.32 ± 5.11), and knowledge (1.65 ± 2.36 to 13.17 ± 2.004) for patients with lung cancer after program application. Conclusion: Implementation of a mindfulness-based program and perceived self-efficacy have positive effects on improving physical and psychological symptoms, breathing meditation practice, performance status, and knowledge among lung cancer patients.

Background: Mental health issues have been increasing globally, especially among university students. The pandemic of COVID-19 has aggravated this pre-existing and serious problem. This study aimed to assess the stress and depression levels and mental health status of Egyptian university students during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted on medical and non-medical Egyptian university students. A total of 1470 participants completed the electronic anonymous online survey containing Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Perceived Stress Scale(PSS). Results: Of the 1470 participants, 10.9% have moderately severe depression and 6.1% have severe depression. Moreover, 77.6% reported moderate stress, 16.3% reported low stress, and 6.2% reported high stress. There was strong positive correlation between depression and stress among participants (r = 0.815) (p < 0.001). The significant predictors for depression were age between 18 and 20 years, female sex, presence of chronic diseases, and presence of friends or relatives diagnosed with COVID-19. The significant predictors for stress were age between 18 and 20 years, female sex, presence of friends or relatives diagnosed with COVID-19, and medical faculties.Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a majority of university students of Egypt showed moderate to high level of stress, and about one-third of them had moderate to severe depression. Younger age, female sex and having a relative or friend diagnosed with COVID-19 were significant predictors for high stress level and depression. Psychological interventions for university students during the COVID-19 pandemic are strongly recommended to promote their mental health and improve academic achievement.

Background and aim: Improving the eating habits of children is essential to reduce the future burden of non-communicable illnesses. Nutritional diseases affect higher than 30% of school age children. This study aimed to assess the dietary habits and nutritional knowledge among primary school age children in Fayoum Governorate, Egypt.Study design: A cross-sectional descriptive design was utilized. Setting: The study was implemented in three governmental mixed primary schools in EL-Fayoum city; Egypt, that were selected randomly. Sample: Cluster random sample techniques used for selecting of the study group consisted of 300 students aged from 10-12 years for both sexes attending grade five and six. Tools: three tools of data collection consisted of: 1- self-administered questionnaire comprised socio-demographic data of the students and parents, and students’ knowledge about nutrition, 2- the students’ dietary habits as consumption of the breakfast, drinking water, 3- Health assessment sheet to assess the students’ nutritional status including weight, height, BMI, and appearance.The study findings revealed that 69.3% of the study group were underweight, 36.3% were stunted, and 6.7%, 3.3% were overweight and obese respectively. About 45% had fair knowledge while 34% had good knowledge about the nutrition. More than half of the students had unhealthy dietary behavior and appearance. There was a statistically significant difference (P: 0<0.00) between the academic performance of the school children and their HAZ while there was no statistically significant difference between the academic performance of the students and their WAZ (P: 0.264).Conclusions: underweight is highly prevalent among the primary school students followed by stunting. Most of the students had unhealthy dietary habits and unhealthy appearance while around half of them had fair knowledge about nutrition. The current study recommended developing a nutritional health program for primary school children about the proper nutrition.