Leaflet information by the local government on mental health during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: a cross-sectional study in a rural area in Japan.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and associated infodemic increased depression and anxiety. Proper information can help combat the infodemic and promotes mental health; however, rural residents have more difficulties in getting correct information than urban residents. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the information on COVID-19 provided by the local government maintained the mental health of rural residents in Japan. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire survey of Okura Village (northern district of Japan) residents aged ≥16 years was conducted in October 2021. The main outcomes, depressive symptoms, psychological distress, and anxiety were measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale 7-item. Exposure was defined as whether the resident read the leaflet on COVID-19 distributed by the local government. The targeted maximum likelihood estimation was used to analyse the effect of leaflet reading on the main outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 974 respondents were analysed. Reading the leaflet was significantly lower risk for depressive symptoms relative risk (95% confidence interval): 0.64 (0.43-0.95). Meanwhile, no clear effects of leaflet reading were observed on mental distress and anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: In rural areas with local governments, analogue information may be effective to prevent depression.

Effects of the different periods and magnitude of COVID-19 infection spread on cancer operations: Interrupted time series analysis of medical claims data.

BACKGROUND: No clear evidence exists regarding the effects of the different periods and magnitude of spread of the COVID-19 infection on cancer treatments. This study investigated the effects of the different periods and magnitude of COVID-19 infection spread on in-hospital cancer operations. METHODS: Medical claims data from 17 hospitals where in-hospital operations for patients with malignant neoplasms were performed between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2021 in Yamagata were extracted and analyzed. The critical time points as exposure used to evaluate the impact of different COVID-19 infection spread periods on cancer operations were (1) April 2020 (emergency declaration introduced by the government) and (2) December 2020 (the second wave). From April to November 2020 and December 2020 to March 21, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases was 130 and 840, respectively. The 17 hospitals were classified into intervention or control groups based on whether in-hospital treatments for patients with COVID-19 were provided. RESULTS: The interrupted time series analysis reported that the difference in the trend of pre-COVID-19 and postsecond wave (March 2020 to December 2020) periods was statistically significant between groups, with 50.67 fewer operations (95% confidence interval [CI] = 12.19-89.15) performed per month in the intervention group compared with the control group. Moreover, the immediate change in the number of operations in April 2020 (beginning of the first wave) was statistically significant between groups, with 80.14 operations (95% CI = 39.62-120.67) less immediately after the first wave in the intervention group compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that a statement of emergency by the government and the COVID-19 infection spread are both associated with the number of cancer operations performed in the Yamagata prefecture during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health-Related Quality of Life during COVID-19 Pandemic: Assessing Impacts of Job Loss and Financial Support Programs in Japan.

This cross-sectional study examined the association between job loss during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in the Japanese working population and whether universal financial support program has a protective influence on the HRQOL. Two self-reported internet surveys were used to determine job loss during the pandemic: one was conducted between February and March 2020, just before the COVID-19 emergency declaration by the Japanese government (April 2020), and the other was conducted between August and September 2020. For the dependent variable, we used the EQ-5D-5L utility score (QOL utility score), which was assessed between August and September 2020. The independent variables were job loss after the state of emergency was declared and two types of government financial support (either universal support or support targeting child-raising households). The Tobit regression model was applied, adjusting for covariates. Job loss during the pandemic was negatively associated with the QOL utility score in the fully adjusted model; the coefficient (95% confidence interval [CI]) for job loss during the pandemic was -0.07 (-0.11 to -0.03). For the government financial support variables, the universal financial support program was associated with a better QOL utility score of the coefficient (95% CI), 0.05 (0.03 to 0.08). Job loss during the COVID-19 pandemic is negatively associated with HRQOL, while universal financial support is positively associated with HRQOL. Our study results imply that universal financial support during the COVID-19 era has a protective influence on an individual's HRQOL. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11482-021-09918-6.