Analysis of social and psychological factors influencing the treatment of patients with chronic kidney disease under the regular epidemic prevention and control of coronavirus disease 2019.

Objective To explore the sociodemographic and psychological factors influencing the continuity of treatment of patients with chronic kidney disease under the regular epidemic prevention and control of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods A total of 277 patients with chronic kidney disease who were admitted to Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Second Military Medical University) from Apr. 2020 to Mar. 2021 were enrolled and divided into 3 groups: non-dialysis group (n=102), hemodialysis (HD) group (n=108), and peritoneal dialysis (PD) group (n=67). All patients were investigated by online and offline questionnaires, including self-designed basic situation questionnaire, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), and self-rating depression scale (SDS). The general sociodemographic data, anxiety and depression of the 3 groups were compared, and the influence of sociodemographic and psychological factors on the interruption or delay of treatment was analyzed by binary logistic regression model. Results There were significant differences in age distribution, marital status, occupation, medical insurance type, caregiver type, whether there was an urgent need for hospitalization and whether treatment was delayed or interrupted among the 3 groups (all P0.05). The average SAS score of 65 PD patients was 38.15+/-15.83, including 53 (81.5%) patients without anxiety, 7 (10.8%) patients with mild anxiety, and 5 (7.7%) patients with moderate to severe anxiety. The average SAS score of 104 patients in the HD group was 36.86+/-14.03, including 81 (77.9%) patients without anxiety, 18 (17.3%) patients with mild anxiety, and 5 (4.8%) patients with moderate to severe anxiety. There were no significant differences in the mean score of SAS or anxiety severity grading between the 2 groups (both P0.05). The mean SDS scores of 65 PD patients were 53.42+/-13.30, including 22 (33.8%) patients without depression, 21 (32.3%) patients with mild depression, and 22 (33.8%) patients with moderate to severe depression. The mean SDS scores of 104 patients in the HD group were 50.79+/-10.76, including 36 (34.6%) patients without depression, 56 (53.8%) patients with mild depression, and 12 (11.6%) patients with moderate to severe depression. There were no significant differences in mean SDS scores or depression severity grading between the 2 groups (both P0.05). The results of intra-group comparison showed that the incidence and severity of depression were higher than those of anxiety in both groups. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis showed that high school education level (odds ratio OR=5.618, 95% confidence interval CI) 2.136-14.776, P0.01), and unmarried (OR=6.916, 95% CI 1.441-33.185, P=0.016), divorced (OR= 5.588, 95% CI 1.442-21.664, P=0.013), urgent need for hospitalization (OR=8.655, 95% CI 3.847-19.476, P0.01) could positively promote the continuity of treatment in maintenance dialysis patients under the regular epidemic prevention and control of COVID-19. In the non-dialysis group, no sociodemographic and psychological factors were found to be associated with the interruption or delay of treatment (P0.05). Conclusion Education, marital status, and urgent need for hospitalization are correlated with the continuity of treatment in patients with chronic kidney disease on maintenance dialysis.Copyright © 2022, Second Military Medical University Press. All rights reserved.

Being a product consumer during the COVID-19 pandemic: profile of the Polish consumer in the organic dairy market

PurposeThe purpose of this paper was to determine the profile of dairy product consumers in the organic market.Design/methodology/approachThe study was based on a survey questionnaire developed by the author and administered to a total of 1,108 respondents. The statistical analysis (including descriptive statistics, the analysis of the discriminative function and the Chi2 test was performed with the use of Statistica 13.1 PL. The respondents' gender was the factor behind the differences in how they behaved.FindingsThe consumers indicated the channels they rely upon to find information on organic dairy products;in addition to trusting the opinions of their family members and experts, they also use web platforms. Further, they specified their preferred locations for buying favorite products during the pandemic: specialized organic food shops, large distribution chains and online stores.Practical implicationsThese outcomes will help in identifying target consumer segments and information channels for specific information and advertising messages. They also form an important resource for developing some potential strategies which the supply chain stakeholders could implement to promote organic consumption of dairy products.Originality/valueThis study identifies consumers' preferred dairy products;motives for purchasing organic dairy products;barriers that consumers believe exist in the market;sources of knowledge about products purchased by consumers;and consumers' preferred channels for purchasing organic dairy products. To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first study of dairy product consumers in the organic market in Poland.

