COVID-19 in Healthcare and Educational Facilities: Epidemiology, Perceptions, Transmission, Prevention, and Potential Therapeutic Opportunities

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 20937

Special Issue Editors


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Associate Professor, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, NT, Australia
Interests: empirical analysis of survey data & linked data; spatial demography; diseasemapping & spatial epidemiology; environmental statistics; spatio-temporal statistics; correlateddata & multi-level modelling
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Guest Editor
Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns 4870, Australia
Interests: COVID-1; natural products; complementary and alternative medicine; medicinal plants; biodiscovery; health policy and health care delivery
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Guest Editor
School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Ourimbah, NSW 2258, Australia
Interests: biomaterials; stem cells; tissue engineering; dental implants; periodontal disease; oral cancer
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The fight against the COVID-19 pandemic is in its third year, and the outbreak may continue for a few additional years, despite the availability of vaccines. Healthcare workers are at the frontline of the COVID-19 response, and are at a greater risk of becoming infected with the virus, due to their proximity to and regular interaction with infected patients. Additionally, the risk of COVID-19 transmission is significantly increased in places of learning and residential housing, as the aerosol and droplet production from people's secretions can contaminate equipment, instruments and furniture, which can lead to a higher probability of pathogenic microorganism spread.

This Special Issue is dedicated to COVID-19 exposure in healthcare facilities, residential housing and schools, the preventive strategies, including cleanliness, gear, nutrition and the use of alternative medicines, the potential therapeutic development, and the profile of the infection among healthcare workers and their role. Furthermore, studies that evaluate healthcare providers' perceptions in relation to the pandemic and its effect on the prevalence of diseases within the communities are welcome.

Dr. Oyelola A. Adegboye
Dr. Phurpa Wangchuk
Dr. Dileep Sharma
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • perception
  • healthcare
  • protective gear
  • healthcare worker
  • hygiene
  • therapeutic

Published Papers (12 papers)

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16 pages, 1743 KiB  
Article
Cross-Sectional Analysis of Colombian University Students’ Perceptions of Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Repercussions on Academic Achievement
by María Alejandra Camacho-Villa, Ingrid Johanna Díaz-Marín, Erika Tatiana Paredes Prada, Adrián De la Rosa and Gloria Isabel Niño-Cruz
Healthcare 2023, 11(14), 2024; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11142024 - 14 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1443
Abstract
Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the increase in academic activities at home negatively impacted mental health, due to significant levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. We investigated the association of depression and anxiety with university students’ academic performance during the COVID-19 lockdown in [...] Read more.
Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the increase in academic activities at home negatively impacted mental health, due to significant levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. We investigated the association of depression and anxiety with university students’ academic performance during the COVID-19 lockdown in Bucaramanga, Colombia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online survey during the lockdown, through the use of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the grade-point average. Results: 1090 females, out of 1957 students, with mean age 22.2 ± 5.3 years, participated in the study. The prevalence of low academic performance was higher in men (4.7% p = 0.014). As for mental health, 2.5% of the students were classified as “definite cases” of anxiety and 8.2% were diagnosed with depression. Women with a low academic performance had a greater percentage of being “definite cases” (3.8%) of anxiety as compared to men (1.1%). Regarding depression, in men, 12.2% of those with low academic performance were “definite cases” (6.9% p < 0.05); in females with low academic performance, 10.1% were “definite cases” of depression, according to the Poisson regression analysis. The probability of low performance was 100% higher for women identified as “doubtful cases” of depression (PR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.10–5.18, p = 0.03). Conclusions: A positive association between the severity of anxiety/depression and lower grades, especially in women, was found. Mental health should be a special concern when considering university students, in order to improve their academic performance. Full article
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12 pages, 2130 KiB  
Article
Effects of Target Variables on Interpersonal Distance Perception for Young Taiwanese during the COVID-19 Pandemic
by Yi-Lang Chen and Andi Rahman
Healthcare 2023, 11(12), 1711; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11121711 - 11 Jun 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 980
