Diet and selected elements of lifestyle in the Polish population before and during the COVID-19 pandemic - a population study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic led to the introduction of sanitary restrictions in many countries which necessitated numerous lifestyle changes, especially in the diet. The study aimed to compare the diet and selected lifestyle elements in the Polish population during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 964 individuals: 482 before the COVID-19 pandemic (composed using the Propensity Score Matching method) and 482 during the pandemic. The National Health Programme 2017-2020 results were used. RESULTS: During the pandemic increased, e.g. the intake of: total lipids (78.4 g vs. 83 g; p<0.035), saturated fatty acids (SFA) (30.4 g vs. 32.3 g; p=0.01), sucrose (56.5 g vs. 64.6 g; p=0.0001), calcium (602.5 mg vs. 666.6 mg; p=0.004), and folate (261.6 mcg vs. 284.7 mcg; p=0.003). When nutrient densities of pre-Covid-19 and COVID-19 diets were compared, some differences were noted; per 1,000 kcal the amounts decreased of plant protein (13.7 g vs. 13.1 g; p=0.001), carbohydrates (130.8 g vs. 128.0 g; p=0.021), fibre (9.1 g vs. 8.4 g; p=0.000), sodium (1,968.6 mg vs. 1,824.2 mg; p=0.000); while the amounts increased of total lipids (35.9 g vs. 37.0 g; p=0.001), SFA (14.1 g vs. 14.7 g; p=0.003), and sucrose (26.4 g vs. 28.4 g; p=0.001). The COVID-19 pandemic had no effect on alcohol consumption, the number of smokers increased (from 131 to 169), sleep duration during weekdays, and the number of persons with low physical activity (182 vs. 245; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Numerous unfavourable changes occurred in the diet and lifestyle during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may contribute to the exacerbation of health problems in the future. Nutrient density in the diet combined with well-designed consumer education may underlie the development of diet recommendations.

Social media literacy among nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic - does year of study matter? A nationwide cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Research to date indicates that student competencies in various dimensions of social media use vary depending on, for example, the field of study or stage of education. The aim of the study was assessment of social media literacy in a group of undergraduate nursing students, based on the year of study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Respondents: 679 nursing students from 11 Polish medical universities who began or continued their education during the COVID-19 pandemic. First-year students (N = 397, 58.73%) and women (N = 589, 87.13%) constituted the largest group. The Perceived Social Media Literacy Scale was used. Statistical analysis used the Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis-of-variance-by-ranks to analyse differences in PSML scores, and Dunn's test to analyse differences in PSML scores between individual years of study (α= 0.05). RESULTS: The level of social media literacy between students differed significantly (p < 0.001). Students rated their technical competency the highest (H = 29.722, p < 0.001), social relationships (H = 20.946, p < 0.001) and informational awareness (H = 21.054, p < 0.001) the lowest. The lowest scores in the self-assessment of social media literacy were noted among first-year students (M = 55.85, Max = 70.0; p < 0.001), and the highest among second-year students (M = 60.99, Max = 70.0; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Nursing students rated their competency lowest in the sphere related to verifying the content of messages appearing on social media, which may have a significant impact on their professional competencies. Differences in the level of social media literacy among students of different years of study should be taken into account when designing training in this field.

How Psychological Variables Maybe Correlated with Willingness to Get COVID-19 Vaccine: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study of Polish Novice Nurses.

INTRODUCTION: Nurses became the largest medical group exposed to direct contact with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In this study, we aimed to assess the readiness and motivation for vaccination, as well as the use of sources of information and attitudes toward vaccination depending on the psychological profile. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey study was conducted. The study included 145 novice nurses from 8 medical universities who completed 3-year undergraduate studies. Women constituted 97.2% of the respondents (N = 141). The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale, Brief Resilient Coping Scale, and an original questionnaire were used. Variables were analyzed with descriptive statistics methods. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Among the participants, 73.1% had already been vaccinated against COVID-19 (N = 106). The participants were divided into two groups: G1 (N = 98), characterized by a lower level of anxiety with higher self-efficacy and resilient coping, and G2 (N = 47), with a higher level of anxiety with poorer self-efficacy and resilient coping. The analysis of the potential correlation of psychological pattern with the decision to vaccinate was not statistically significant (p = 0.166). CONCLUSION: Psychological variables may be correlating with motivation, attitudes toward vaccination, and the choice of reliable sources of information about vaccination. Our study demonstrates the key role of two psychological variables, self-efficacy and resilient coping, in this context.