HOLISTIC APPROACH IN THE ASSESSMENT OF THE RELAPSE OF DEPRESSIVE AND ANXIETY DISORDERS DURING COVID-19.

The aim of the current study was to assess the influence of the first wave of COVID-19 (March- June 2020) on individuals with depression and anxiety, evaluating the impact of different groups of factors in a complex (holistic) manner. Material(s) and Method(s): The study is cross-sectional, including outpatients with depressive and anxiety disorders in remission (n = 60), outpatients in relapse (n = 65), a group of healthy controls (n = 30), and a control group with relatives of the patients with depression and anxiety (n = 30) for the period July-October 2020. Socio-demographic factors, the presence of somatic comorbidity and risk factors related to it, and the need for medical care during the first COVID wave were analyzed. Result(s): Patients with deteriorated anxiety disorders have a significantly lower educational status (p < 0.001) in comparison to the other groups. Individuals with deteriorated major depressive disorder and controls-relatives have significantly more somatic comorbidity compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05). Individuals with anxiety disorders do not differ from healthy controls on this measure. Visits to medical specialists in those with worsening depression increased during the analyzed period but were comparable to the control groups. In persons with anxiety - worsened or in remission, there is a significant increase in this indicator compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05). Conclusion(s): In the conditions of the first COVIDwave, individuals with worsened depression, as well as relatives of anxious and depressed patients have significantly more somatic problems compared to healthy controls. However, individuals with anxiety but not depression seek significantly more healthcare consultations, despite the isolation. The holistic approach implies a complex assessment of somatic and mental comorbidity and the need for additional knowledge and resources in the service of persons with anxiety and depression, although there is relatively easy access to consultation care in our country.Copyright © 2023, Central Medical Library Medical University - Sofia. All rights reserved.

The Syrian refugee life study: first glance

This paper presents descriptive statistics from the first wave of the Syrian Refugee Life Study (S-RLS), which began in 2020. S-RLS is a longitudinal study that tracks a representative sample of approximately 2,500 registered Syrian refugee households in Jordan. It collects comprehensive data on sociodemographic variables, health and well-being, preferences, social capital, attitudes, and safety and crime perceptions. We use these data to document sociodemographic characteristics of Syrian refugees in Jordan and compare them to representative populations in the 2016 Jordan Labor Market Panel Survey (JLMPS). Our findings point to lags in basic service access, housing quality, and educational attainment for Syrian refugees relative to non-refugees. The impacts of the pandemic may partially explain these disparities. The data also show that most Syrian refugees have not recovered economically after Covid-19 and have larger gender disparities in income, employment, prevalence of child marriage, and gender attitudes than their non-refugee counterparts. Finally, mental health problems were common for Syrian refugees in 2020, with depression indicated among more than 45 per cent of the phone survey sample and 61 per cent of the in-person survey sample. © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press.

Factors associated with health outcomes among the uninsured population

The United States health care system lacks uniform and universal health coverage, causing approximately 10% of the population to be without health insurance, a critical determinant of health care access. Safety net organizations, including free clinics, provide free and/or reduced health care services to sociodemographic disadvantaged individuals. Despite concerns about the uninsured population, free clinic patients have not been sufficiently studied. This dissertation was designed to address this gap by adding to the literature and was designed around three empirical chapters utilizing mixed methodology.The first study used cross-sectional primary data to examine the differences between perceived and physiological stress levels and the effect of a social support network among uninsured free clinic patients. Findings suggest that higher levels of perceived stress are not significantly more prevalent than higher levels of salivary cortisol among these populations. Higher levels of social networking are significantly associated with lower perceived stress levels;having more friends than family members is slightly more associated with lower levels of perceived. However, social support and networking was not significantly associated with patients' salivary morning cortisol levels.The second study utilized a qualitative approach regarding COVID-19 vaccine perception and hesitancy among uninsured free clinic patients. Social networks are found to be important factors in reducing vaccine hesitancy. Hesitant patients had concerns related to vaccines' safety, effectiveness, and side effects. Lack of valid and reliable COVID-19 vaccination information was a challenge among this study's participants.The third study also utilized cross-sectional primary data to examine whether certain factors, including the component of patient-centeredness, are associated with patient autonomy among these populations. Findings conclude that Spanish speaking patients at the free clinic have a stronger belief in a paternalist model of the provider-patient relationship. Better communication between patients and providers results in higher levels of autonomy. Higher levels of educational attainment and better communication partnership were associated with higher levels of a free clinic patient's understanding of treatment risks.In conclusion, this dissertation's focus was to understand characteristics of an uninsured population to help develop strategies and intervention on changing behaviors, providing information that leads to their better health outcome. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Food Insecurity and COVID-19 Diagnosis: Findings from a National United States Sample

