The hazards of watching football - Are Australians at risk?

Objective: To review whether watching football increases the population cardiac event risk in New South, Wales. Design: Analysis of hospital admissions for acute myocardial infarction, other cardiovascular disease, and other acute injuries at the time of two stressful sporting events in NSW in 2005: the Sydney Swans playing in the Australian Football League (AFL) Grand Final, and the Socceroos' penalty shoot-out in their World Cup qualifying match against Uruguay. Results: There were no increases in any of the studied admission events at the time of, or in the days immediately following, these football matches. Conclusions: Australians appear to be resistant to acute stressors associated with watching sporting events, possibly due to higher rates of motivational deficiency disorder (MoDeD) than in European populations

“The usual challenges of work are all magnified”: Australian paediatric health professionals’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased stress and strain on health professionals. With a focus on paediatric cardiac care, this study explored health professionals’ concerns about COVID-19, perceptions of the impact of pandemic on healthcare, and experiences of psychological stress. Methods: Paediatric health professionals working at a large quaternary hospital in Australia were invited to complete a survey between June 2020 and February 2021. Demographic factors, clinical role characteristics, and anxiety and depressive symptoms were assessed. Qualitative data on experiences and perceived effects of the pandemic on paediatric cardiac care were also collected. Results: 228 health professionals (152 nurses, 37 medical doctors, 22 allied and mental health professionals, 17 medical research and administrative staff) participated in the survey (54.4% response rate, 85% women). Half the sample (52.2%) endorsed ‘moderate’ to ‘extreme’ worry about COVID-19 and 38% of participants perceived healthcare services as adversely impacted by the pandemic to a ‘great’ or ‘very great’ extent. Almost one in five health professionals reported anxiety (18%) and 11% reported depressive symptoms indicative of a need for clinical intervention. Six themes were identified in the qualitative data: (1) Concern about the consequences of visitor restrictions and disrupted patient services, (2) Intensified strain on healthcare workers, (3) Feelings of fear and loss, (4) Social isolation and disconnection, (5) Adapting to change, and (6) Gratitude. Conclusion: Timely, tailored policies, supports, and interventions are needed to address health professionals’ mental health needs during and beyond the pandemic, to minimize the far-reaching impact of situational stressors