Clinical trial NCT04365361: The Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 on Students.
Official title: Exploring the Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 on Higher Education Students
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: UNKNOWN
Conditions: Mental Health Wellness 1
Keywords: Stress
Depression
Higher education students
Psychological impact
Lead sponsor: The University of Hong Kong
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2020-04-28
Enrollment: 300
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 100
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Observational model: ECOLOGIC_OR_COMMUNITY
Time perspective: PROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Part A: An online survey study with non-probabilistic convenience sampling n=384

Part B: Focus group interviews n=32

Brief summary: The COVID-19 outbreak has been rapidly transmitted in late January 2020 and aroused enormous attention globally. The public at large may also experience boredom, disappointment, and irritability under the isolation measures. Depression and anxiety are common mental health problems experienced by university students. This survey aims to investigate the psychological impact of COVID 19 on students.

Detailed description: The COVID-19 outbreak has been rapidly transmitted in late January 2020 and aroused enormous attention globally. Infected patients may develop severe and even fatal respiratory diseases (e.g., acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and acute respiratory failure) ending up in intensive care. Apart from physical suffering, it is not uncommon for confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 to suffer from great psychological pressure and other health-related problems. The limited knowledge of the COVID-19 and the overwhelming news may lead to anxiety and fear in the public. The public at large may also experience boredom, disappointment, and irritability under the isolation measures.

Depression and anxiety are common mental health problems experienced by university students. Being in higher education is associated with many stressors and transitional events, and students fall within the age range when common mental health problems are at their developmental peak. Depression and anxiety can impair students' academic performance and social functioning, cause significant burden at university, and potentially affect their future career opportunities. The study includes 2 parts. Part A is an online survey study with non-probabilistic convenience sampling and part B is focus group interviews.

This study aims to explore the psychological impact of COVID-19 and coping methods in higher education students.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

• Higher education students aged 18 years and above

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects refuse to answer this questionnaire

Primary outcomes:
measure: Stress level
timeFrame: baseline
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Anxiety and depressive symptoms
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Insomnia symptoms and the associated daytime impairment
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Psychological response to trauma
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Resilience
timeFrame: baseline
measure: Attitude and practice students regarding preventive measures
timeFrame: baseline
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Hong Kong
country: Hong Kong
facility: LAI Agnes
Study officials:
affiliation: School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong
name: Agnes YK Lai, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Bao Y, Sun Y, Meng S, Shi J, Lu L. 2019-nCoV epidemic: address mental health care to empower society. Lancet. 2020 Feb 22;395(10224):e37-e38. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30309-3. Epub 2020 Feb 7. No abstract available.
citation: Hysenbegasi A, Hass SL, Rowland CR. The impact of depression on the academic productivity of university students. J Ment Health Policy Econ. 2005 Sep;8(3):145-51.
citation: Lai AY, Sit SM, Lam SK, Choi AC, Yiu DY, Lai TT, Ip MS, Lam TH. A Phenomenological Study on the Positive and Negative Experiences of Chinese International University Students From Hong Kong Studying in the U.K. and U.S. in the Early Stage of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Front Psychiatry. 2021 Dec 13;12:738474. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.738474. eCollection 2021.