This study explores the association between experiencing food insecurity and COVID-19 diagnosis in the United States, and what sociodemographic characteristics moderate this relationship. We analyzed a national sample of adults in the United States (n = 6,475). Multiple logistic regression results revealed respondents experiencing food insecurity had an approximately 3.0 times significantly higher odds of a positive COVID-19 diagnosis (odds ratio [OR] = 2.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.38-6.32, p < 0.01), which remained significant after adjusting for sociodemographics and COVID-19 mitigation behaviors (OR = 2.59, 95% CI = 1.09-6.18, p < 0.05). Age group had a significant moderating effect (OR = 42.55, 95% CI = 3.13-579.15, p < 0.01). Results indicate experiencing food insecurity is associated with contracting COVID-19.Copyright © 2022 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Dynamic modelling of changes in emotional and behavioural problems in children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic

Aims: Children and adolescents were affected in various ways by the measures due to COVID-19 pandemic. The aims of this study were to investigate and compare the effects on mental health across age, to identify latent class trajectories of emotional and behavioural problems over 12-months and to examine the association of classes of trajectories with baseline demographic and clinical predictors. Method(s): Children (n = 1854) and adolescents (n = 1243) from the general population were assessed baseline, at 6-, 9-, and 12-month follow-up. They were eligible if they were residents in Austria, Germany, or Switzerland, were parents/caregivers of a child aged between 7 and 10 years or adolescents >=11 years, had sufficient German language skills and provided informed consent. Results and Conclusion(s): Significant age-effects were found regarding type and frequency of problems. While children had the largest increase in aggressive behaviours, adolescents reported the largest increase in emotional problems. Sociodemographic variables, exposure to and appraisal of COVID-19, psychotherapy before COVID-19 and parental mental health significantly predicted change in problemscores (F >= 3.69, p <= .001). Using growth mixture modelling, a oneclass solution was detected for the trajectory of aggressive behaviours and a two- and three-class solution for withdrawn/depression and anxiety/depression. A substantial proportion of children and adolescents experienced age-related mental health problems during the different stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. These results suggest that psychological problems of specific sub-groups should be monitored over the longer-term and interventions to improve communication, emotion regulation, and appraisal style should be offered to risk groups.

Implementation of seasonal differences and sociodemographic factors on the achievement of agribusiness MSME output in the Bengawan Solo Wonogiri Watershed

The socioeconomic characteristics of the community in the Bengawan Solo Hulu watershed allow the agribusiness MSMEs business process to occur in production and significantly impact aspects of socioeconomic life. The limited reliable sources of income will affect the community's tendency to repressive actions. The purpose of the study is (1) to determine the sociodemographic conditions of agribusiness MSME households, (2) to determine the effect of the season on the achievement of agribusiness MSME output, and (3) to find out the solutions of Agribusiness MSMEs. The research method used was a survey on Agribusiness MSMEs by taking locations in 2 Sub-watershed, Alangunggahan Sub-Watershed (Eramoko District) and Keduang Sub-Watershed (Jatipurno District and Jatisrono District) with a total sample of 60 MSMEs. The analysis used is the input-output analysis and Econometric analysis. The results showed that the R2 value was 87.14%, the F test was significant at 95%, and all sociodemographic variables were significant except the age factor of Agribusiness MSME actors. There is a significant seasonal difference in the achievement of agribusiness MSME output. This phenomenon indicates that post-Covid, efforts have risen from the Covid 19, and seasonal differences are considered in decision-making efforts to increase output achievements in the Agribusiness MSME.

