Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Diagnosis of Oral and Maxillofacial Malignancies: A Retrospective Study

Objectives: The aims of this study were to characterize the type and frequency of oral and maxillofacial malignancies in an outpatient oral pathology service and to examine the impact of COVID-19 on the diagnosis of such malignancies by dentists in Ontario, Canada. Study Design: Our study included 775 malignancies submitted to an outpatient oral pathology service. Demographic and diagnostic data, including age, sex, submitting clinician type, anatomic site and diagnosis, were collected and analyzed for 2 periods, 2015-2019 and 2020. Results: Malignancies represented 2% of total submissions to our biopsy service. Oral surface epithelial malignancies were the most common, followed by hematologic and salivary gland malignancies. During the period in which dental offices were restricted (April-May 2020), 59% fewer malignancies were submitted compared with the preceding 5 years. Despite this reduction, total malignant submissions for 2020 and post-lockdown (July-September 2020) were significantly elevated compared with previous years (p = 0.0006 and p = 0.0008, respectively). Conclusion: Our study reaffirms the important role that dentists play in the diagnosis of oral and maxillofacial malignancies. Our assessment of 2020 data highlights the impact of dental office closures on the diagnosis of oral and maxillofacial malignancies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rapid Transition to Telepsychology: Health Service Psychology Trainee Responses Amidst a Global Covid-19 Crisis From an Ecological Perspective

COVID-19 has come with widespread changes, adjustments, challenges and fears among healthcare providers of all kinds. Health Service Psychology (HSP) training sites across the nation have had to adjust to telepsychology services, some with prior experiences, and others for the first time. This article examines the perspectives of HSP doctoral trainees from one university across counseling, clinical, and school psychology trainees in terms of the adjustment to telepsychology services. Using an ecological approach, trainees were probed for personal and interpersonal components, attitudes toward telepsychology as well as reflections on clinic preparedness, supervision, and professional competency. The included responses may inform future direction of training sites, training rotations at healthcare settings, and implementation of telepsychology services. Public Significance Statement This study focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the counseling services provided by health service psychology (HSP) doctoral students. Using an ecological framework, this study suggests that factors at the individual, interpersonal, community, organizational, and policy levels affected the rapid transition to telepsychology, and trainee readiness. Accordingly, there are several recommendations for improving preparedness of future trainees.

Fluoride Content in Asian Produced Green Teas

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to characterize the type and frequency of oral and maxillofacial malignancies in an outpatient oral pathology service and to examine the impact of COVID-19 on the diagnosis of such malignancies by dentists in Ontario, Canada. STUDY DESIGN: Our study included 775 malignancies submitted to an outpatient oral pathology service. Demographic and diagnostic data, including age, sex, submitting clinician type, anatomic site and diagnosis, were collected and analyzed for 2 periods, 2015-2019 and 2020. RESULTS: Malignancies represented 2% of total submissions to our biopsy service. Oral surface epithelial malignancies were the most common, followed by hematologic and salivary gland malignancies. During the period in which dental offices were restricted (April-May 2020), 59% fewer malignancies were submitted compared with the preceding 5 years. Despite this reduction, total malignant submissions for 2020 and post-lockdown (July-September 2020) were significantly elevated compared with previous years (p = 0.0006 and p = 0.0008, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our study reaffirms the important role that dentists play in the diagnosis of oral and maxillofacial malignancies. Our assessment of 2020 data highlights the impact of dental office closures on the diagnosis of oral and maxillofacial malignancies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Telepsychology training in a public health crisis: A case example

ABSTRACT In early 2020, the world was thrust into a crisis with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. This resulted in the sudden expansion of telepractice in the mental health field for licensed mental health providers and trainees. Prior to the pandemic, few mental health training programs provided training opportunities in telehealth service delivery. The [name removed for blind review] (TBC) is one of a few telemental health training programs in the world. The TBC has provided telehealth services to rural and underserved populations since 2009 with a hub and spoke model of care, but due to constraints related to the pandemic has recently transitioned to an all in-home model of telehealth service delivery. The present paper highlights recent policy changes to in-home telepractice and the TBC methodology for transitioning to in-home service delivery. Results include solutions to common pitfalls in areas such as communication and logistics, clinical supervision and consultation, and boundary setting. Recommendations are also provided for the development of training programs throughout the world to equip mental health trainees in telehealth service delivery. Mental health practitioners are poised to thrive in the face of adversity during the COVID-19 pandemic and trainees should not be left behind. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)