title: An exploration of the psychologic impact of contact isolation on patients in Singapore.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore the psychologic impact of contact isolation on patients in Singapore who were infected or colonized with multidrug-resistant organisms. Twenty cases were compared with 20 controls for their anxiety and depressive symptoms. Cases reported significantly higher levels of depression (t = 3.731, P < .01) and anxiety (t = 4.841, P < .001) compared with the controls. Hospitals need to develop policies and interventions to address the psychologic impact of contact isolation.
authors.affiliation: Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore. Electronic address: megcyc@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Margaret Mei Ling
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Soon
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Madigan
authors.forename: Katherine R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Salata
mesh_terms: D001010:Anxiety, Separation / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D010356:Patient Isolation / Q000523:psychology*; D012846:Singapore
keywords: Anxiety; Contact precautions; Depression; Stress appraisal