Depression among physicians in a government designated COVID-center hospital during coronavirus disease-19 pandemic

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence, most common symptoms and sociodemographic factors associated with depression among physicians in a government COVID-Center in Davao City, Philippines. Methodology: This cross-sectional study collected data from resident physicians from July to August 2020. Result(s): Two hundred fifty-one (251) out of 376 physicians responded (68.39% response rate). The average age was 30 years old, majority were female (58.57%, 147), single (78.88%, 198), frontline workers (77.29%, 194), with average hospital experience of 2.0 years. Ninety-six (38.26%) were assigned in surgical departments while 155 (61.75%) worked in nonsurgical departments. There were twelve respondents (4.78%) who had a history of psychiatric illness and 31 (12.35%) had previous psychiatric intervention, while 66 (26.29%) had a history of medical illness. Eighty-five (33.86%) had depression using PHQ-9;57 (22.71%) as mild, 19 (7.57%) moderate, 7 (2.79%) moderately severe and 2 (0.8%) severe. Out of 85 residents who were depressed, the most common symptoms were: low energy (81, 95.29%);anhedonia (76, 89.41%);and feeling depressed (72, 84.70%). Medical illness was associated with higher levels of depression. Physicians with a history of psychiatric illness, psychiatric intervention and medical illness had significantly higher levels of depression. Conclusion(s): More than a third (33.86%) of physicians screened positive for depression. Current mental health programs must be strengthened and made specific, to prevent and address depression especially among those who have a history of psychiatric and medical illness.Copyright © 2023

A study on mental distress among the undergraduate students of medical college, Kolkata

The World Health Organization defines Mental Health as "a state of well-being in which every individual realizes (their) own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to (their) community." [8,9] According to a study conducted by National Council for Mental Health in India, at least 6.5% of the nation's population are suffering from some form of mental disorder, with no detectable urbanrural differences. Overall mental distress of medical students is significantly higher than that of general population and it may impact their academic performance/14,15 In a study titled "Stress, anxiety, and depression among medical undergraduate students and their socio-demographic correlates" published in Indian journal of medical research, VoL 141, March, 2015, more than 50% of the respondents, who were the MBBS students from Institute of Medical Sciences at Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, were affected by depression (51.3%), anxiety (66.9%) and stress (53%). With this background, we undertook this study among the undergraduate students of Medical College, Kolkata with the objectives of finding out socio-demographic, behavioral and academic profile of the undergraduate medical students of Medical College, Kolkata, to estimate the proportion of different types of mental distress among them, and to examine relationship of mental distress with sociodemographic, behavioral, and academic profile.

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Health Literacy in US Southern States

