Important End-of-Life Topics among Latino Patients and Caregivers Coping with Advanced Cancer.

There is a known end-of-life related disparity among Latino individuals, and there is a need to develop culturally sensitive interventions to help patients and caregivers cope with advanced cancer. Latino patients and caregivers coping with advanced cancer were asked to list important end-of-life topics to culturally inform a psychosocial intervention adaptation process. A qualitative study was conducted, and semi-structured interviews were performed, audio-recorded, and transcribed. Recordings and transcriptions were reviewed and analyzed using thematic content coding. The semi-structured interview described and demonstrated intervention components and elicited feedback about each. Free listing method was used to assess important topics among Latino advanced cancer patients (n = 14; stage III and IV) and caregivers. Patients and caregivers were given a list of 15 topics and asked which topics they deemed important to integrate into the intervention. Overall, more than half of the participants considered it important to include 13 of the 15 topics related to daily activities (eight subcategories), psychosocial support (three subcategories), discussing diagnosis and support (three subcategories), and financial difficulties (one subcategory). Patient-caregivers reported importance in most end-of-life topics. Future research and intervention development should include topics related to psychosocial support, daily activities, discussing diagnosis and support, and financial difficulties.

Symptoms of anxiety, depression and self-care behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic in the general population.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic can have important psychosocial consequences in the population. OBJECTIVE: To determine the levels of anxiety, depression and self-care symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic in the general population. METHOD: Online survey distributed over three weeks using a non-probability sampling. The PHQ-9 Patient Health Questionnaire, the GAD-7 Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale and Visual analog scale for self-care behaviors were used. Between-group (anxiety and depression) descriptive and comparison analyses were carried out. RESULTS: Out of 1508 included participants, 20.8% had symptoms of severe anxiety, while 27.5% showed symptoms of severe depression. Being a woman, being single, having no children, having medical comorbidities and a history of mental health care were risk factors for developing symptoms of anxiety and depression; 66 to 80 % of the population complied with self-care recommendations. A need for receiving mental health care was identified in our study population. CONCLUSION: A larger number of individuals with moderate to severe anxiety and depression symptoms were observed than in other pandemics. COVID-19 pandemic psychological effects are considered an emerging public health problem, and implementation of programs for their care is therefore recommended.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La pandemia por COVID-19 puede tener consecuencias psicosociales importantes en la población. OBJETIVO: Determinar los niveles de síntomas de ansiedad, depresión y conductas de autocuidado durante la pandemia de COVID-19 en población general. MÉTODO: Encuesta en línea distribuida durante tres semanas mediante muestreo no probabilístico. Se empleó el Cuestionario sobre la Salud del Paciente PHQ-9, la Escala del Trastorno de Ansiedad Generalizada GAD-7 y la Escala análoga visual de conductas de autocuidado. Se realizaron análisis descriptivos y de comparación entre los grupos con ansiedad y depresión. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 1508 participantes, 20.8 % presentó síntomas de ansiedad grave y 27.5 %, síntomas de depresión grave. Ser mujer, soltero(a) no tener hijos, presentar comorbilidad médica y antecedentes de atención a la salud mental estuvieron relacionados con la presencia de mayores niveles de síntomas de ansiedad y depresión; 66 a 80 % de la población cumplía con las recomendaciones de autocuidado. Se identificó la necesidad de recibir atención de salud mental. CONCLUSIÓN: Se observó mayor número de individuos con síntomas de ansiedad y depresión moderadas a graves que en otras pandemias. Los efectos psicológicos de la pandemia de COVID-19 se consideran un problema de salud mental pública emergente, por lo que se recomienda la implementación de programas para su atención.