Depressive disorders among long-term care residents in the face of isolation due to COVID-19 pandemic. / Zaburzenia depresyjne wsród pensjonariuszy osrodka opieki dlugoterminowej w obliczu izolacji spowodowanej pandemia COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: The main aim of this study was to assess the effects of social and familial isolation due to COVID-19 on the mental well-being of patients staying in a residential medical care facility and evaluation of the effectiveness of therapeutic measures. METHODS: The study was conducted among the patients of a residential medical care facility (58 patients). A short form of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was used to assess the severity of depressive disorders. The number of medical and psychological interventions during the individual months of isolation was also compared. RESULTS: In February 2020, when there was no isolation, 87.9% of the study group did not suffer from depression compared to 72.4% during the period of full isolation. After introducing controlled methods for contacting loved ones, the number of individuals with no depressive symptoms increased again. A mean of 1.76 medical and 0.23 psychological interventions per one patient were conducted during the period of full isolation. CONCLUSIONS: The number of medical and psychological interventions was higher during the period of full isolation compared to months without compulsory isolation due to COVID-19. After the introduction of full isolation, the scores in the GDS were significantly higher, which means that the residents were at a higher risk of depressive disorders than in the months without isolation.

Health Behaviors and Associated Feelings of Remote Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic-Silesia (Poland).

During the COVID pandemic in Poland, lockdown and remote work affected a very large segment of the population. This situation has many negative consequences both in terms of health and also emotionally. In our study, we focused on eating behaviors as well as health behaviors such as alcohol consumption, smoking, physical activity while working remotely, but also the emotions that occur while being at home working for long periods of time and how these emotions affect diet, eating behaviors and overall well-being using the standardized WHO-5 and TFEQ13 questionnaires. Surveys completed by 225 individuals doing remote work from home or hybrid work. During lockdown and remote work, 64.4% people noticed changes in eating behaviors: of which 44.0% people eat more than before lockdown, while 20.0% eat less than before; 36.0% believe they did not notice a change regarding the amount of food consumed. Changes in eating behavior did not correlate with body weight (p = 0.37), but did correlate with changes in body weight (p = 0.00000). Body weight correlated with changes in body weight that occurred in the study group during lockdown (p = 0.000004). Individuals who restrict eating according to TFEQ 13 are more likely to report well-being (WHO-%), whereas individuals who are observed to lack control over eating and eat under emotional duress are more likely to report poor well-being (p = 0.000000). The study confirmed the change in dietary behavior and the occurrence of adverse health eating behaviors among remote and hybrid workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Assessment of the Risk of Depression in Residents Staying at Long-Term Care Institutions in Poland During the COVID-19 Pandemic Depending on the Quality of Cognitive Functioning.

Background: The development of the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the implementation of many procedures to safeguard against further increases in illness. Unfortunately, this has drastically reduced residents' contact with their families, which has increased feelings of loneliness and isolation. This is particularly difficult in long-term care facilities, where the risk of developing depression is higher than in the general population. Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the risk of depression among the residents of long-term care institutions in Poland during the COVID-19 pandemic and to determine the relationship between the risk of depression and the occurrence of cognitive impairment in the study group. Methods: The study included 273 residents from long-term care institutions in Poland. The risk of depression was determined based on an originally designed questionnaire. The cognitive state of the subjects was assessed using the screening test Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Both the depression risk assessment and the MMSE test were conducted twice: in March and December 2020. Results: In March, severe dementia was present in 28.2% of the residents and normal MMSE scores were observed in 16.1% of the subjects; in December, the prevalence of severe dementia increased to 31.1% and that of normal scores decreased to 10.3%. In March, no participant was found to be at high risk of depression and moderate risk was observed in 14.3% of the subjects; in December, 2.6% of the residents had a high risk score and 45.4% had a moderate risk score. Statistical analysis revealed that higher MMSE scores correspond with a higher risk of depression. Conclusion: A higher risk of depression was observed with the development of the pandemic. Residents with cognitive impairment were characterised by a lower risk of depression compared to individuals with normal MMSE scores. During the study, progression of cognitive impairment was observed in the residents.

Consumer behaviour during COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 pandemic poses a significant threat in area of public health. In the light of dynamic increase of infections European countries decided to implement special safety measures in order to stop spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus. Reduction of the activity of shopping galleries, grocery stores and gastronomy directly impacted the change of consumer behaviours. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this research was the analysis of consumer behaviour during COVID-19 pandemic regarding the use of gastronomical services, grocery shopping and undertaken safety measures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The main instrument was original survey conducted on-line in November 2020. The form consisted of metrics and close-ended questions about consumer behaviour during COVID-19 pandemic. 1080 respondents took part in the study (females - 850; men - 230). Results were mapped out in Statistics 13.1 program and graphical representation was prepared in Microsoft Excel. RESULTS: More than half of respondents were working people (n=629; 58%). Vast majority of working respondents during the study were working stationary (n=304; 48%), while remotely only 33% (n=208). Among young respondents almost half of the group was unemployed (n=158; 45%), while the rest of the group was employed (n=195; 55%). Professional activities in the group of respondents that were still learning was mostly stationary/ physic (n=57; 29%). During the pandemic the stationary form of working switched into remote in every third of respondent (n=307; 28%). CONCLUSIONS: Global pandemic of COVID-19 forced people to change their current behaviours - both consumer and social. Consumers are aware of risks borne by SARS-CoV-2 infection, which may be concluded from undertaken safety measures.