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected not only public health but also people’s daily lives. Among various strategies to prevent infection, mask wearing and vaccination are considered to be the most effective methods; however, they may affect the comfortable interpersonal distance (IPD) for social [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected not only public health but also people’s daily lives. Among various strategies to prevent infection, mask wearing and vaccination are considered to be the most effective methods; however, they may affect the comfortable interpersonal distance (IPD) for social interactions. In 2023, although the COVID-19 epidemic is considered to be similar to influenza, the public health sector of Taiwan still plans to give each person at least one dose per year, and even two does for special cases such as the elderly; and more than 90% of Taiwanese are still accustomed to wearing masks in public areas. Compared with mask wearing, studies examining the effects of vaccination on IPD are lacking. Therefore, an online survey was conducted in this study to collect the IPD data of 50 male and 50 female participants to elucidate the effects of mask wearing, vaccination, and target sex variables on IPD. The results showed that all variables significantly affected IPD (all p < 0.001). The effect of masks on IPD (49.1 cm) was slightly greater than that of vaccination (43.5 cm). The IPDs reported for wearing and not wearing masks were 145.7 and 194.8 cm, respectively, and those for vaccinated and unvaccinated were 148.5 and 192.0 cm, respectively. Regardless of participant sex, the IPDs for the female targets were significantly shorter than those for the male targets, which was consistent with the results of previous studies. Although mask wearing and vaccination are functionally different in nature, the findings indicate that the effects of both on IPD are nearly identical, jointly shortening IPD to approximately 93 cm. This implies that not only masks but also vaccination could lead to the shortening of IPD and may cause challenges in the prevention and control of COVID-19 transmission. Full article
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15 pages, 1920 KiB  
Article
A Prospective Cohort Study of COVID-19: Evaluation of the Early Role of IL-1 and IL-6 Antagonists in Improving the Outcome of the Illness and Reduction in the Risk of Death
by Mardheya Al. Kharusi, Naffesa Al Sheikh, Maiya Alhajri, Seif Ali Al. Mandhri, El-Sayed Khafagy, Ehssan H. Moglad, Hadil Faris Alotaibi and Wael A. H. Hegazy
Healthcare 2023, 11(7), 1025; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11071025 - 03 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1397
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on global health, economies, and social systems. The crucial factor that determines the success of COVID-19 treatments is preventing the need for mechanical ventilation and intensive care admission. In the context of COVID-19, several treatments have [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on global health, economies, and social systems. The crucial factor that determines the success of COVID-19 treatments is preventing the need for mechanical ventilation and intensive care admission. In the context of COVID-19, several treatments have been found to play a role in the disease’s progression and severity. Interleukins (ILs) have been identified as key mediators of the cytokine storm that can occur in severe cases of COVID-19, leading to respiratory failure and other complications. For instance, IL-1 antagonist (anakinra) and IL-6 antagonist (tocilizumab) are supposed to be promising treatments as well as cortisones for COVID-19. This prospective study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of anakinra or tocilizumab in addition to cortisone in preventing the progression of mild to moderate COVID-19 cases to severe intensive care admission. Biochemical and hematological parameters, such as D-dimer, ferritin, LDH, CRP, and white blood cells (WBCs), were measured after treatment with either anakinra or tocilizumab in addition to cortisone or cortisone alone. The study also recorded the number of deaths and patients admitted to intensive care. The results indicate that anakinra significantly improved outcomes and decreased the number of intensive care admissions compared to tocilizumab or cortisone alone. Therefore, anakinra may play a vital role in controlling the progression of COVID-19, and its use in mild to moderate cases may prevent the worsening of the disease to severe stages. Full article
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14 pages, 891 KiB  
Article
Mortality and Survival Factors in Patients with Moderate and Severe Pneumonia Due to COVID-19
by Evelyn Galindo-Oseguera, Rodolfo Pinto-Almazán, Alfredo Arellano-Ramírez, Gilberto Adrián Gasca-López, María Esther Ocharan-Hernández, Claudia C. Calzada-Mendoza, Juan Castillo-Cruz and Erick Martínez-Herrera
Healthcare 2023, 11(7), 932; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11070932 - 23 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1656
Abstract
During the pandemic, some mortality-related factors were age, sex, comorbidities (obesity, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension), recovery time, hospitalizations, and biochemical markers. The present work aimed to identify the mortality and survival factors in adults with moderate and severe pneumonia due to COVID-19 during [...] Read more.
