Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38478561›Full record

ArticlePloS one2024

A longitudinal study of the COVID-19 pandemic impact on mental health in ophthalmic personnel and students.

Yi Pang, Connor Robbs, Jingyun Wang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Elevated levels of mental health issues among optometrists in the United Kingdom.Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists) · 2025
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Yi PangIllinois College of Optometry, Chicago, IL, United States of America.ORCID 0000-0001-7602-1076
Connor RobbsIllinois College of Optometry, Chicago, IL, United States of America.
Jingyun WangState University of New York College of Optometry, New York, NY, United States of America.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOur previous study revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic posed mental health challenges to eye care professionals and students. The intent of this study was to identify the longitudinal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health among ophthalmic personnel and students. Additionally, the potential risk factors for mental health problems were investigated.

methodsA two-phase survey among eye care professionals and students in the USA and Canada was conducted. Phase 1 was administrated from June 23 to July 8, 2020, and has been published; Phase 2 was conducted from January 21 to February 2, 2021. A total of 824 eye care professionals and students participated in Phase 2, with a response rate of 44.1%. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress were measured and calculated.

resultsCompared with Phase 1, stress scores in Phase 2 were significantly reduced (P<0.001) although they were still higher than the pre-COVID level (P < .001). Scores for depression (P = 0.20) and anxiety (P = 0.40) showed no change, comparing Phase 2 to Phase 1. Reduction of stress scores significantly differed among occupations (P = 0.005); students had less reduction of stress than other eye care professionals (all P<0.05). Vaccination status was significantly associated with a reduction in stress scores (P = 0.04).

conclusionsWith the continuing COVID pandemic, although stress level was reduced at 7-month follow-up, the mental health of eye care professionals was still impacted. In this population, COVID-19 vaccination was associated with fewer stress symptoms. These results indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic continues impacting mental health among eye care professionals, especially students. These study results warrant future interventions for eye care personnel and students to prevent or treat mental health disorders.

Indexed as

COVID-19PandemicsAnxietyCOVID-19 VaccinesDepressionHumansLongitudinal StudiesMental HealthStudentsCOVID-19 Vaccines

Identifiers

PMID38478561
PMCPMC10936786

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.