Mental health at the COVID‐19 frontline: An assessment of distress, fear, and coping among staff and attendees at screening clinics of rural/regional settings of Victoria, Australia

Abstract

Purpose Research examining psychological well‐being associated with COVID‐19 in rural/regional Australia is limited. This study aimed to assess the extent of psychological distress, fear of COVID‐19, and coping strategies among the attendees in COVID‐19 screening clinics at 2 rural Victorian settings. Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted during July 2020 to February 2021 inclusive. Participants were invited to fill in an online questionnaire. Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K‐10), Fear of COVID‐19 Scale, and Brief Resilient Coping Scale were used to assess psychological distress, fear of COVID‐19, and coping, respectively. Findings Among 702 total participants, 69% were females and mean age (±SD) was 49 (±15.8) years. One in 5 participants (156, 22%) experienced high to very high psychological distress, 1 in 10 (72, 10%) experienced high fear, and more than half (397, 57%) had medium to high resilient coping. Participants with mental health issues had higher distress (AOR 10.4, 95% CI: 6.25‐17.2) and fear (2.56, 1.41‐4.66). Higher distress was also associated with having comorbidities, increased smoking (5.71, 1.04‐31.4), and alcohol drinking (2.03, 1.21‐3.40). Higher fear was associated with negative financial impact, drinking alcohol (2.15, 1.06‐4.37), and increased alcohol drinking. Medium to high resilient coping was associated with being ≥60 years old (1.84, 1.04‐3.24) and completing Bachelor and above levels of education. Conclusion People who had pre‐existing mental health issues, comorbidities, smoked, and consumed alcohol were identified as high‐risk groups for poorer psychological well‐being in rural/regional Victoria. Specific interventions to support the mental well‐being of these vulnerable populations, along with engaging health care providers, should be considered.

Health and wellbeing of staff working at higher education institutions globally during the post-COVID-19 pandemic period: Evidence from a cross-sectional study

“…Similar results were reported in a large international sample during COVID-19 [5]. An Australian study also found that individuals with higher quali cations (i.e., bachelor's degree) reported increased normal to high resilience scores [42]. This was attributed to enhanced critical thinking and problemsolving skills leading to the use of more adaptive coping strategies.…”

How healthy are the healthcare staff in a rural health service? A cross-sectional study

“…In the rural healthcare setting where the current study was based, a higher proportion of staff was likely to have a mental health issue at Time 2 during COVID-19 compared to Time 1 (though not statistically significant). A recent study of 702 attendees at south west Victoria COVID-19 screening clinics showed 22% of attendees experienced high to very high levels of psychological distress using the Kessler 10 ( Rahman et al, 2022 ). Of particular note is that 43% of these attendees were essential workers ( Rahman et al, 2022 ).…”

“…A recent study of 702 attendees at south west Victoria COVID-19 screening clinics showed 22% of attendees experienced high to very high levels of psychological distress using the Kessler 10 ( Rahman et al, 2022 ). Of particular note is that 43% of these attendees were essential workers ( Rahman et al, 2022 ). Other studies in Australian metropolitan health services have also shown an increases in mental health symptoms and psychological distress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in healthcare workers ( Dobson et al, 2021 ; Holton et al, 2021a , 2021b ; Smallwood et al, 2021 ); however, direct comparison to the current study isn't possible due to the different psychological distress tools utilised.…”

Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART-EM) among Emergency Physicians: A Pilot Intervention Study

“…Stress management is crucial for the well-being of emergency physicians, who face increasing distress, with burnout rates reaching alarming levels globally [7,[29][30][31]. Excessive stress not only jeopardizes mental health but also compromises the quality of patient care [32][33][34][35][36][37].…”