Patients With Super Obesity Do Not Perceive Themselves as Being at Higher Risk for a More Severe Course of COVID-19 Infection.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to major health-related concerns in the population. Several risk factors for a severe course of COVID-19 disease have been identified, with obesity taking an important role. However, it is unclear whether this association is only known in the expert world or whether individuals also experience themselves as risk patients due to their obesity and whether the desire for weight reduction may also be associated with a hoped-for risk reduction. These questions were addressed in a cross-sectional study of patients who have presented to an obesity center in order to lose body weight. Methods: Patients (n = 155) of the obesity center were asked to complete an ad hoc questionnaire to assess whether the desire to lose weight is also associated with a hoped-for risk reduction with respect to COVID-19 disease during the middle of the pandemic in the period between October 2020 and April 2021. We additionally assessed their perceived general stress using the Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ). Results: In our explorative study, overall worries correlated significantly with worries about contracting COVID-19 (r = 0.483, p < 0.001). There has been an association with concerns about severe COVID-19 progression and psychological distress from the COVID-19 pandemic (r = 0.543, p < 0.001). In addition, a correlation was found between persons who worry about contracting COVID-19 and feeling like an at-risk patient (r = 0.530, p < 0.001). Interestingly, the higher the BMI (>50 kg/m2), the lower were the worries in PSQ (ANOVA p = 0.046). However, COVID-19-related worry was nonetheless present in the higher BMI subgroups. The most intense worries were experienced by individuals with a BMI between 35 and 39 (PSQ worries 50.44), immediately followed by individuals with a BMI between 40 and 49 (PSQ worries 49.36). Discussion and Conclusion: An increased risk for a more severe course of COVID-19 infection is not generally perceived by obese individuals. In particular, individuals with very high BMI (>50)-although being at very high risk for a severe course of the COVID-19 disease-do not display increased worries, which might point toward heightened denial.

[Impact of the COVID pandemic on the anxiety of patients with functional gastrointestinal symptoms]. / Auswirkungen der COVID-Pandemie auf die Besorgtheit von Patient:innen mit funktionellen gastrointestinalen Symptomen.

Functional gastrointestinal disorders such as functional dyspepsia (FD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are stress-associated. The COVID-19 pandemic, which has been rampant since 2020, has caused anxiety and stress in the population. Distancing measures to combat the pandemic have affected mental health. Our objective was to examine the impact of the 3rd lockdown in Germany in December 2020 and January 2021 on the apprehension of patients with FD and IBS.Patients diagnosed with FD or IBS treated in a tertiary or primary care hospital in the South of Baden-Württemberg in 2020 voluntarily participated in an anonymous online survey. Questions about concomitant diseases, concern about COVID-19 and stress perception were answered.A total of 106 patients (♀=67, ♂=38, 1 diverse) participated in the survey. Of these, 16 had FD (♀=9, ♂=6, diverse=1), 80 had IBS (♀=52, ♂=28), and 10 had both (♀=6, ♂=4). The average age was 43.6 years. Depressive and anxiety disorders were most frequently reported comorbidities in both the FD (25% each) and IBS group (20% each), followed by joint wear and tear (FD: 13%, RDS: 14%). In a direct comparison of participants with FD and IBS, those with IBS showed significantly higher scores for an increase in gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms during the pandemic (p=0.007), more frequent presentation to a physician during the pandemic, and greater social withdrawal due to GI symptoms (p=0.05). In direct comparison, those with IBS showed higher scores for fear that vaccination against COVID-19 would adversely affect GI symptoms compared to FD (p=0.05).In times of the pandemic, interdisciplinary collaboration in the care of patients with FD or IBS seems more necessary than ever to address concerns and provide good patient care.

Higher Acceptance of Videotelephonic Counseling Formats in Psychosomatic Medicine in Times of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare system in general and psychosomatics in particular were forced to change counseling-specific services and break up established structures. At the beginning of 2020, phone as well as videotelephonic counseling options had to be quickly established. Methods: Patients (n = 278) of the department of psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy at the University Hospital Tübingen were asked to complete an ad hoc questionnaire to assess the acceptance of the counseling format following each counseling session (office, phone, video) in the period between July 2020 and February 2021. Results: Satisfaction and acceptance of the three counseling formats (office, phone, video) were rated (1-6) on average as "good" to "very good" in the three subgroups (1.5 ± 0.9). Likewise, the "therapeutic relationship" scored high in all three subgroups in terms of establishing a strong therapeutic relationship (4.4 ± 1.5). "Hurdles" were rated as low and tolerable (1.8 ± 1.3). The global assessment of therapeutic contact was significantly better in the video group compared to phone and office consultation (p < 0.05). Predictor analyses showed that there was an influence of age, but not gender, on the acceptance of digital counseling formats in the present sample [F (1, 277) = 4.50, p = 0.04]. Discussion & Conclusion: Digital consultation formats were perceived by patients as promising addition to the classic face-to-face setting. Digital formats (phone, video) were not generally preferred to face-to-face counseling, but especially video counseling was accepted and perceived with great satisfaction and acceptance. Accordingly, the additional use of digital counseling formats, especially video-telephony, could be an opportunity to enrich the existing structures also after the pandemic.

Acceptance of Psycho-Oncological Counseling Formats in a Cancer Counseling Center during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Exploratory Care Study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic made it necessary to change established structures of medical counseling services and quickly establish digital counseling formats to ensure continuity of care. In this context, we offered telephone and video-telephonic counseling in addition to traditional face-to-face counseling in the office. METHODS: Patients (n = 100) of the Cancer Counseling Center, Tübingen, were asked to complete a questionnaire to assess the acceptance of the counseling format following each counseling session (office, telephone, and video) in the period between July 2020 and February 2021. The questionnaire included the subject areas of patient characterization, assessment of therapeutic contact, therapeutic relationship, and hurdles and was used in this exploratory care study. RESULTS: The satisfaction and acceptance of the three counseling formats (office, telephone, and video) were rated as "good" to "very good" in the three subgroups (range 1-6, office M = 1.2, telephone M = 1.3, video M = 1.4). Likewise, the "therapeutic relationship" achieved high ratings in terms of establishment of a therapeutic relationship in all three subgroups (office M = 5.7, telephone M = 5.0, video M = 5.0). The type of contact (office and video counseling) achieved a significant main effect on the therapeutic relationship for items such as "I believe that counseling is helping me" (F(2,97) = 4.80, p = 0.01) and "I feel that I can rely on the counselor/therapist" (F(2,97) = 3.29, p = 0.04). The "hurdles" were rated as minor and tolerable (office M = 1.3, telephone M = 1.3, video M = 1.4). Predictor analyses showed that there was no effect of age and gender on the acceptance of digital counseling formats in the present sample. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: On the basis of this survey, it can be concluded that digital counseling formats were perceived by patients as a promising addition to the classic face-to-face setting. In addition, it can be stated that the digital formats (telephone and video) were not generally preferred to face-to-face counseling, but that the innovative telecounseling was accepted and perceived with great satisfaction and acceptance. Accordingly, the additional use of digital counseling formats could be an opportunity to enrich and expand the existing presence structures also after the COVID-19 pandemic.