The postpartum period during the COVID-19 pandemic: investigating Turkish women's postpartum support and postpartum-specific anxiety.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine how Turkish women were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the postpartum period in terms of postpartum support and anxiety variables. METHODS: The study was conducted with 130 women who gave birth during the COVID-19 period. Data were collected online using a personal information form, Postpartum Support Scale and Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale. Descriptive statistics were used, with Kruskal-Wallis and regression analysis performed. RESULTS: All postpartum women stated that they were affected negatively by COVID-19. The most common issues described were feeling alone (25.51%), having economic difficulties (15.5%) and experiencing difficulties accessing health services (21.7%). The mean Postpartum Support Scale score was 102.43 ± 27.67, while the mean Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale score was 188.07 ± 96.71. COVID-19 exposure level had a significant effect on postpartum-specific anxiety (p=0.00). The variables of having a problem during pregnancy (p=0.006), having a baby willingly (p=0.007), and partner's educational status significantly predicted the degree of being affected by COVID-19 (p=0.025). The degree to which COVID-19 affected the women was determined by having problems during pregnancy, having a baby willingly, and a highly educated partner. CONCLUSIONS: These variables may inform a resource to empower postpartum women during COVID-19. Healthcare systems need to be organised considering pandemic conditions to provide increased postpartum support, evaluate psychological health, deliver healthcare services, and consider pregnancy periods.

Chemotherapy Agents Used in the COVID-19 Pandemic and Previous Years in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients and Their Effects on Periodic Mortality: A Single-Center Experience

Objectives: The objective of the study was to evaluate chemotherapy agents used in the coronavirus disease-19 (CO?VID-19) pandemic and previous years and compare mortality rates of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who were receiving anticancer therapy. Methods: Patients were analyzed retrospectively in three different groups;the first group (December 1, 2017-May 31, 2018), the second group (December 1, 2018-May 31, 2019), and the pandemic period group (PPG) (December 1, 2019- May 31, 2020). Results: A total of 608 NSCLC patients were evaluated, 183 in the first group, 206 in the second group, and 219 in the PPG. Palliative anticancer therapy rates were 85.2% in the first group, 87.7% in the second group, and 74.4% in the PPG (p<0.001), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the three groups in terms of the pre?ferred treatment agents. Mortality rate was found to be 21.9% in the PPG, and it was not significantly different from the other groups (p=0.959). The type of anticancer treatment agents had no statistically significant effect on mortality. The COVID-19-positive mortality rate among all NSCLC patients was 1.8% (4/219) in the PPG. Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic did not significantly change mortality rates compared to previous years in this high?risk patient population.

Has the COVID-19 Pandemic Increased Mortality Among Patients with Cancer Receiving Systemic Anticancer Treatments?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the mortality rates in patients receiving anticancer therapy in the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic period. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Medical Oncology, Sakarya University Training and Research Hospital, Sakarya, Turkey, from December 2017 to May 2020. METHODOLOGY: Only patients who received chemotherapy and immunotherapy were selected and enrolled in the study. All patients (n=3,204) were divided into three groups, namely the first group (1st December 2017-31st May 2018, n=918), second group (1st December 2018-31st May 2019, n=1,147), and the pandemic period group (PPG) (1st December 2019-31st May 2020, n=1,139), according to the period during which they received anticancer treatment. The clinical and demographic characteristics and mortality rates of these three groups of patients were compared. RESULTS: The median age of the total of 3,204 patients was 61 (53-69). In this study, 51.1% (n=1,636) were females and 48.9% were males. The mortality rates were 13.5% (n=124) in the first group, 13.4% (n=154) in the second group, and 13.0% (n=148) in the PPG, respectively. Overall mortality rates did not differ among patients with cancer in the three different six-month periods analysed (p = 0.931). CONCLUSION: There was no unexpected increased in mortality rate among patients undergoing cancer therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic as compared to the previous years of the same timeline. No increase in monthly mortality rates among patients receiving anti-cancer treatment were demonstrated during the pandemic period.

'It was difficult, but our struggle to touch lives gave us strength': The experience of nurses working on COVID-19 wards.

BACKGROUND: Nurses are considered important healthcare professionals during the management of the pandemic process due to the considerable amount of time they spend in the face-to-face nursing of infected patients. To optimise the service of healthcare workers, it is recommended that the mental health needs of the health workforce are addressed. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the experiences and coping strategies of Turkish nurses working in pandemic units. METHODS: A grounded theory design was applied. In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 nurses. The data were analysed according to the constant comparative method. RESULTS: The study generated a core category ('It was difficult working in the unknown, but our struggle to touch lives gave us strength'), showing that all nurses felt heroic via the satisfaction of touching patients' lives and uncertain. Four main categories emerged: being caught in the pandemic, empowerment for coping with the struggle, challenges during the coping process and effects of the pandemic on life. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses felt that their profession was sacred and valued by society, and comprehensive support had facilitated the process. Nurses had difficulty in managing their fear of infecting others and adapting to many new elements, the learning process and a lack of understanding of their role as team members. The nurses attending to the pandemic have experienced the effects of COVID-19 on their lives, such as psychological growth, psychological symptoms and being labelled as high risk. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Nurses would be further empowered by government and society's support and acceptance of professionalism in nursing. The findings suggest that the resources for the psychological support of nurses in the pandemic should be increased. Regular and intensive training for nursing is necessary to promote adaptation and efficacy in crisis management.