During the pandemic, some mortality-related factors were age, sex, comorbidities (obesity, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension), recovery time, hospitalizations, and biochemical markers. The present work aimed to identify the mortality and survival factors in adults with moderate and severe pneumonia due to COVID-19 during the first and second waves of the pandemic in Mexico at a third-level hospital (High-Specialty Regional Hospital of Ixtapaluca (HRAEI), Ixtapaluca, Estado de Mexico, Mexico). A database was generated using information from the electronic clinical records of patients hospitalized from December 2021 to August 2022. Survival analysis was performed associating age, sex, longer recovery times, and some drugs. The risk factors found were age in the patients between 40 and 60 years (OR = 1.70), male sex (OR = 1.53), the presence of comorbidities (OR = 1.66) and hypertension (OR = 2.19), work occupation (construction workers OR = 5.22, factory workers OR = 3.13, unemployed OR = 2.93), the prehospital use of metamizole sodium (OR = 2.17), cough (OR = 1.73), and in-hospital oxygen therapy (reservoir mask OR = 6.6). The survival factors found in this study were working in the healthcare field (OR = 0.26), the prehospital use of certain medications (paracetamol OR = 0.65, dexamethasone OR = 0.55, and azithromycin OR = 0.47), presenting ageusia (OR = 0.5) and hyporexia (OR = 0.34), and the time using in-hospital oxygen therapy (device 1 OR = 0.72). Prehospital treatment needs to be reevaluated as dexamethasone and azithromycin proved to be protective factors. Likewise, providing aggressive oxygen therapy during hospital admission decreased mortality risk. Full article
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16 pages, 3250 KiB  
Article
COVID-19 Prevention Strategies for Victoria Students within Educational Facilities: An AI-Based Modelling Study
by Shiyang Lyu, Oyelola Adegboye, Kiki Adhinugraha, Theophilus I. Emeto and David Taniar
Healthcare 2023, 11(6), 860; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11060860 - 14 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1540
Abstract
Educational institutions play a significant role in the community spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Victoria. Despite a series of social restrictions and preventive measures in educational institutions implemented by the Victorian Government, confirmed cases among people under 20 years of age accounted for more [...] Read more.
Educational institutions play a significant role in the community spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Victoria. Despite a series of social restrictions and preventive measures in educational institutions implemented by the Victorian Government, confirmed cases among people under 20 years of age accounted for more than a quarter of the total infections in the state. In this study, we investigated the risk factors associated with COVID-19 infection within Victoria educational institutions using an incremental deep learning recurrent neural network-gated recurrent unit (RNN-GRU) model. The RNN-GRU model simulation was built based on three risk dimensions: (1) school-related risk factors, (2) student-related community risk factors, and (3) general population risk factors. Our data analysis showed that COVID-19 infection cases among people aged 10–19 years were higher than those aged 0–9 years in the Victorian region in 2020–2022. Within the three dimensions, a significant association was identified between school-initiated contact tracing (0.6110), vaccination policy for students and teachers (0.6100), testing policy (0.6109), and face covering (0.6071) and prevention of COVID-19 infection in educational settings. Furthermore, the study showed that different risk factors have varying degrees of effectiveness in preventing COVID-19 infection for the 0–9 and 10–19 age groups, such as state travel control (0.2743 vs. 0.3390), international travel control (0.2757 vs. 0.3357) and school closure (0.2738 vs. 0.3323), etc. More preventive support is suggested for the younger generation, especially for the 10–19 age group. Full article
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12 pages, 268 KiB  
Article
Perceptions, Knowledge, and Experiences of Using Face Masks among Egyptian Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Marwa O. Elgendy, Ahmed O. El-Gendy, Sara O. Elgendy, Lamiaa N. Abdelaty, Mohamed E. A. Abdelrahim and Mona A. Abdelrahman
Healthcare 2023, 11(6), 838; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11060838 - 13 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1347
Abstract
Using face masks appropriately is important for preventing the community spread of respiratory infections. A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the knowledge level and experience of using face masks between healthcare teams to protect them and limit the spread of COVID-19 infection. [...] Read more.