Attitudes toward COVID-19 Vaccination on Social Media: A Cross-Platform Analysis.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, social media content analysis allowed for tracking attitudes toward newly introduced vaccines. However, current evidence is limited to single social media platforms. Our objective was to compare arguments used by anti-vaxxers in the context of COVID-19 vaccines across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. We obtained the data set of 53,671 comments regarding COVID-19 vaccination published between August 2021 and February 2022. After that, we established categories of anti-vaccine content, manually classified comments, and compared the frequency of occurrence of the categories between social media platforms. We found that anti-vaxxers on social media use 14 categories of arguments against COVID-19 vaccines. The frequency of these categories varies across different social media platforms. The anti-vaxxers' activity on Facebook and Twitter is similar, focusing mainly on distrust of government and allegations regarding vaccination safety and effectiveness. Anti-vaxxers on TikTok mainly focus on personal freedom, while Instagram users encouraging vaccination often face criticism suggesting that vaccination is a private matter that should not be shared. Due to the differences in vaccine sentiment among users of different social media platforms, future research and educational campaigns should consider these distinctions, focusing more on the platforms popular among adolescents (i.e., Instagram and TikTok).

The Influence of Obesity on Nutrition and Physical Activity during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case-Control Study.

Obesity is one of the important risk factors for a severe course of COVID-19. Maintaining a healthy body weight through diet and physical activity is a reasonable approach to preventing a SARS-CoV-2 infection or in alleviating its course. The goal of the study was to determine the influence of obesity on nutrition and physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 964 respondents, including 227 individuals with a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2 were evaluated in this study. In the case of 482 respondents, including 105 individuals (21.8%) with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, the data were collected during the pandemic period from 1 June to 31 August 2020. The remaining 482 individuals were the "pre-pandemic" group, selected via propensity score matching (PSM) out of the 723 National Health Program study participants whose data was collected in 2017-2019. The evaluated dietary health factors were quantitatively similar in patients with BMI of either <30 kg/m2 or ≥30 kg/m2 and showed no significant changes during the pandemic. The diets of those who suffered from obesity prior to the pandemic showed the evaluated unhealthy nutritional factors to be less pronounced in comparison with those of individuals with BMI < 30 kg/m2. During the pandemic, the BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 group showed a significant increase in the overall calorie intake (by 319 kcal; p = 0.001) and an increased consumption of total carbohydrates 299.3 ± 83.8 vs. 252.0 ± 101.5; p = 0.000), sucrose (51.7 ± 30.0 vs. 71.6 ± 49.9; p = 0.000), plant protein (26.3 ± 12.1 vs. 29.3 ± 8.3; p = 0.040), total fat (73.1 ± 42.6 vs. 84.9 ± 29.6; p = 0.011) and saturated fatty acids (29.5 ± 16.4 vs. 34.3 ± 13.9; p = 0.014) in comparison with the pre-pandemic period. The energy and nutritional value of the diets of BMI < 30 kg/m2 individuals did not change between the pre-pandemic and pandemic period. Before the pandemic, the level of leisure physical activity of the BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 group was significantly lower than of those with BMI < 30 kg/m2. Such differences were not observed in the levels of physical activity at work or school. The pandemic did not alter the amount of physical activity either during leisure time or at work/school in individuals with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2. However, respondents without obesity exercised significantly less during the pandemic than before. In conclusion, the pandemic altered the diets and levels of physical activity in the Polish population, with dietary changes observed in individuals with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 and changes in physical activity observed in those with BMI < 30 kg/m2.

