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INTRODUCTION: The increasing number of people who use drugs (PWUDs) can be attributed to the rising online sales of drugs and other related substances. Information on drugs and drug markets has also become easily accessible in web-search engines and social media. Aside from providing direct care, nurses have essential roles in preventing substance use disorder. These roles include health education, liaison, and researcher. Thus, nurses must examine and utilize the Internet, where information and transactions related to these substances are increasing. DESIGN/METHODS: This study utilized an infodemiological design in exploring the worldwide information utilization for substance use disorder. Data were gathered from Google Trends and Wikimedia Pageview. The data included relative search volumes (RSV), top and rising related queries and topics, and Wikipedia page views between 2004 and 2022. After describing the data, autoregressive integrated mean averaging (ARIMA) models were used to predict future utilization of online information from Google and Wikipedia. RESULTS: Google trends ranked 37 countries based on the search volumes for substance use disorder. Ethiopia, Finland, the United States, Kenya, and Canada have the highest RSVs, while the lowest-ranked country is Turkey, followed by Mexico, Spain, Japan, and Indonesia. Google searches for substance use disorder-related information increased by more than 900% between 2004 and 2022. In addition, Wikipedia page views for substance use disorder-related information increased by almost 200% between 2015 and 2022. Based on the ARIMA models, RSVs and page views are predicted to increase by about 150% and 120% by December 2025. Top and rising search-related topics and queries revealed that the public increasingly utilized online information to understand specific substances and the possible mental health comorbidities related to substance use disorders. Their recent concerns revolved around diagnostics, specific substances, and specific disorders. CONCLUSION: The Internet can be of paradoxical use in substance use disorder. It has been previously reported to be increasingly used in drug trades, contributing to the increasing prevalence of substance use disorder. Likewise, the present study's findings revealed that it is increasingly utilized for substance use disorder-related information. Thus, nurses and other healthcare professionals should ensure that online information regarding substance use disorders is accurate and up-to-date. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Nurse informaticists can form and lead Internet- and social-media-based health teams that perform national infodemiological investigations to assess online information. In doing so, they can inform, expand, and contextualize ehealth substance use education and strengthen the accessibility and delivery of substance use healthcare. In addition, public health nurses can collaborate to engage patients and communities in identifying harmful substance use disorder information online and creating culturally-appropriate messages that will correct misinformation and improve ehealth literacy, specifically in substance use disorder.
ABSTRACT
Background Evidence suggests that lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and other gender and sexual minorities (LGBTQ+) may experience heightened mental health disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since long periods of confinement and physical restriction due to disease outbreaks can adversely affect mental health, there is a need to explore their effects among LGBTQ+ youth as society recovers from the pandemic. Aims This study determined the longitudinal association between depression and life satisfaction trajectory from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 to pandemic-induced community quarantine in 2022 among young LGBTQ+ students. Methods This study surveyed 384 conveniently sampled youths (18–24 years old) who identify as LGBTQ+ from locales under two-year-long community quarantine in the Philippines. Respondents' life satisfaction trajectory was measured for 2020, 2021, and 2022. Post-quarantine depression was measured using the Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale. Results One out of four respondents has depression. Those from less than high-income households had a higher risk for depression. Repeated measures analysis of variance revealed that those with more pronounced improvements in life satisfaction throughout and after community quarantine among respondents have a lower risk of depression. Conclusion Life satisfaction trajectory can influence the risk for depression among young LGBTQ+ students during extended periods of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, there is a need to improve their living conditions as society reemerges from the pandemic. Likewise, additional support should be given to LGBTQ+ students from lower-income households. Moreover, continuous monitoring of LGBTQ+ youths' life conditions and mental health post-quarantine is recommended.