Using face masks appropriately is important for preventing the community spread of respiratory infections. A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the knowledge level and experience of using face masks between healthcare teams to protect them and limit the spread of COVID-19 infection. A structured questionnaire was distributed to 228 healthcare members in July–December 2021. It was divided into two sections and consisted of 29 questions for a total possible score of 0 to 29. The first section was related to perceptions and knowledge about face masks (13 items); the second was related to the experience of using face masks (16 items). The average score of this questionnaire was 23.21/29 with respect to the knowledge about face masks and their proper use techniques. The healthcare team studied had satisfactory knowledge about face mask use techniques, and the study shed light on their unsatisfactory practices. Following instructions is very vital to protecting the person wearing the mask and preventing the spread of infection during health care by blocking droplets produced by speaking or coughing. Providing the healthcare teams with knowledge and experience about how to use face masks during the pandemic is critical to increase their awareness and practice in using face masks and prevent the infection from spreading. Full article
13 pages, 463 KiB  
Article
Vaccine Hesitancy among Medical Students at a Tertiary Hospital—Affiliated Medical School
by Ibrahim Omer, Abdullah Alhuzali, Tala Aletani, Zaher Althagafi, Enas Ghulam and Abdullah Awadh
Healthcare 2023, 11(4), 461; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11040461 - 05 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1175
Abstract
Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused a global pandemic with long-lasting economic and cultural impacts. International governments have attempted to scale up vaccine production to mitigate this crisis. However, vaccine hesitancy, particularly among healthcare providers, remains an understudied subject that may hinder [...] Read more.
Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused a global pandemic with long-lasting economic and cultural impacts. International governments have attempted to scale up vaccine production to mitigate this crisis. However, vaccine hesitancy, particularly among healthcare providers, remains an understudied subject that may hinder vaccine effectiveness. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study to evaluate vaccine hesitancy among medical students using a pre-validated survey based on the 5C model of psychological antecedents, which includes confidence, complacency, constraints, calculation, and collective responsibility. Results: The majority of medical students had high scores for confidence (79.7%), non-complacency (88%), and not having constraints against receiving the COVID-19 vaccine (97.4%). Surprisingly, students had low scores for calculation (38%) and collective responsibility (14.7%). Many predictors of the psychological antecedents included in the 5C model have been reported, including academic year and gender. Conclusion: We observed moderate levels of vaccine hesitancy among the medical students included in our study. We urge medical students to be more aware of community public health concerns. We recommend that authorized institutions lay out urgent reforms to increase awareness of COVID-19 and available vaccines. Full article
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10 pages, 759 KiB  
Article
Risk Factors for COVID-19 Infection among Healthcare Workers in North-East Nigeria
by Roland I. Stephen, Jamiu Olumoh, Jennifer Tyndall and Oyelola Adegboye
Healthcare 2022, 10(10), 1919; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10101919 - 30 Sep 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1415
Abstract
Healthcare workers (HCWs) face an unprecedented higher risk of COVID-19 infection due to their work and exposure. In this study, we aim to examine the associated risk factors for COVID-19 infection among HCWs in North-East Nigeria. We used data collected retrospectively among a [...] Read more.
