Purpose: Armed conflicts can lead to devastating psychological health issues within and around conflict zones. Generalized anxiety disorder, associated somatic symptoms, and wellbeing were examined among the Kuwait population during the Gaza Conflict in 2023, in addition to exploring the provoking factors.Methods: A descriptive, correlational cross-sectional design was used in this study. An online survey was conducted to collect information from people living in Kuwait during the Gaza Conflict. Data were collected between November 20 and November 27, 2023. The generalized anxiety disorder scale (GAD-7), a modified patient health questionnaire (mPHQ-15), and the World Health Organization – Five (WHO-5) were used to examine self-reported anxiety, somatic symptoms, and wellbeing among the study participants. Spearman’s correlation and chi-squared tests were used to determine the relationships between anxiety, somatic symptoms, and wellbeing, and to capture the instigating factors.Results: This study included 1979 participants living in Kuwait during the Gaza conflict period. GAD-7 and mPHQ-5 final scores were moderate (μ = 10.20 ± 4.48; μ = 11.12 ± 6.39), and WHO-5 final score was fair (μ = 53.35 ± 21.82). Spearman’s correlation showed a large positive correlation between the GAD-7 and mPHQ-15, r(1977) = 0.52, p < 0.0001, a medium negative correlation between the GAD-7 and WHO-5, r(1977) = −0.36, p < 0.0001, and a medium negative correlation between the mPHQ-15 and WHO-5, r(1977) = −0.27, p < 0.0001. Spearman’s correlation showed a small positive correlation between the GAD-7 and current feelings of insecurity, r(1977) = 0.246, p < 0.0001, and medium positive correlation with future fears, r(1979) = 0.292, p < 0.0001.Conclusion: The Gaza conflict impacted the psychological health of the Kuwait population, who shared geographical, geocultural, and geopolitical factors with those in the conflict zone. A global call to address mental health intervention programs for the public in and around conflict zones is a priority.

Background and Objectives: Caring for an individual with dementia encompasses many challenges. This can lead to increased burden, anxiety, and mental health issues among those taking care of them. Limited research exists investigating the care of people with dementia in Kuwait, particularly regarding the mental health of caregivers. There is a need to understand the impact of caregiver burden in this population. This study aimed to assess the level of burden of care, depression, anxiety, and well-being among caregivers of the elderly with dementia in Kuwait. Methods: This study used a descriptive and cross-sectional design. To measure the burden of care, depression, anxiety, and well-being of the caregivers, we utilized the Zarit Burden Interview, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to compare the results of the parametric and non-parametric methods. Results: This study included 180 (65%) caregivers for the elderly with dementia and 98 (35%) without dementia. The descriptive statistics showed that caregivers for the elderly with dementia and caregivers for the elderly without dementia experienced moderate burden (17.21 ± 9.09 and 14.51 ± 8.08, respectively), borderline abnormal anxiety (9.92 ± 5.15 and 8.61 ± 4.79, respectively), borderline abnormal depression (8.69 ± 4.35 and 8.06 ± 4.24, respectively), and low mental health well-being (54.40 ± 25.10 and 58.90 ± 23.42, respectively). The t-test of independent samples and Mann–Whitney U test results showed that the burden and anxiety in the caregivers for the elderly with dementia group were statistically significantly higher than those in the caregivers for the elderly without dementia group (p = 0.015 and p = 0.039; p = 0.026 and p = 0.027, respectively). The ANOVA test and Kruskal–Wallis test revealed that the caregivers for the elderly with dementia group had statistically significant differences in burden (p < 0.001; p < 0.001), anxiety (p = 0.048; p = 0.043), depression (p = 0.017; p = 0.009), and mental health well-being (p = 0.001; p = 0.002) scores across various durations of care. The multiple linear regression showed that caregiving was a significant predictor of burden of care and anxiety, indicating that caregivers of the elderly with dementia experienced a higher burden of care than those caring for the elderly without dementia. In addition, confounders with significant influence were duration of care (p < 0.001), education level (p = 0.002), employment status (p = 0.008), and gender (p = 0.02). Conclusions: Family caregivers experienced significant levels of burden of care and anxiety when caring for the elderly with dementia. A multidimensional holistic approach is needed to provide family caregivers of the elderly with dementia with valuable interventions.

Background: Healthcare providers experience a significant rate of nonfatal occupational injuries associated with their occupational duties and characteristics. Objective: This study aimed to gauge occupational and physical therapists’ exposure to physical risk factors and pain levels related to patient handling in outpatient rehabilitation settings. Methods: For this observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study design, the Workplace Ergonomics Risk Assessment (WERA) tool was used to collect real-time data, and a self-administered numeric pain intensity scale was utilized to rate pain levels. Results: The study included ninety-eight participants. The WERA overall final score showed that participants were exposed to moderate physical risk factors associated with Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs). Postures and repetitions of the anatomical areas were positively correlated with the use of force, vibration tools, contact stress tools, and task duration. Pain ratings showed that most of the participants experienced moderate to severe physical pain immediately after therapy sessions. A Kruskal-Wallis H test revealed a statistically significant difference in the exposure to physical risk factors in outpatient rehabilitation settings. Conclusion: Participants were exposed to moderate levels of physical risk factors and moderate to severe pain that may lead to WMSDs. Participants working in pediatric settings experienced the most significant exposure to physical risk factors. Results from this observational study were consistent with those from self-reported studies involving WMSDs from different geographical regions worldwide.

BACKGROUND: Due to the nature of its occupations, the healthcare industry recognizes that manually lifting, transferring, and handling patients are high-risk activities and leading factors for work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Research studies highlight that students are not receiving adequate training in manual patient transfer. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the procedural knowledge in patient transfer of second-year Master of Science in Occupational Therapy students and their practical skills in performing a manual patient transfer. METHODS: This observational, cross-sectional study included 23 occupational therapy students. Students completed the transfer technique knowledge assessment and subsequently performed a real-time manual patient transfer. RESULTS: No significant association was found between the participants’ knowledge and performance in MPT (x2(2) = 0.578, p = 0.749). All students scored highly on the knowledge assessment (μ= 9.3, SD =±1.02); however, the performance on real-time manual patient transfer was moderate (μ= 11.57, SD =±3.37) for the majority of students. CONCLUSION: A gap exists between the results of students’ knowledge and practice versus real-time performance in manual patient transfer. The practical training students receive on manual patient transfers in the academic setting may not equip them with the necessary skills and techniques to perform safe transfers.