Loneliness in University Students during Two Transitions: A Mixed Methods Approach Including Biographical Mapping.

Several studies have shown that loneliness is prevalent in university students. However, up to now, it is less clear how transitions during this life stage are associated with loneliness. Therefore, we aimed to explore the association of loneliness with the transition from high school to university and the transition into the COVID-19 pandemic. Twenty students were interviewed in qualitative interviews based on a semi-structured guide that also included biographical mapping. In addition, the participants reported social and emotional loneliness based on the six-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale for three points in time: (1) at the time of the interview, (2) at the beginning of their studies at the university and (3) at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The qualitative data were analyzed using a structuring content analysis following Mayring. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. We found that emotional loneliness increased both during high school graduation and at the start of study at the university, as well as at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Social loneliness was higher during university studies than during the last years at high school and increased at the beginning of the pandemic. The results indicate that both transitions played an important role for perceived social and emotional loneliness. Further quantitative studies in larger samples will be relevant in the future to better target the responses to loneliness during transitions. Universities can actively counteract loneliness, especially during the transition from high school to university, by organizing events and meeting places where new students can network.

Melanomversorgung während eines Jahres Pandemie in Berlin: abnehmende Terminstornierungen trotz zunehmender Besorgnis über COVID-19.

HINTERGRUND UND ZIELE: Die COVID-19-Pandemie stellt für Krebspatienten eine große Herausforderung dar. Unser Ziel war es, ihren Einfluss auf die Behandlung und auf Arzttermine von Melanompatienten nach einem Jahr Pandemie zu untersuchen. PATIENTEN UND METHODIK: Melanompatienten, die im Vivantes Hauttumorzentrum in Berlin behandelt wurden, beantworteten eine postalische Umfrage zu Pandemie-bedingten Änderungen ihrer Melanomversorgung. Einflussfaktoren auf Terminänderungen wurden mit deskriptiven Analysen und multivariater logistischer Regression untersucht. Daten nach einem Jahr Pandemie wurden mit Daten nach der ersten Welle verglichen. ERGEBNISSE: Von den 366 Teilnehmern (57,7 % Männer; Durchschnittsalter 69,2 Jahre, Rücklaufquote: 36,1 %) berichteten 38 (10,1 %) über verschobene oder verpasste Arzttermine, meist auf eigenen Wunsch (71,1 %) aus Angst vor COVID-19 (52,6 %). Eine aktuelle Therapie war mit einem geringeren Risiko, Termine zu verpassen, assoziiert (Odds Ratio [OR]: 0,194, p = 0,002), höheres Alter (OR: 1,037, p = 0,039), längere Krankheitsdauer (OR: 1,007, p = 0,028) und ein höherer Schulabschluss (OR: 2,263, p = 0,043) mit höherer Wahrscheinlichkeit. Von den 177 Patienten, die aktuell eine Therapie erhielten, erfuhren nur 1,7 % Pandemie-bedingte Behandlungsänderungen. Die Besorgnis über COVID-19 war nach einem Jahr Pandemie signifikant größer als nach der ersten Welle, die Zahl der verpassten Arzttermine jedoch niedriger. SCHLUSSFOLGERUNGEN: Pandemie-bedingte Änderungen waren in unserer Kohorte selten und nahmen trotz zunehmender Besorgnis mit der Zeit ab.

Melanoma care during one year pandemic in Berlin: decreasing appointment cancellations despite increasing COVID-19 concern.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic poses a great challenge for cancer patients. Our aim was to assess its influence on treatment and appointments of melanoma patients after one year of pandemic. METHODS: Melanoma patients treated in the Vivantes Skin Cancer Centre in Berlin, Germany completed a postal survey on pandemic-related alterations in melanoma care. Impact factors on changes of appointments were examined with descriptive analyses and multivariate logistic regression. Data after one year of pandemic were compared to those after its first wave. RESULTS: Among 366 participants (57.7 % males; mean age 69.2 years, response rate: 36.1 %), 38 (10.1 %) reported postponed or missed appointments, mostly on their own demand (71.1 %) due to fear of COVID-19 (52.6 %). Current treatment was associated with a lower risk of changing appointments (Odds Ratio [OR]: 0.194, p = 0.002), higher age (OR: 1.037, p = 0.039), longer disease duration (OR: 1.007, p = 0.028), and higher school degree (OR: 2.263, p = 0.043) with higher probability. Among 177 patients currently receiving therapy, only 1.7 % experienced pandemic-related treatment alterations. Concern about COVID-19 was significantly higher after one year of pandemic than after its first wave, but the number of missed appointments was lower. CONCLUSIONS: Pandemic-related changes were rare in our cohort and decreased over time despite increasing concern.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on care of melanoma patients in Berlin, Germany: the Mela-COVID survey

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic imposes major challenges for care of cancer patients. Objectives: Our aim was to assess the effects of the pandemic on treatment and appointments of patients with malignant melanoma based on a large skin cancer centre in Berlin, Germany, and identify reasons for, and impact factors associated with these changes. Materials & Methods: Patients with melanoma treated from January 1st 2019 received a postal survey with questions on impairment due to the pandemic, fear of COVID-19, fear of melanoma, changes in therapy and/or appointments, including reasons for the changes. Impact factors on postponed/missed appointments were examined using descriptive analyses and multivariate logistic regression. Results: The response rate was 41.3% (n = 324; 57.4% males; mean age: 67.9 years). Among 104 participants currently receiving therapy, four (3.8%) reported treatment changes due to the pandemic. Postponements or cancellations of appointments occurred in 48 participants (14.8%), most frequently, at their own request (81.3%) due to fear of SARS-CoV-2 infection (68.8%). Current treatment was associated with a reduced chance of post-poning/missing appointments (OR = 0.208, p = 0.003), whereas a high or very high level of concern for COVID-19 (OR = 6.806, p = 0.034; OR= 10.097, p = 0.038), SARS-CoV-2 infection among close acquaintances (OR = 4.251, p = 0.026), anxiety disorder (OR = 5.465, p = 0.016) and AJCC stage IV (OR = 3.108, p = 0.048) were associated with a higher likelihood of postponing/missing appointments. Conclusion: Among our participants, treatment changes were rare and the proportion of missed/delayed appointments was rather small. The main reasons for delays/cancellations of appointments were anxiety and concern for COVID-19.

Psoriasis care during the time of COVID-19: real-world data on changes in treatments and appointments from a German university hospital.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 poses significant challenges for care of patients with chronic inflammatory skin diseases including psoriasis. OBJECTIVES: To investigate changes in treatment and/or appointments for psoriasis patients in a German university hospital due to the pandemic. MATERIALS & METHODS: A postal survey was conducted between May 15 and June 15, 2020. Potential determinants of changes were analysed with descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Out of 205 respondents, 19.5% missed an appointment and 9.8% changed therapy due to the pandemic. Treatment alterations were encouraged by patients (50%) and physicians (40%), whereas cancellations of appointments mostly occurred on patients' request (70%). Several patient-related key drivers of changes, including sociodemographic, disease- and health-related characteristics were identified. Changes in treatment and appointments were associated with higher psoriasis severity scores and more frequent disease aggravations. CONCLUSION: It is particularly crucial to tailor psoriasis care to individual needs in order to protect the physical and mental well-being of patients during the pandemic.