Healthcare workers (HCWs) face an unprecedented higher risk of COVID-19 infection due to their work and exposure. In this study, we aim to examine the associated risk factors for COVID-19 infection among HCWs in North-East Nigeria. We used data collected retrospectively among a cohort of clinical and non-clinical HCWs in six healthcare facilities in Adamawa State, Nigeria. We estimated the marginal probability of COVID-19 infection among HWCs using alternating logistic regression via the generalized estimating equations (GEE) approach. Among the 318 HCWs, 178 (55.97%) were males, mean (±SD) age was 36.81 (±8.98), 237 (74.76%) were clinical, and 80 (25.24) were non-clinical staff. The overall prevalence of COVID-19 was 16.67% among HCWs. After adjusting for other variables in the model, our results showed that clinical staff had a 5-fold higher risk of COVID-19 infection than non-clinical staff (aOR = 5.07, 95% CI: 1.32–19.52). Moreover, significant exposure risk factors for COVID-19 infection for HCWs increase with age, time spent attending to patients, caring for COVID-19 patients, and having worked with COVID-19 samples, while the risk decreases with the use of an N95 mask. Our findings suggested that the burden of COVID-19 infection is higher for clinical staff than non-clinical staff, and increasing age contributed to the increased risk. Full article
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8 pages, 1176 KiB  
Article
Droplet Distribution in a University Dental Clinic Setting: The Importance of High-Volume Evacuation
by Linda Gualtieri, Ronald Yong, Jessley Ah-Kion, Amanda L. A. Jamil, Asmae Bazaei, Jhanvi Kotecha, Sharron Long, Gloria Silcock and Catherine M. Miller
Healthcare 2022, 10(9), 1799; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10091799 - 19 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1443
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to compare droplet distribution during a piezoelectric ultrasonic debridement procedure using either high-volume or slow-volume evacuation. Droplet distribution during a crown preparation with slow-volume evacuation is also examined. Fluorescein dye is added to the water reservoir and [...] Read more.
The purpose of this study is to compare droplet distribution during a piezoelectric ultrasonic debridement procedure using either high-volume or slow-volume evacuation. Droplet distribution during a crown preparation with slow-volume evacuation is also examined. Fluorescein dye is added to the water reservoir and the procedures are performed by a single operator for 15 min on a dental manikin with artificial upper and lower teeth. Placement of filter paper squares (10 cm × 10 cm) in radiating lines away from the oral cavity of the dental manikin allows for visualization of droplet dispersion. Results show minimal difference in the spread of the droplets between the two evacuators during the debridement procedure; however, the slow-volume evacuator produces a higher concentration of droplets than the high-volume evacuator. An even higher concentration of droplets in the vicinity of the dental chair is observed during the crown preparation procedure. This study recommends the use of a high-volume evacuator where possible during professional debridement and crown preparation to reduce contamination around the dental chair from potentially pathogenic microorganisms. Full article
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12 pages, 1064 KiB  
Article
Impact of COVID-19 on Patients’ Attitudes and Perceptions of Dental Health Services: A Questionnaire Based Study in an Australian University Dental Clinic
by Hashim Azam, Niesha Agilan, Pulina Pitigala, Anjaneya Gupta, Julian Fung, Catherine M. Miller, Oyelola Adegboye and Dileep Sharma
Healthcare 2022, 10(9), 1747; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10091747 - 12 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1372
Abstract
COVID-19, the global pandemic, has significantly interrupted the provision of oral health care to many individuals. This study aims to evaluate patients’ attitudes to and perceptions of dental visits in the COVID-19 pandemic and assess if socio-economic status influences their perception of risk [...] Read more.
