Doctors’ and Patients’ Perceptions of Impacts of Doctors’ Communication and Empathy Skills on Doctor–Patient Relationships During COVID-19

Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, the performance of Chinese doctors may have led to improved doctor–patient relationships (DPRs). However, it is unclear how doctors and patients perceived the impact of doctors’ communication and empathy skills on DPRs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective To examine the perceptions of doctors and patients on how doctors’ communication skills and empathy skills influence DPRs during COVID-19. Main Measures Doctors’ and patients’ perceptions of doctors’ communication skills were measured using the Chinese version of the SEGUE Framework. To measure empathy skills and DPRs, the Jefferson Scale of Empathy and Difficult Doctor-Patient Relationship Questionnaire were administered to doctors, and the Consultation and Relational Empathy Measure and Patient-Doctor Relationship Questionnaire were administered to patients. Results A total of 902 doctors and 1432 patients in China were recruited during the pandemic via online or offline surveys (overall response rate of 69.8%). Both doctors and patients rated doctors’ empathy skills as more impactful on DPRs than communication skills. Doctors believed that only their empathy skills influenced DPRs. But patients believed that there was a significant bi-directional relationship between doctors’ communication and empathy skills and these two skills interacted to directly and indirectly influence DPRs, and doctors’ empathy had a greater mediating effect than their communication. Conclusions During COVID-19, there were both similarities and differences between Chinese doctors’ and patients’ views on how doctors’ communication and empathy skills influenced DPRs. The greater effect of doctors’ empathy skills suggests that both doctors and patients attach more importance to doctors’ empathy in doctor–patient interactions. The bi-directional effect on patient outcomes suggests that both doctors’ communication and empathy skills are important to patients’ perceptions of DPRs.

Multi-site validation of an amplicon-based sequencing approach for human monkeypox virus (preprint)

The 2022 multi-country monkeypox outbreak concurrent with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the need for genomic surveillance and pathogen whole genome sequencing. While metagenomic sequencing approaches have been used to sequence many of the early human monkeypox virus infections, these methods are resource intensive and require samples with high viral DNA concentrations. Given the atypical clinical presentation of cases associated with the current outbreak and uncertainty regarding viral load across both the course of infection and anatomical body sites, there is an urgent need for a more sensitive and broadly applicable sequencing approach. Amplicon-based sequencing (PrimalSeq) was initially developed for sequencing of Zika virus, and later adapted as the main sequencing approach for SARS-CoV-2. Here, we used PrimalScheme to develop a primer scheme for human monkeypox virus that can be used with many sequencing and bioinformatics pipelines implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. We sequenced clinical samples that tested presumptive positive for monkeypox virus with amplicon-based and metagenomic sequencing approaches. Upon comparison, we found notably higher genome coverage across the virus genome, particularly in higher PCR cycle threshold (lower DNA titer) samples, with minimal amplicon drop-outs, in using the amplicon-based sequencing approach. By sending out primer pool aliquots to laboratories across the United States and internationally, we validated the primer scheme in 12 public health laboratories with their established Illumina or Oxford Nanopore Technologies sequencing workflows and with different sample types across a range of Ct values. Our findings suggest that amplicon-based sequencing increases the success rate across a wider range of viral DNA concentrations, with the PCR Ct value threshold at which laboratories were able to achieve 80% genome coverage at 10X ranging between Ct 25-33. Therefore, it increases the number of samples where near-complete genomes can be generated and it provides a cost-effective and widely applicable alternative to metagenomics for continued human monkeypox virus genomic surveillance. Importantly, we show that the human monkeypox virus primer scheme can be used with currently implemented amplicon-based SARS-CoV-2 sequencing workflows, with minimal change to the protocol.

Genomic epidemiology and phylodynamics for county-to-county transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Minnesota, from 19A to Omicron (preprint)

SARS-CoV-2 has had an unprecedented impact on human health and highlights the need for genomic epidemiology studies to increase our understanding of the evolution and spread of pathogens and to inform policy decisions. Most efforts have focused on international or country-wide transmission, which are unable to highlight state-wide trends. We sequenced virus genomes from over 22,000 patients tested at Mayo Clinic Laboratories between 2020-2022 and leveraged detailed patient metadata to describe county-to-county spread in Minnesota. Our findings indicate that spread in the state was mostly dominated by viruses from Hennepin County, which contains the largest metropolis. For many counties, we found that state government restrictions eventually led to a decrease in the diversity of circulating viruses from other counties and that their complete removal in May of 2021 saw a drastic revert to levels at or greater than those observed during the months before. We also linked over 14,000 genomes with patient risk characteristics and infection-related phenotypes from the Mayo Clinic electronic health record. We found that the genetic relationship of Omicron viruses was structured by clinical outcomes when stratifying by patient risk factor and variant of concern. However, we were unable to identify nucleotide variants that drove this association.