ABSTRACT
Background: Evidence suggests that lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and other gender and sexual minorities (LGBTQ+) may experience heightened mental health disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since long periods of confinement and physical restriction due to disease outbreaks can adversely affect mental health, there is a need to explore their effects among LGBTQ+ youth as society recovers from the pandemic. Aims: This study determined the longitudinal association between depression and life satisfaction trajectory from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 to pandemic-induced community quarantine in 2022 among young LGBTQ+ students. Methods: This study surveyed 384 conveniently sampled youths (18-24 years old) who identify as LGBTQ+ from locales under two-year-long community quarantine in the Philippines. Respondents' life satisfaction trajectory was measured for 2020, 2021, and 2022. Post-quarantine depression was measured using the Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale. Results: One out of four respondents has depression. Those from less than high-income households had a higher risk for depression. Repeated measures analysis of variance revealed that those with more pronounced improvements in life satisfaction throughout and after community quarantine among respondents have a lower risk of depression. Conclusion: Life satisfaction trajectory can influence the risk for depression among young LGBTQ+ students during extended periods of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, there is a need to improve their living conditions as society reemerges from the pandemic. Likewise, additional support should be given to LGBTQ+ students from lower-income households. Moreover, continuous monitoring of LGBTQ+ youths' life conditions and mental health post-quarantine is recommended.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The youth is a vulnerable population to COVID-19-related fear. Among them, those with LGBTQ+ identities are at higher risk. Given the posited protective effects of spirituality and social support on fear, this study explored their effects on COVID-19-related fear among heterosexual and LGBTQ+ youth. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 137 respondents Filipinos aged 18-30 years old. The respondents answered a survey containing a sociodemographic questionnaire, 12-items Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), 20-items Core Dimensions of Spirituality Questionnaire (CDSQ), and 7-items Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCS). After, the data were analyzed using means, frequencies, Mann-Whitney U-tests, and correlation coefficients. Results: Social support from friends was negatively correlated with COVID-19-related fear among heterosexual respondents, R = -0.219, p = 0.029. Search for meaning positively correlated with COVID-19-related fear among LGBTQ+ respondents, R = 0.395, p = 0.016. Heterosexual respondents also have a higher belief in God (U = 1,004, p < 0.001) and feelings of security (U = 1,110.5, p < 0.001) than their LGBTQ+ counterparts. Discussion: These findings suggest that social support from friends is protective against COVID-19-related fear among heterosexual youth but not among LGBTQ+. In addition, a high search for meaning can heighten COVID-19-related fear among LGBTQ+. Finally, these findings can be explained by the higher rates of discrimination against LGBTQ+ than heterosexual youth. Thus, gender-responsive mental healthcare is needed to address the youth's fears as society recovers from the pandemic.
ABSTRACT
Pharmaceutical messianism is a manifestation of medical populism. It arises during extraordinary crises, is built on the familiar, endorsed by heterodox authorities, and involves a highly accessible panacea. Amid the politics and public desperation in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmaceutical messianism can be observed in the form of Ivermectin, a panacea offered to prevent and treat COVID-19. Thus, it may be worthwhile to determine the changes and patterns of public interest toward Ivermectin. This infodemiological study utilized and described Search Volume Index and related queries for Ivermectin from Google Trends vis-à-vis reported societal events in the Philippines to determine changes in public interest in Ivermectin use. It revealed that a tremendous increase in public interest in Ivermectin has emerged during surges of COVID-19 cases, endorsement by politicians and heterodox health authorities, and public distribution of Ivermectin. It also showed that public interest increased as the number of component characteristics of pharmaceutical messianism increased. Search-related queries and topics also showed that the public might be using the internet to inform themselves regarding the use of Ivermectin for humans, including its use for COVID-19. These findings suggest that people may study the endorsed panacea and weigh it against conventional and orthodox treatment during rising COVID-19 cases. Thus, easily understandable, highly searchable, reliable, and trustworthy online information is ever-crucial in this age of information and disinformation.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Humans , Ivermectin/therapeutic use , SARS-CoV-2 , Philippines , Pandemics/prevention & control , Pharmaceutical PreparationsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Public interest in mental health in the Philippines can change after the Mental Health (MH) act approval and during the COVID-19 pandemic. To determine these changes, online searches in Google can be analyzed as an alternative measure. AIMS: To determine the trends of public interest in mental health before and after the MH act approval and during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: Aggregated search volumes for mental health using the keyword, "Mental Health (Topic)" were gathered from Google Trends. Search volume indices (SVIs), and related queries were analyzed. SVIs from the different periods were compared using means, t test, ANOVA, and ARIMA. RESULTS: Public interest in mental health increased after the MH Act approval and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The top and rising related queries revolved around mental health definitions, translations, factors, services, policy, adverse mental state, and its context during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: These increased public interests may stem from aspirations for mental health after legislation and higher mental health needs during the pandemic. Related queries may indicate that the public may be using online information to search for mental health services and concepts. Thus, there is a need to improve reliable and trustworthy online mental health information and services.