Living with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic: insights into identity from the IDEAL cohort

The continuing COVID-19 pandemic and social restrictions have impacted on the cognitive decline and mental health of people with dementia. Social isolation and loss of activities due to social restrictions may also have implications as to sense of identity for people with dementia. As part of the INCLUDE (Identifying and Mitigating the Individual and Dyadic Impact of COVID-19 and Life Under Physical Distancing on People with Dementia and Carers) component of the IDEAL (Improving the Experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life) cohort study, the overall aim of this subtle realist qualitative study was to explore the perspectives of people with dementia on living through the COVID-19 pandemic within the context of the 'post-vaccine' period and the national lockdowns in England and Wales;and to determine perceived challenges to and facilitators of 'living well' during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond as restrictions were eased. In addition, the study findings are considered in relation to understandings of identity in dementia which the broader accounts of living through the pandemic have highlighted. Seven people with mild-to-moderate dementia were interviewed and themes were derived using framework analysis. Themes suggest interviewees' stoic acceptance of the pandemic and social restrictions but also fear of decline related to the temporality of their condition as well as loss of self-confidence to re-engage with the world. Interviewees managed threats to social identity by striving to maintain social and emotional connections, where the importance of a shared, social identity, particularly for people with young-onset dementia, was also apparent. Unlike in previous studies during the pandemic, the relevance of occupation for identity was observed, where maintaining previous or new activities or occupations was important to facilitate identity as well as to keep a sense of purpose. Therefore, as well as supporting people with dementia as the pandemic eases, future research into occupation and identity in dementia is of potential value.

Oral health habits during COVID-19 pandemic in university medical students

Background: The recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has strongly affected the young population, with a significant impact on their habits. The present study aimed to explore the effects of COVID-19 on oral health and general hygiene habits in a cohort of undergraduate students during the lockdown period in march 2020. Methods: A total of 500 under-graduate students with a mean age of 22.84 ± 2.68 years completed an anonymous web survey. We compared 2 groups: students belonging to dentistry and dental hygiene school and students belonged to nursing school. Results: The 75 % of students self-reported an increased stress and 80% were concern about the future. A reduction in personal and dental hygiene (8% and 4%, respectively) was observed. Students in dentistry and dental hygiene courses were more careful about their dental hygiene. Interestingly, students from the dentistry and dental hygiene courses reported an increase in the use of chlorhexidine mouthwash during quarantine due both to an increased frequency of use and to a switch to chlorhexidine mouthwash from others type of mouthwash. This change was probably due to the knowledge of some studies that supported the efficacy of chlorhexidine mouthwash in fighting the COVID-19 infection Conclusion: Pandemic-related stress has affected our students’ population, with changes in general and dental hygiene habits. Strong action must be taken to promote good oral hygiene habits and a healthy lifestyle among the students’ population after the COVID-19 pandemic. © Mattioli 1885.