Predictors of the Occupational Burnout of Healthcare Workers in Poland during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The study aims at analysing the occupational burnout phenomenon, the level of anxiety and depression, as well as the quality of life (QOL) of healthcare workers (HCW) during the COVID-19 pandemic. There were 497 healthcare workers examined across Poland. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) and World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument Short Form (WHOQOL BREF) were used. A total of 71.63% (356) of the respondents presented high and moderate levels of emotional exhaustion during the pandemic, 71.43% (355) reported low and moderate job satisfaction levels, whereas 40.85% (203) displayed high and moderate levels of depersonalization. A group of 62.57% (n = 311) demonstrated clear or borderline states of anxiety disorders, while 38.83% (n = 193) suffered from depression or its borderline symptoms. Direct predictors of occupational burnout included: escalating depression; quality of life domains such as the physical, psychological and social; being provided personal protective equipment (PPE) by an employer; age; medical profession; and material status. Emotional exhaustion appeared to be much higher in nursing and 'other' medical professionals than in physiotherapists (p = 0.023). In the times of pandemic, the occupational burnout prophylaxis ought to be focused on early recognition of depression like symptoms and their treatment, as well as providing the staff with PPE and satisfying earnings.

Incidence and Sociodemographic Correlates of Psychological Health Problems among Residents of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship during the COVID-19 Outbreak.

Background and Objectives: Psychological health problems have become an important topic of consideration for many scientists, because the epidemiology of these disorders is strongly influenced by stressful events such as the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic. The aim of this study was to evaluate selected parameters of psychosocial functioning as well as socio-demographic correlates of depression, anxiety, sleep disorders and perceived stress among the residents of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. Materials and Methods: An online questionnaire was completed by 323 participants, in whom the parameters of psychosocial functioning were assessed (symptoms of depression, anxiety, severity of sleep disorders and perceived stress). Results: The majority of the respondents (75.2%) scored high on the Perceived Stress Scale, and almost half of the respondents (47.1%) had sleep disorders. A total of 26% of the participants had no depressive symptoms. Age was significantly correlated with the severity of depressive symptoms and sleep disorders. There was a strong correlation between the severity of depression and anxiety (r = 0.76; p < 0.0001), a moderate correlation between depression and perceived stress (r = 0.47; p < 0.0001) and a strong correlation between depression and sleep disorders (r = 0.651; p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Age contributed to the severity of depressive symptoms and the occurrence of sleep disorders among the residents of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Some residents of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship showed moderate to severe depressive and anxiety symptoms, as well as high levels of stress and insomnia.

Assessment of Psychosocial Functioning of Polish Nurses during COVID-19 Pandemic.

(1) The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the psychological well-being of people around the world. The aim of this study was to assess the levels of psychological distress of nurses (anxiety, depression, stress, insomnia) in relation to sociodemographic variables and psychosocial variables: self-assessment of health, quarantine, psychological support, presence of chronic diseases and the Impact of Events Scale (IES-R). (2) A total of 207 nurses working with COVID-19 patients at the Independent Public Clinical Hospital No. 1 of the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin participated in the study. The study was conducted with the diagnostic survey method, using the Athens Insomnia Scale, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder questionnaire, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, The Perceived Stress Scale and a questionnaire of our authorship. (3) Among the respondents, 40.58% suffered sleep disturbance, 36.71% had mild anxiety, 71.95% had high stress according to the PSS-10 and 31.88% had depression according to the PHQ-9. The study observed that the chances of insomnia decreased with the age of the respondents. Moreover, the form of employment of nurses significantly affected the levels of depression, anxiety and stress. (4) Education, gender and age were variables that significantly affected the severity of anxiety, depression and insomnia in the surveyed nurses working with patients with COVID-19.

Impact of Anxiety on Readiness for COVID-19 Vaccination among Polish Nursing Undergraduate Students: Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a huge impact on the mental health of people around the world, and it increased the level of fear of infection and anxiety about the consequences of the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. We examined the relationship between the level of anxiety among nursing students and their knowledge about COVID-19 vaccination. In addition, we explored the correlations among the level of anxiety, knowledge about vaccination, and the willingness to vaccinate against COVID-19. A total of 790 undergraduate nursing students participated in the study. The results demonstrated that the level of anxiety among the surveyed nursing students was low; 40% of the study participants did not report any anxiety at all, 30% reported mild anxiety, 20% reported moderate anxiety, and 9% reported severe anxiety. At the time of the study, 77.2% of the participants were already vaccinated against COVID-19. Student knowledge about vaccination against COVID-19 was high and anxiety levels were low, with no direct correlation between the knowledge of vaccination and the severity of anxiety.

Social Media Sharing of Articles About Measles in a European Context: Text Analysis Study.

