Evaluation of psychosocial status and nutritional awareness in municipal employees during the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 emerged in China in December 2019 as a disease spreading from person to person by rapid droplet transmission, and which eventually evolved into a pandemic. Aim: This study aims to examine the psychosocial state, nutritional awareness, and physical activity level of municipal employees who provided services under changing working conditions during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Methods: A total of 220 employees working in two different municipalities in Istanbul were included in this study during March and April of 2021. For data collection, a questionnaire form was used. The form consisted of questions about the demographics and nutritional awareness of individuals, the Coronavirus-19 Phobia Scale, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (short form). Results: The mean total coronaphobia score was 51.08 ± 14.47 with the mean score for women being significantly higher than that for men (p < 0.05). The mean score obtained by the responses of participants to questions about nutritional awareness during the pandemic was significantly higher than the mean score referring to the period before the pandemic. The examination of the physical activity level of employees revealed that 62.4% of the men and 60% of the women were physically inactive during the pandemic. Conclusion: It was found that the coronaphobia scores of municipal employees during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic were at an average level, their nutritional awareness levels increased in general compared to the pre-pandemic period, and municipal employees were mostly inactive physically during the pandemic.

Covid-19 phobia in prehospital emergency medical services workers in Turkey.

Background: The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease-2019) outbreak has its social, economic, and political effects on wider society, as well as physical and mental health effects on individuals. The psychological and social impacts are more apparent and common on emergency health care workers who have close contact with patients. Aim: Our study aims to investigate coronaphobia in emergency health care workers. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in July 2020 with 253 people working under the Bingöl 112 Provincial Ambulance Service Chief of Staff. The data of the study were collected using a questionnaire including sociodemographic characteristics, working conditions, pandemic process, and the Coronavirus-19 Phobia Scale. P < .05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean total score of COVID-19 phobia in 112 employees was 58.03 ± 18.78. The sub-dimension scores are psychological 21.92 ± 6.19, somatic 10.83 ± 5.68, social 15.98 ± 5.60, and economic 9.28 ± 4.18. Psychological and social sub-dimension scores and total COVID-19 phobia score of women, the somatic sub-dimension score of married people, all sub-dimension scores, and total COVID-19 phobia score of those who had contact with COVID-19-positive patients were found to be significantly higher (P < .05). Conclusions: Close contact with patients, working conditions, and the heavy schedule of nightshifts increase psychological and social fear in emergency health care workers. It is important to provide psychosocial support to emergency health care workers during the pandemic period.

Impact of corona-phobia on attitudes and acceptance towards COVID-19 vaccine among cancer patients: a single-center study.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 phobia and related factors on attitude towards COVID-19 vaccine in cancer patients. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 300 adult patients using a validated COVID-19 Phobia Scale (C19P-S) and related survey to determine the factors affecting vaccine acceptance between May-June 2021. Results: Regarding the COVID-19 vaccine willingness, 86.7% accepted vaccination, 6.3% were hesitant and 7% refused vaccination. Patients that accepted vaccination had significantly higher C19P-S scores in general, and in psychological and psychosomatic subdivisions. Univariate analysis revealed that increased age, being retired, and being married were significantly associated with willingness to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Conclusion: The majority of patients had high 'coronophobia' levels which were associated with increased willingness for the COVID-19 vaccines. Minimizing negative attitudes towards vaccines will most likely be achieved by raising awareness in the cancer population about COVID-19 vaccine.

Plain language summary Cancer patients are considered among the privileged group for the COVID-19 vaccination. The investigators conducted a survey assessing the relationship between 'coronaphobia' and related factors and vaccine acceptance among patients with cancer. A total of 300 patients completed a questionnaire assessing the factors affecting vaccine acceptance. Most (86.7%) patients accepted vaccination and have higher levels of fear against COVID-19, while 7% refused vaccination. Patients who have increased age, are retired and married had a higher tendency to accept vaccination against COVID-19. The main reason for acceptance was the willingness to get protection, whereas the main reason for refusal was the fear of adverse effects.

The association between coronaphobia and attitude towards COVID-19 Vaccine: A sample in the east of Turkey.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the association between coronaphobia and attitude towards COVID-19 vaccine in the society. METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with snowball sampling method between December 30, 2020 and January 10, 2021. The survey form was sent online to individuals who were 18 years of age and older. 1252 individuals who responded to the surveys were included in the study. The data were collected by using "Descriptive Information Form", "Attitudes towards the Covid-19 vaccine scale" and "Coronavirus 19 Phobia Scale (CP19-S)". Descriptive statistics and Pearson Correlation analysis were used in the evaluation of data. RESULTS: In the study, it was found that the participants had a mean ATV-COVID-19 scale positive attitude sub-dimension score of 2.81±1.04, while they had a mean negative attitude sub-dimension score of 2.95±0.78 and a mean total score of 2.89±0.78. It was found that the participants had a mean C19P-S psychological sub-dimension score of 21.03±5.36, a mean psychosomatic sub-dimension score of 10.30±4.11, a mean social sub-dimension score of 15.04±4.71, a mean economic sub-dimension score of 8.89±3.46 and a mean total scale score of 55.28±15.00. It was found in the study that there was a positive association between the participants' C19P-S and social sub-dimension and ATV-COVID-19 and positive attitude sub-dimension, while there was a negative association between ATV-COVID-19 and negative attitude sub-dimension (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It was found that the participants had a moderate level of coronavirus phobia and positive attitudes towards the vaccine. It was found that positive attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccine increased as the coronavirus phobia increased.