ABSTRACT
Although mobile technologies are a fundamental part of daily life, several studies have shown increased use of electronic devices, TV, and gaming during childhood in conjunction with the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus affected almost every country, causing uncertainty about the future, social isolation, and distress. This narrative review has searched the scientific literature in the field focusing on children. A non-systematic literature review was conducted in May 2022. Various databases were employed to conduct the document research for this paper, such as "Google Scholar", "PubMed", "Web of Science". Keywords for the search included "screen time", "media", "digital use", "social media", "COVID-19", "pandemic", "lockdown", "children", "effect of media on children during COVID". It was found that both children and adolescents seem to have used technologies to confront struggles provoked by COVID-19, such as the onset or exacerbation of symptoms of anxiety, depression, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. However, moreover, other studies have suggested that increased media use can have positive effects on children depending on usage and monitoring by the parents.
ABSTRACT
Introduction & Objectives: Multidisciplinary tumor boards (MTBs) play a pivotal role in patients’ clinical management and decision-making process. Main barriers to achieve efficient MTBs, are lack of time and geographical distance. COVID-19 pandemic represented an exceptionalobstacle. Telehealth practice has recently expanded including live video conferences and remote patient visit. The elaboration of an efficient virtual(v)MTB during COVID-19 pandemic is a need and a key-point to realize a successful oncology team and to increase a network among healthprofessionals and institutions. Objective of the study was to assess the mode of operating of our vTMB and to evaluate satisfaction and concernsof participating physicians through a dedicated survey.Materials & Methods: A project for a virtual multi-institutional uro-oncological MTB was activated in Sicily. The vMTB was structured according to aBowen framework method, employing a cloud-based virtual platform (Navify®). A 5-point Likert scale measured acceptability, appropriateness, andfeasibility of the instrument. Consensus on patients’management was voted electronically and approved if at least 75% of consensus was reached.Decisions were matched to recent medical literature and verified as adhering to the guidelines. After the first 3 months of activity a structured surveywas carried out among the members of the vMTB to investigate their satisfaction, adherence and concerns.Results: The vMTB started in September 2020. Up to the end of December 2020, 13 virtual meetings (60-90 min each) were holded and 77cases of urological tumors were discussed. Overall, 18 hospital units and 48 specialists joined the meetings. The survey conducted among the 48participating physicians, positively highlighted the impact of the project: 48 (100%) preferred virtual to in-person MTB, 44 (91%) were satisfied ofthe quality of clinical information;46 (96%) on equity of care;42 (88%) on collaboration among specialists;42 (88%) on method standardizationand 37 (77%) on data security, tracking, storage, and availability.Conclusions: vMTB represents a unique opportunity to optimize multidisciplinary patient management. Our experience shows a rapid adaptation of physicians to vMTB. However, legal and technical issues remain fields of concern and must be carefully checked. Acknowledgments: Thanks to the GSTU foundation for Technical and Editing support
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic and its related restrictions have caused a great impact on the global economy and mental health, with short- and long-term effects on parents' and children's well-being. International research has reported that the psychopathological impact of COVID-19 on parents may lead to higher levels of children's emotionalbehavioral symptoms. An increase in parenting stress and a worse quality of couple adjustment has also been reported. However, no study has yet explored the possible complex interplay between the psychological impact of COVID-19 on parents, couple adjustment, parenting stress, and children's emotional-behavioral problems. During the second wave of COVID-19, we recruited N=126 parents (56.6% mothers) with school-aged children aged 5-11 years (M=7.68;SD=2.14) via an online survey. We assessed psychological distress due to COVID-19 in parents, parenting stress, dyadic adjustment, and children's emotional-behavioral functioning through self-report and report-form instruments. Results showed significant associations between parents' psychological distress both with parenting stress, dyadic adjustment, and children's emotional and conduct problems. Moreover, dyadic adjustment and parenting stress serial mediated the relationship between psychological distress due to COVID-19 and children's emotional and conduct problems. These findings have important clinical implications on the planning of prevention programs aimed at promoting children's well-being in the family. © 2020 Institute for Transport Studies in the European Economic Integration. All rights reserved.