BACKGROUND: Despite the existence of an effective vaccine, measles still threatens the health and lives of many Europeans. Notably, during the COVID-19 pandemic, measles vaccine uptake declined; as a result, after the pandemic, European countries will have to increase vaccination rates to restore the extent of vaccination coverage among the population. Because information obtained from social media are one of the main causes of vaccine hesitancy, knowledge of the nature of information pertaining to measles that is shared on social media may help create educational campaigns. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aim to define the characteristics of European news about measles shared on social media platforms (ie, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest) from 2017 to 2019. METHODS: We downloaded and translated (into English) 10,305 articles on measles published in European Union countries. Using latent Dirichlet allocation, we identified main topics and estimated the sentiments expressed in these articles. Furthermore, we used linear regression to determine factors related to the number of times a given article was shared on social media. RESULTS: We found that, in most European social media posts, measles is only discussed in the context of local European events. Articles containing educational information and describing world outbreaks appeared less frequently. The most common emotions identified from the study's news data set were fear and trust. Yet, it was found that readers were more likely to share information on educational topics and the situation in Germany, Ukraine, Italy, and Samoa. A high amount of anger, joy, and sadness expressed within the text was also associated with a higher number of shares. CONCLUSIONS: We identified which features of news articles were related to increased social media shares. We found that social media users prefer sharing educational news to sharing informational news. Appropriate emotional content can also increase the willingness of social media users to share an article. Effective media content that promotes measles vaccinations should contain educational or scientific information, as well as specific emotions (such as anger, joy, or sadness). Articles with this type of content may offer the best chance of disseminating vital messages to a broad social media audience.

Is job seniority a protective factor against anxiety among midwives during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic?

INTRODUCTION: Introduction. The pandemic SARS-Cov-2 outbreak necessitated the implementation of changes in everyday obstetric attendance, which demands continuity of care. Employment of sudden changes in obstetric attendance could have increased anxiety among medical personnel. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the Communication was to analyse the influence of professional experience on the level of anxiety in a group of midwives during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The analysis included 100 midwives: average professional experience: 11.51 years (max. 36; median 7,5; SD: 10.37; p<0.0001). The largest group of respondents was employed in a tertiary referral hospital (n = 40), the smallest in a medical clinic (n = 7). A preliminary study using an online questionnaire, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener (GAD-7), posted on Internet fora, Facebook fan pages of The Childbirth with Dignity Foundation, and the Foundation for Midwives, using the Snowball sampling method. The Ethics Committee for Research Projects at the Institute of Psychology, University of Gdansk, approved the research project (Approval No. 35/2020). RESULTS: The average score was 9.390 (max. 21, median 8.5; SD; 5.228). The length of professional experience did not correspond to the level of anxiety (r = -0.0097; p = 0.9237). In 20 respondents, no anxiety was traced, while the smallest group indicated severe anxiety (n = 15). Professional experience did not influence the level of anxiety in either group with different level of anxiety (ANOVA test; p = 0.465). . CONCLUSIONS: Professional experience did not influence the level of anxiety. In order to prevent exacerbation of anxiety symptoms, different factors which may playa vital role in enhancing the level of anxiety must be analysed.

"Vaccinate, Do Not Hesitate!". Vaccination Readiness against COVID-19 among Polish Nursing Undergraduate Students: A National Cross-Sectional Survey.

COVID-19 vaccination raises numerous concerns among the public, and also among medical personnel including nurses. As nurses play a crucial role in the process of vaccination, it is important to recognize the attitudes of students of nursing, nurses in spe, toward COVID-19 vaccination, as well as to define the factors influencing students' pro-vaccine choices. The study was conducted between March and April 2021 at all medical universities in Poland educating nurses in spe. The study included 793 first-degree students from 12 universities. The results revealed that the vast majority of students of nursing (77.2%) were vaccinated against COVID-19, as 61.2% received an mRNA vaccine and 16% a viral vector vaccine. Every other person in the non-vaccinated group declared their intention to get a vaccination. A trend was observed whereby people co-living with persons from the risk group, who are at risk of a severe form of COVID-19, showed greater willingness to get a vaccine. The study results identified the role of universities in increasing the vaccination rate among students, both in terms of education about vaccinations and in shaping pro-vaccine attitudes among students, as well as organizing vaccinations on university campuses to facilitate the process.

Recurrent assessment of lymphocyte subsets in 32 patients with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).

