Social media for students' sleep health promotion - a health intervention report during COVID -19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected sleep health. Students' sleep health is essential for the performance of neuro-cognitive processes, as well as mental and physical balance. We assume the COVID19 pandemic has modified some sleep habits by prompting environmental and social interaction changes. In this study we surveyed a sample of 300 Brazilian students, with internet access, resident in the Federal District. They completed a questionnaire over two weeks in March 2020, i.e. the second and third week of the social isolation policy enacted in the Federal District due to COVID19. Valid responses from students aged18-24 years were analyzed. The sample was mostly female; 76,3% reported somnolence during the day, 70,2% anxiety and 87,8% worse sleep associated with stress and/or anxiety, which indicated the variables for an educational health intervention design in this context. Further, 53.2% made no effort to avoid screens before sleeping; 73.9% to avoid using the bed for work or watching television and 83.1% to avoid consuming heavy foods before sleeping. We then created an Instagram profile, @comodormimos, which focused on the main sleep issues revealed by participants in the survey. Posts on the profile were based on sleep-related subjects: sleep processes, sleep hygiene practices for students; sleep stages, function and regulation; and sleep-wake circadian rhythms. The profile gained 307 followers, mostly women (61,7%), 18-24 years old. We concluded that the Covid-10 pandemic period increased harmful sleep behavior in students. Further studies are needed to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student sleep health.

Medical care of patients with gynecologic cancer during the covid-19 pandemic: experience of a cancer center in Brazil

ObjectivesThe objective is to assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the care of gynecologic oncology patients.MethodsThis is a retrospective cohort study of all gynecology oncology new patients treated at Brasilia’s University Hospital - Brazil. We compared to periods: pre-COVID-19 (March 2019 to February 2020) and during COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020 to February 2021).ResultsThere was a 53% reduction in patients with gynecological cancer undergoing treatment at our hospital. The total of surgeries performed was 40 pre and 18 during the pandemic period, a reduction in the surgical volume by 55%. The most operated tumor in the pre-pandemic period was cervix and during was an equal number of surgeries for cervix, endometrial and ovarian cancer. Admissions for chemotherapy or radiotherapy also decreased by 52%. A total of 78 patients underwent cancer treatment before and 37 during the pandemic. The most frequently treated tumor is cervical cancer, with 53 cases in the pre and 26 during the pandemic, followed by ovarian cancer with 14 cases before and only two during the same period. The median waiting time between diagnosis and surgery was 4.44 days longer during the pandemic, as well as the median time to start chemo and radiotherapy was also longer during the pandemic period.ConclusionsWe observed a significant decrease in the number of gynecological cancer patients undergoing treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results will help health professionals to understand the indirect consequences of the pandemic and the role of women’s health care services in minimizing these consequences.