ABSTRACT
1202 Table 1Degree of Concerns related to COVID-19 Stressors for Patients with SLE or RACOVID-19 Stressors All Participantsn=97n (%) SLEn=55n (%) RAn=42n (%) Having loved ones who contracts coronavirus 40 (41.2) 28 (50.9) 12 (28.6) Possibility of contracting coronavirus 40 (41.2) 25 (45.5) 15 (35.7) Getting sick from exposure to coronavirus 31 (32) 22 (40) 9 (21.4) Working in a place likely to be exposed to the coronavirus. 26 (26.8) 17 (30.9) 9 (21.4) Possibility of condition worsening or being poorly managed due to changes in medical care 26 (26.8) 15 (27.3) 11 (26.2) Postponement or cancellation of diagnostic and disease monitoring tests 19 (19.6) 10 (18.2) 9 (21.4) Increased responsibilities at home 19 (19.6) 11 (20) 8 (19.0) Difficulty obtaining food, medicine and other essentials 16 (16.5) 9 (16.4) 7 (16.7) Changes in treatments due coronavirus pandemic 15 (15.5) 9 (16.4) 6 (14.3) Postponement or cancellation of medical visits 15 (15.5) 9 (16.4) 6 (14.3) Difficulty obtaining help or social support needed 12 (12.4) 8 (14.5) 4 (9.5) Losing a job or experiencing a drop in income related to the coronavirus pandemic 10 (10.3) 5 (9.1) 5 (11.9) Responses rated on a scale of 0 “not at all” to 4 “extremely” concerned or worried. Responses dichotomized such that a threshold of 2 or higher represent greater concern/worry.ConclusionsStressors related to the COVID-19 pandemic are experienced by an important proportion of patients with SLE and RA and are associated with psychological symptoms, particularly for patients with SLE.
ABSTRACT
In April 2020 a Group of Eight Taskforce was convened, consisting of over 100 researchers, to provide independent, research-based recommendations to the Commonwealth Government on a "Roadmap to Recovery" from COVID-19. The report covered issues ranging from pandemic control and relaxation of social distancing measures, to well-being and special considerations for vulnerable populations. Our work focused on the critical needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities; this paper presents an overview of our recommendations to the Roadmap report. In addressing the global challenges posed by pandemics for citizens around the world, Indigenous people are recognised as highly vulnerable. At the time of writing Australia's First Nations Peoples have been largely spared from COVID-19 in comparison to other Indigenous populations globally. Our recommendations emphasise self-determination and equitable needs-based funding to support Indigenous communities to recover from COVID-19, addressing persistent overcrowded housing, and a focus on workforce, especially for regional and remote communities. These latter two issues have been highlighted as major issues of risk for Indigenous communities in Australia It remains to be seen how governments across Australia take up these recommendations to support Indigenous peoples' health and healing journey through yet another, potentially catastrophic, health crisis.