COVID-19, the global pandemic, has significantly interrupted the provision of oral health care to many individuals. This study aims to evaluate patients’ attitudes to and perceptions of dental visits in the COVID-19 pandemic and assess if socio-economic status influences their perception of risk associated with dental visits. Patients attending the dental clinic were invited to participate in this study by completing a questionnaire administered in August 2021. Composite indicators for access, attitude, perception and socio-economic status were created based on subsets of questions. A total of 247 completed questionnaires were obtained. Analysis was performed with the perception, attitude and access indicators against the socio-economic status indicator. This study found that there is a statistically significant difference between socio-economic groups and their attitudes and perceptions around dental health care services in the current COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals from lower socio-economic status groups were less influenced by the pandemic. Participants from higher socio-economic status groups were found to be more cautious around COVID-19 and its risks. Full article
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12 pages, 259 KiB  
Article
Cross-Sectional Analysis of Taiwanese Pharmacy Students’ Experiences and Perceptions of Transitioning from In-Hospital Internships to Distance Learning Due to COVID-19
by Shu-Fen Huang, Chin-Wei Hsu, Chia-Li Lin, Yen-Ling Ko and Hui-Chen Su
Healthcare 2022, 10(8), 1369; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10081369 - 23 Jul 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1368
Abstract
The introductory pharmacy practice experiences (IPPE) in Taiwan, which are traditionally conducted in physical hospital settings, incorporated up to 30% distance learning from May 2021 due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). A web-based cross-sectional survey was adopted to investigate pharmacy students’ experiences and [...] Read more.
The introductory pharmacy practice experiences (IPPE) in Taiwan, which are traditionally conducted in physical hospital settings, incorporated up to 30% distance learning from May 2021 due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). A web-based cross-sectional survey was adopted to investigate pharmacy students’ experiences and perceptions of transitioning from in-hospital internships to distance learning due to COVID-19 in the pharmacy department of a university in Southern Taiwan. We analyzed the results to discover factors that significantly affected students’ perceptions of transitioning from in-hospital internships to distance learning. In total, 81 interns from the university’s pharmacy department responded to the questionnaire. Approximately half of the participants felt happy when they learned, before the internship began, that the internship would be partially replaced with distance learning. The overall satisfaction rate was 67.9%, and no significant differences was observed in students’ satisfaction between hospital size or distance-learning time. However, more students in the medical center felt they had insufficient time to finish assignments compared to those in the regional hospitals, and the students who had 11–15 days of distance learning felt that they interacted more smoothly with their peers compared to those who had other durations. Program designers should make distance internship courses more student-centered, with a focus on increasing interactions between students, teachers, and peers to compensate for the lack of physical presence. Full article

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19 pages, 1393 KiB  
Systematic Review
Effectiveness of Drama-Based Intervention in Improving Mental Health and Well-Being: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Post-Pandemic Period
by Lulu Jiang, Farideh Alizadeh and Wenjing Cui
Healthcare 2023, 11(6), 839; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11060839 - 13 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4204
Abstract
As a creative form of psychotherapy, drama appears to assist individuals in the COVID-19 pandemic and post-pandemic period in altering crisis conditions and challenging negative perspectives. Drama-based intervention is presented as an option for addressing mental health issues in clinical and general populations [...] Read more.
As a creative form of psychotherapy, drama appears to assist individuals in the COVID-19 pandemic and post-pandemic period in altering crisis conditions and challenging negative perspectives. Drama-based intervention is presented as an option for addressing mental health issues in clinical and general populations by utilising various multidisciplinary sources, such as psychodrama and role playing. In this study, a systematic review and meta-analysis were employed to assess the impact of drama on mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic and post-pandemic. Four electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect) were extensively searched from December 2019 to October 2022. Quality assessment and Risk of Bias tool of the Cochrane Collaboration were performed. Using a random effect model, standardised mean difference (SMD) values and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. In the final analysis, 25 studies involving 797 participants were included. The study revealed that drama-based interventions have the potential to improve mental health (e.g., trauma-related disorders) and well-being (e.g., psychological well-being), which could position drama as an adjunctive method of mental health care. This original review offered the newer, more comprehensive recommendations for drama-based intervention based on evidence. Full article
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