Facing the challenge: COVID-19 and occupational therapy (original) (raw)

Impacts of COVID-19: A research agenda to support people in their fight

International Journal of Information Management, 2020

Grounded in the vast changes to work life (jobs) and home life that people are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic (hereinafter COVID), this article presents five research directions related to COVID's impacts on jobs-i.e., job loss, job changes, job outcomes, coping, and support-and five research directions related to COVID's impact on home life-i.e., home life changes, children, life-related outcomes, social life, and support. In addition to this, I discuss overarching possible research directions and considerations for researchers, editors, and reviewers, as we continue our scientific journey to support people through this pandemic and beyond. I organize these directions and considerations into two sets of five each: focal groups that should be studied-i.e., underprivileged populations, different countries and cultural contexts, women (vs. men), workers in healthcare (frontline workers), elderly and at-risk-and five general issues and special considerations-i.e., role of technology as the oxygen, pre-vs. mid-vs. post-COVID studies, constraints on data collection/research due to COVID, evolution of COVID, and focus on contextualization (generalizability is irrelevant).

Beyond the Pandemic: COVID-19 Pandemic Changed the Face of Life

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

The COVID-19 pandemic is a serious challenge for societies around the globe as entire populations have fallen victim to the infectious spread and have taken up social distancing. In many countries, people have had to self-isolate and to be confined to their homes for several weeks to months to prevent the spread of the virus. Social distancing measures have had both negative and positive impacts on various aspects of economies, lifestyles, education, transportation, food supply, health, social life, and mental wellbeing. On other hands, due to reduced population movements and the decline in human activities, gas emissions decreased and the ozone layer improved; this had a positive impact on Earth’s weather and environment. Overall, the COVID-19 pandemic has negative effects on human activities and positive impacts on nature. This study discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on different life aspects including the economy, social life, health, education, and the environment.

Social and Mental Health Concerns After COVID-19: Need for Public Health Policy

2021

With the world being witness to one of the most calamitous virus, Covid-19, our ways of operating have undeniably been altered to a large extent. The rapid transmission rate is due the reason that it spreads through touch, causing millions of deaths globally. Along with its high infectivity and fatality rates, the Corona Virus Disease has caused universal psychosocial impact by causing mass hysteria, economic burden and financial losses along with having plenty of detrimental effects on the various groups in the society. The mental health of those locked due to the imposed restrictions and the professionals dedicatedly involved in the treatment of the virus has been severely impacted. Governments, worldwide have been actively involved in the policy making and implementation of measures to combat the virus. The pandemic has changed the face of the earth and has brought in the realization that unexpected times of crisis calls for a greater need for empathy and solidarity.

The COVID-19 Pandemic May Force the World to Reflect on the Pre-Pandemic Style of Life

International Journal of Travel Medicine and Global Health

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a lot of changes on an individual and societal level. The current study was designed to investigate the impact of the isolation/ social distancing period on people’s sense of Being, Belonging, and Becoming at the early stages of the COVID-19 measures. Methods: A cross-sectional survey study design was employed utilizing a researcher-developed questionnaire with items developed based on the Model of Occupational Wholeness to investigate the changes that may have happened to what people have been doing during the COVID-19 measures compared to the time before. A sample of 1206, using snowball sampling, responded to the online questionnaire. Results: Findings indicated that participants at the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic had changed the pattern of their doings. The change of pattern, which was considered positive, was in relation to people valuing their health, having more time to take care of themselves, and doing activities which...

Impact of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on health professionals

Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences

Objective: Recognizing the huge potential ramifications of COVID-19 pandemic, this study explores its impact on health professionals personally and professionally along with the associated challenges. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional qualitative survey was conducted from March-April 2020. Participants included health professionals from various disciplines in both public and private-sector institutions of Pakistan. The sample size was not predetermined, and an iterative approach of simultaneous data collection and analysis was taken until data and time saturation were reached. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data was carried out by two analysts. Results: Two hundred and Ninety health professionals responded. They reported an impact on their mental, physical and social well-being. The clinicians mentioned facing an unprecedented workload in overstretched health facilities, while those in academia become engaged with planning/providing emergency remote teaching for the stude...

The World Concerns of Covid-19 Pandemic in People's Daily Life

2020

Citation: Alireza Atarodi and Ahmadreza Atarodi. “The World Concerns of Covid-19 Pandemic in People’s Daily Life”. EC Psychology and Psychiatry 10.1 (2021): 10-12. Corresponding Author: Alireza Atarodi, Assistant Professor, Department of Knowledge and Information Science, Paramedical College and Social Development and Health Promotion Research Center, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran.

Mental health in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic: a panoramic view of health professionals, affected patients and interpersonal relationships

South Florida Journal of Development

The pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus provided a new global dynamic, reflecting on the lives of health professionals, people affected by the disease and interpersonal relationships. The main strategy adopted to curb contagion was social distance, with implications in several spheres: in family organization, in the closing of schools and public places and in work routines. This situation gave rise to feelings of helplessness, loneliness and disorders such as anxiety and depression, which directly or indirectly influence the morbidity and mortality of the disease. Health professionals are faced with a new routine, which requires countless hours of work in an exhaustive manner, concern with their patients and the unknown disease, in addition to the vulnerability of their family members. The general population is faced with difficulties in sustaining themselves, in treating chronic conditions and in the constant presence of fear and mourning. In this context, the need for investme...