Successful treatment of a kidney transplant patient with COVID-19 and late-onset Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (preprint)

Background: Solid transplant patients are susceptible to Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP). While the vast majority of PJP cases occur within the first 6 months after transplantation, very few PJP cases are seen beyond 1 year post transplantation (late-onset PJP). PJP and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19, caused by infection with SARS-CoV-2) share quite a few common clinical manifestations and imaging findings, making the diagnosis of PJP often underappreciated during the current COVID-19 pandemic. To date, only 1 case of kidney transplantation who developed COVID-19 and late-onset PJP has been reported, but this patient also suffered from many other infections and died from respiratory failure and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. A successful treatment of kidney patients with COVID-19 and late-onset PJP has not been reported. Case presentation: We present a case of a 55-year-old male kidney transplant patient with COVID-19 who also developed late-onset PJP. He received a combined strategy, including specific anti-pneumocystis therapy, symptomatic supportive therapy, adjusted immunosuppressive therapy, and use of antiviral/antibiotics drugs, ending with a favorable outcome. Conclusions: This case highlights the importance of prompt and differential diagnosis of PJP in kidney transplant patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Further studies are required to clarify if kidney transplant patients with COVID-19 could be prone to develop late-onset PJP and how these patients should be treated.

Utilization of Whole Genome Sequencing to Understand SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Dynamics in Long-Term Care Facilities, Correctional Facilities and Meat Processing Plants in Minnesota, March - June 2020 (preprint)

Congregate settings and high-density workplaces have endured a disproportionate impact from COVID-19. In order to provide further understanding of the transmission patterns of SARS-CoV-2 in these settings, whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on samples obtained from 8 selected outbreaks in Minnesota from March -June, 2020. WGS and phylogenetic analysis was conducted on 319 samples, constituting 14.4% of the 2,222 total SARS-CoV-2-positive individuals associated with these outbreaks. Among the sequenced specimens, three LTCFs and both correctional facilities had spread associated with a single genetic sequence. A fourth LTCF had outbreak cases associated with two distinct sequences. In contrast, cases associated with outbreaks in the two meat processing plants represented multiple SARS-CoV-2 sequences. These results suggest that a single introduction of SARS-CoV-2 into a facility can result in a widespread outbreak, and early identification and cohorting of cases, along with continued vigilance with infection prevention and control measures is imperative.

Mediating Effect of Deteriorated Kidney Function in Comorbidity-related Excess Deaths in COVID-19: A Retrospective Cohort Study (preprint)

BackgroundIn-hospital death risks vary in COVID-19 patients with comorbidities. Kidney function decline is prevalent in this course and found associated with in-hospital death. However, what role it plays is not clear.MethodsTo explore the exact role of deteriorated kidney function, we applied a retrospective cohort study including 1266 participants in Wuhan Tongren Hospital between January 27 and March 3, 2020. Demographic characteristics, preexisting comorbidities history, organ function data and outcomes were extracted. Deteriorated kidney function was identified as the decline percentage, assessed by an increase in peak serum creatinine from the baseline. Mediating effect was calculated by mediation analysis.Key Results1266 hospitalized COVID-19 patients (60±15 years, 47.8% are male) were included, with an overall in-hospital death rate of 4.42% (56/1266). For critical cases, 77.02% had at least one preexisting comorbidity. Patients with comorbidities suffered higher in-hospital death and more severe decline of kidney function. Compared to patients with minor function decline (<10%), significant risk increase was found in those with more severe one (OR 3.57; 95%CI 1.70 to 7.52; P=.001 for moderate with 10-50% decline, and 37.45; 95%CI 18.71 to 74.55; P＜.001 for severe with>50%). More interestingly, the mediation analysis found deteriorated kidney function played as an important mediator between different comorbidities and COVID-19 patients’ in-hospital death, with the mediation effect of 11%, 12%, 16% and 32% respectively for hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease.ConclusionsAll-cause deteriorated kidney function is strongly associated with increase of in-hospital death in COVID-19 and partially mediates the facilitating effect of preexisting comorbidities on in-hospital death. Thus, dynamic monitoring kidney function, preventing the deterioration of kidney function might be helpful to improve survival in COVID-19 patients, especially those with preexisting comorbidities.

Mediating Effect of Deteriorated Kidney Function in Comorbidity-related Excess Deaths in COVID-19: A Retrospective Cohort Study (preprint)

Background In-hospital death risks vary in COVID-19 patients with comorbidities. Kidney function decline is prevalent in this course. Methods To explore the exact role of deteriorated kidney function, we applied a retrospective cohort study including 1266 participants in Wuhan Tongren Hospital between January 27 and March 3, 2020. Demographic characteristics, preexisting comorbidities history, organ function data and outcomes were extracted. Deteriorated kidney function was identified as the decline percentage, assessed by an increase in peak serum creatinine from the baseline. Mediating effect was calculated by mediation analysis. Key Results 1266 hospitalized COVID-19 patients (60±15 years, 47.8% are male) were included, with an overall in-hospital death rate of 4.42% (56/1266). For critical cases, 77.02% had at least one preexisting comorbidity. Patients with comorbidities suffered higher in-hospital death and more severe decline of kidney function. Compared to patients with minor function decline (<10%), significant risk increase was found in those with more severe one (OR 3.57; 95%CI 1.70 to 7.52; P=.001 for moderate with 10-50% decline, and 37.45; 95%CI 18.71 to 74.55; P＜.001 for severe with>50%). More interestingly, the mediation analysis found deteriorated kidney function played as an important mediator between different comorbidities and COVID-19 patients’ in-hospital death, with the mediation effect of 11%, 12%, 16% and 32% respectively for hypertension, COPD, CVD and CKD.Conclusions Deteriorated kidney function is strongly associated with increase of in-hospital death in COVID-19 and partially mediates the facilitating effect of preexisting comorbidities on in-hospital death. Thus, dynamic monitoring kidney function, preventing the deterioration of kidney function might be helpful to improve survival in COVID-19 patients, especially those with preexisting comorbidities.