BACKGROUND: Lymphopenia is a hallmark of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). We aimed to characterize lymphocyte subsets' shifts and their correlations with other severity markers of MIS-C. METHODS: In this prospective cross-sectional study, we performed peripheral lymphocyte phenotyping in 32 patients with MIS-C. We analyzed lymphocyte subsets at three time points of the disease: the acute (A), convalescent (B), and recovery (C) phases. Based on age-normalized lymphocyte counts, we distinguished two groups of patients: "the mild" (higher lymphocyte counts) and "the severe" (lower lymphocyte counts). In addition, we examined differences between these groups regarding other severity markers. RESULTS: In phase A, 84% of children had lymphopenia. Decreased absolute counts of CD3, CD4, and CD8 cells were observed in, respectively, 88%, 72%, and 84% of patients. The natural killer cells were decreased in 63% and CD19 in 59% of children. "The severe" group had significantly higher procalcitonin and troponin I levels and lower platelets and albumin. Moreover, "the severe" group had hypotension more frequently (73% vs. 20%, p = .008). In phase B, all lymphocyte counts increased, and 32% of children had lymphocytosis. The increase of CD3, CD4, and CD8 counts correlated with some laboratory severity markers (hemoglobin, procalcitonin, D-dimer, lactate dehydrogenase, N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide, albumin), but not with steroid use. In phase C, most children had normal lymphocyte counts. CONCLUSIONS: Substantial shifts in lymphocyte counts during MIS-C apply most to T lymphocytes and correlate with the disease severity markers, particularly hypotension prevalence. A proportion of children with MIS-C develops transient lymphocytosis during convalescence.

The Role of Resilience and Basic Hope in the Adherence to Dietary Recommendations in the Polish Population during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic exerts a negative influence on dietary behaviors, which may lead to health deterioration. Dietary behaviors may be determined by psychological characteristics, such as basic hope and resilience, which facilitate the effective adjustment to new difficult conditions. The professional literature includes no research on the role of basic hope and resilience in the context of undertaken dietary behaviors in the situations of mental load associated with pandemics. The study aimed at the description of the dietary behaviors of individuals with various intensities of the discussed psychological characteristics (basic hope and resilience); (2) The observational cross-sectional online questionnaire study was conducted with the participation of 1082 adult Polish inhabitants. Three psychological scales were used: PSS-10, the Brief Resilient Coping Scale (BRCS) and BHI-12 questionnaire. The assessment of the adherence to dietary recommendations was performed with the present authors' Dietary Guidelines Adherence Index (DGA Index); (3) Results: The value of DGA Index was variable depending on the psychological profile of study participants. The highest adherence to the principles of appropriate nutrition was observed in individuals characterized by the ability to cope with difficult situations and those who quickly adapted to new changing circumstances. The DGA Index values became poorer with the deterioration of the coping ability as regards stress and mental load; (4) Conclusions: Nutritional education during pandemics should encompass the psychological profile of the patients. It requires the implementation of a different psychodietetic approach which will facilitate a more effective introduction of a well-balanced diet.

What Arguments against COVID-19 Vaccines Run on Facebook in Poland: Content Analysis of Comments.

Social media allow anti-vaxxers to quickly spread misinformation and false statements. This situation may lead to an increase in vaccine hesitancy. We wanted to characterize what arguments against COVID-19 vaccines run on Facebook in Poland. We analyzed Facebook comments related to the five events of the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines-announcements of the efficacy of the Pfizer-BioNTech (09.11.2020), Moderna (16.11.2020), and AstraZeneca (23.11.2020) vaccines, registration of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine by the European Medicines Agency (21.12.2020), and the first vaccination in Poland (27.12.2020). We collected the comments from fanpages of the biggest Polish media and then established their main anti-vaccine themes. We found that the negative arguments about COVID-19 vaccines can be divided into 12 categories. Seven of them are universal and also apply to other vaccines but five are new and COVID-19' specific. The frequency of arguments from a given category varied over time. We also noticed that, while the comments were mostly negative, the reactions were positive. Created codebook of anti-vaccine COVID-19 arguments can be used to monitor the attitude of society towards COVID-19 vaccines. Real-time monitoring of social media is important because the popularity of certain arguments on Facebook changes rapidly over time.