This study aimed to investigate the individual characteristics of intolerance of uncertainty (IU) and its association with mental health symptoms among Chinese college students during COVID-19.

In total, 86,767 students completed the online survey in Guangdong province in June 2021. Data collected including socio-demographic and COVID-19-related information, IU, and mental health symptoms (depression, anxiety, insomnia, and suicidal ideation). Latent profile analysis was used to classify IU subgroups. Logistic regression was used to identify IU risk factors.

Four IU subgroups were identified, named low IU (n = 9,197, 10.6%), medium-low IU (n = 25,514, 29.4%), medium-high IU (n = 38,805, 44.7%), and high IU (n = 13,251, 15.3%). Scores of mental health symptoms varied from the degree of IU in the latent profiles. Mental health status was the worst in the high IU group. In addition, females, freshmen, and those perceiving more impacts from COVID-19 and spending longer time surfing COVID-19 information online were at risk of high IU.

Our findings showed that individuals differ in the total degree of intolerance of the uncertainties. Students with high IU were associated with worse mental health symptoms. Thus, taking actions to target individuals with high IU and developing their adaptive coping strategies are imperative during pandemics.

This review aimed to map the main ethical tensions experienced by health workers in low- and middle-income countries during infectious disease outbreaks.

We conducted a critical interpretive review of qualitative research studies. After searching 3 databases, 4445 articles were exported to Rayyan, deduplicated, and screened for eligibility. Of the 98 articles retained for full review, 25 met the inclusion criteria. Data were extracted to an Excel spreadsheet and key ethical tensions were identified using a descriptive content and thematic analysis approach.

Twenty-three of the studies focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, and two addressed Ebola epidemics. Three major ethical tensions were experienced by health workers, which involved conflicts between their professional duty to patients, colleagues, and communities, as against their concerns for personal safety, the well-being of their families, and facing stigma and discrimination. Secondary tensions arose when health workers seeking to manage these primary ethical tensions experienced further uncertainty about whether to disclose information about their professional roles with family members or community.

Ethical tensions are unavoidable during contagions, and may be amplified due to structural features. Authorities must take steps to support health workers as they navigate ethical tensions during localized epidemics or global pandemics.

The phenomenon of dust is one of the natural hazards that can affect almost all sectors of society and has consistently had various health, economic, and social impacts in the affected areas. This study aimed to design a mitigation plan for Health Facilities (HFs) into dust hazard

This sequential exploratory mixed-methods study encompassed 5 distinct phases. It began with a systematic review to identify mitigation strategies for health hazards in dust, followed by qualitative interviews with 23 health-sector managers and specialists analyzed through conventional content analysis. The third phase defined the program’s dimensions and components based on findings from the first two phases. The fourth phase validated the proposed plan using the Delphi technique, and in the final phase, the FEMA model was applied to design the ultimate strategic plan.

The systematic review identified 601 articles, selecting 10 for inclusion. Through expert interviews, a total of 106 codes were synthesized into 45 subcategories, 13 categories, and 5 main themes. By integrating the findings from the first 2 phases, a comprehensive checklist comprising 107 items was developed. During the Delphi phase, experts further refined this list, resulting in 58 finalized items, which facilitated the formulation of a mitigation plan for dust hazard based on a FEMA model.

The strategies and solutions detailed in this plan are intended to assist policymakers and health planners in prioritizing this hazard and developing educational protocols designed to enhance risk perception among staff and the populations served by health care facilities (HFs).