The Effect of COVID-Focused Expressive Writing on Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and Distress in College Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective: The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been associated with increased levels of distress for college students. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of a COVID-focused expressive writing intervention in reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and distress. Methods: A total of 169 college students were assigned either to a COVID-focused expressive writing intervention or to a nonwriting control group. All participants completed a 1-month follow-up assessment, and all study procedures were completed online due to COVID-19 restrictions. Depression was measured with the Beck Depression Inventory-II, anxiety was measured with the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and distress was measured with a Likert-scale question that measured distress specifically related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Results indicated that participants in the expressive writing group demonstrated a significant decrease (b = -1.35) in anxiety symptoms whereas participants in the control group did not. None of the participants in either group demonstrated a significant decrease in depression symptoms. Ratings of distress in the expressive writing group were significantly lower (d = -0.51) at the 1-month follow-up when compared to the control group. Discussion: COVID-focused expressive writing is a relatively brief and inexpensive intervention that has been associated with lower symptoms of anxiety and distress in college students. Theoretical implications are discussed. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Social & Clinical Psychology is the property of Guilford Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

How has the management of acute biliary pathology changed as a result of the SARS CoV2 pandemic?

Aims Gallbladder pathology is a common cause of emergency admission under general surgery - however management had to be drastically changed given the unexpected pressures of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. This study aimed to compare management strategies in patients presenting with biliary pathology pre and intra-SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in one NHS trust. Methods A database of patients admitted to the acute surgical admissions ward in the months of November 2019 and 2021 was accessed, patients with biliary presentations were isolated and information about these admissions analysed. Results In 2019 4 of 57 (8.7%) of patients admitted with biliary pathology had a laparoscopic cholecystectomy during that acute admission, compared to 8 of 65 (12.3%) in 2021. For all interventions (including ERCP and cholecystostomy) these values were 14 of 57 (25%) in 2019 and 24 of 65 (37%) in 2021. Of 54 patients in 2019 who did not have laparoscopic cholecystectomy on index admission, 9 were readmitted (16.7%). The median duration of admission for all biliary patients on index admission was 4 days in 2019 compared to 5.9 days in 2021. Conclusions SARS CoV2 has precipitated a change in management of acute biliary patients. There is now an increased rate of intervention during the index admission and subsequent increase in admission duration. This is seen as an improvement in the pathway for patients in the long term, reducing the burden on the elective waiting list and reducing re-admission which will offset the modest increase in length of stay on the index admission.

"Nobody Seems to Know Where to Even Turn To": Barriers in Accessing and Utilising Dementia Care Services in England and The Netherlands.

BACKGROUND: Accessing post-diagnostic care can be difficult for people with dementia and their informal carers. Little is known, however, about the determinants of barriers to access, and how these might vary between countries. The aim of this study was to explore potential inequalities in access to formal dementia care services between England and the Netherlands, specifically from more disadvantaged areas. METHODS: This was a mixed-methods study, involving semi-structured qualitative interviews and a carer questionnaire. People with dementia and informal carers were recruited by clinicians. The postal survey was co-produced with people with dementia, informal carers, and health care professionals. The survey asked carers about their own and their relatives with dementia's, social support service usage and financing; as well as how they were made aware of services and whether they required more support. Qualitative transcripts were analysed by two researchers in each country using thematic analysis. RESULTS: A total of 103 carer questionnaires were received by post and 13 interviews were conducted with people with dementia and family carers between January 2020 and April 2020. Many services were accessed via self-funding. Thematic analysis generated five core themes: Health literacy; Having faith and lack of faith; Service suitability; Structural issues surrounding service provision; and Financing care. One major difference between both country's systems of care were the case manager and network support which people with dementia and carers benefitted from in the Netherlands, which was rarely the case in the UK. CONCLUSIONS: People with dementia and informal carers need to be supported better in accessing formal dementia care services in both the UK and the Netherlands, whilst some learning can be taken to improve access.

Audit of qualitative fit testing for FFP3 respirators.

Introduction Dental team members require fit testing for respirators to deliver aerosol generating procedures (AGPs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Five general dental practitioners (GDPs) in Yorkshire and the Humber were trained to fit test staff at urgent dental care sites (UDCs) with filtering facepiece (FFP3) respirators.Aim To review the quality of fit test records and provide an overview of the outcome of fit testing of UDC staff.Method Audit of fit test records for FFP3 respirators against Health and Safety Executive standards.Results Six percent of records had missing or incomplete data and 6% of fit test records required follow-up. Of 583 people fit tested with an FFP3 respirator, 80.6% (470/583) passed the test and 19.4% (113/583) failed. Of those, 479 individuals were fitted with a 3M 1873V respirator, of which 82.7% (396/479) passed the test and 17.3% (83/479) failed.Discussion The audit enabled efficient resolution of problems associated with fit testing, informed learning needs and highlighted that a significant proportion of individuals are unable to wear certain makes/models of respirators.Conclusion GDPs have been successfully trained to provide fit testing and make accurate fit test records. The high fit test failure rate for FFP3 respirators has important ramifications for delivery of safe dental care during the pandemic.

What was the impact of a global pandemic (COVID-19) lockdown period on experiences within an eating disorder service? A service evaluation of the views of patients, parents/carers and staff.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization declared the outbreak of COVID-19 as a global pandemic on the 11th March 2020. As a result, the UK Government imposed severe restrictions on working and social contact as part of "lockdown." Whilst the full extent of the pandemic's impact on eating disorder patients is unknown, the literature suggests that patients with pre-existing mental illness may be more vulnerable to the mental health impacts. In addition, the restrictions greatly reduced the access to mental health services and presented new challenges to service delivery. A service evaluation was carried out to explore how the COVID-19 global pandemic changed service provision in a young person's eating disorder service and how this affected patient, family and staff experiences. METHODS: An audit was carried out to explore how the lockdown period had impacted referrals and service delivery. Quantitative data was collected in an online survey and qualitative data was collected in two formats: open ended answers as part of the online survey and open-ended focus groups, structured using narrative enquiry. The 43 participants consisted of 12 patients, 19 parents/carers, and 12 staff members. Patients were under the age of 18 and had a diagnosis of an eating disorder. RESULTS: COVID-19 and lockdown increased the pressure on the service and changed service provision significantly. This has impacted the relational experiences for patients and their carers and staff have been faced with new challenges. Patients, parents/carers and staff all preferred face-to-face appointments over virtual options. There was no difference in service satisfaction before and during COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to provide an eating disorder service in lockdown restrictions that patients and parents report high satisfaction with. Providing face-to-face appointments at the beginning of treatment and including families in the planning should be prioritised. Staff support is crucial to be able to continue delivering high quality services. The key themes are identified, and clinical recommendations are made to guide service delivery.