The following are the highlights of our study: * Vaccine hesitancy in Southern states is complex and extends beyond health literacy. * Vaccine hesitancy in Southern states transcends many sociodemographic differences. * Effective public health communication should be unambiguous about negative externalities of COVID-19 beyond individual threats. _____ The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 remains a public health crisis, accounting for more than 100 million confirmed cases with more than 1,121,800 deaths in the United States as of April 26, 2023.1 Despite widespread vaccination efforts by the US government and public health leadership, the rate of vaccine uptake is still far from desirable, as researchers estimate that about 70% to 85% of the country will need to be immunized before SARS-CoV-2 can be fully contained through herd immunity.2 As of April 19, 2023, about 81% of the US population had received at least 1 dose, whereas 69.4% had completed a full primary vaccine series and only 16.7% had received an updated bivalent booster, with variations in the rate of vaccination across states and regions.3 The Southern states (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia) have relatively lower rates of full vaccination (primary series) compared with other states (mean of 61.3%, ranging from 53.2% in Alabama to 79.9% in Maryland);6 Southern states rank among the 10 states with the lowest fully vaccinated rates in the nation.3 The predominant barrier to uptake has been vaccine hesitancy,4-9 defined as the intention to delay or refuse taking vaccinations despite availability and accessibility.10,11 It may be influenced by complex contextual factors, ranging from individual and group factors to vaccine-specific characteristics.10 In particular, individual factors may be related to health literacy (HL),12 which is the degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others.13 HL is a phenomenon that involves individuals, families, communities, and systems, and it could be implicated in the level of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.5 Although HL is a major determinant of individuals' health behaviors,14 a systematic review study reported that HL's relationship with vaccination uptake prior to the COVID-19 pandemic was unclear because of variations in assessment tools, target populations, and outcome measures across available limited studies.15 Evidence suggests a relationship between HL and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.12,16,17 In the United States, a study among women recently released from jails found that low HL is related to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.16 Similarly, a study in Turkey found that low HL and a high perception of health care system distrust are associated with higher vaccine hesitancy.17 A study in China found that higher HL is associated with low likelihood of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, and the effect was moderated by stress.12 Overall, to the best of our knowledge, no study has examined the association between HL and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in populations with low vaccine uptake within the United States, including those residing in the Southern states, which served as the impetus for this study.18,19 This study aimed to estimate the level of HL among a population residing in Southern states and its association with vaccine hesitancy. Nearly 20% of the United States population had still not received a single dose of COVID-19 vaccine as of April 26, 2023, despite increases in both vaccine availability and individual eligibility over the previous 2 years.20 The observed trends in overall and region-specific COVID-19 cases and rates of vaccination in the United States demonstrate the need to examine the impact of HL on vaccine hesitancy in the Southern states, especially with the release of simplified eligibility guidelines and expanded booster recommendations.21 METHODS Participants This study included adults 18 years and older. Upon receiving institutional review board (IRB) approval from East Tennessee State University (IRB No. c0221.22e), a cross-sectional study was initiated. Race/ethnicity was collected as: (1) Asian or Pacific Islander, (2) Black or African American, (3) Hispanic/Latino, (4) Native American or Alaskan Native, (5) non-Hispanic White, (6) biracial or multicultural, and (7) race/ethnicity not listed here. Because of small sample sizes for non-White racial/ethnic groups in the study population, race/ethnicity was recoded as non-Hispanic White and other.

Alcohol consumption among adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic, ConVid Adolescents - Behavior Research

Objective: To describe the prevalence of alcohol consumption before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and to analyze the factors associated with this behavior during the period of social distancing among Brazilian adolescents. Method(s): Cross-sectional study using data from the ConVid Adolescents survey, carried out via the Internet between June and September 2020. The prevalence of alcohol consumption before and during the pandemic, as well as association with sociodemographic variables, mental health, and lifestyle were estimated. A logistic regression model was used to assess associated factors. Result(s): 9,470 adolescents were evaluated. Alcohol consumption decreased from 17.70% (95%CI 16.64-18.85) before the pandemic to 12.80% (95%CI 11.85-13.76) during the pandemic. Alcohol consumption was associated with the age group of 16 and 17 years (OR=2.9;95%CI 1.08-1.53), place of residence in the South (OR=1.82;95%CI 1.46-2.27) and Southeast regions (OR=1.33;95%CI 1.05-1.69), having three or more close friends (OR=1.78;95%CI 1.25-2.53), reporting worsening sleep problems during the pandemic (OR=1.59;95%CI 1.20-2.11), feeling sad sometimes (OR=1,83;95%CI 1,40-2,38) and always (OR=2.27;95%CI 1.70-3.05), feeling always irritated (OR=1,60;95%CI 1,14-2,25), being a smoker (OR=13,74;95%CI 8.63-21.87) and a passive smoker (OR=1.76;95%CI 1.42-2.19). Strict adherence to social distancing was associated with lower alcohol consumption (OR=0.40;95%CI 0.32-0.49). Conclusion(s): The COVID-19 pandemic led to a decrease in consumption of alcoholic beverages by Brazilian adolescents, which was influenced by sociodemographic and mental health factors, adherence to social restriction measures and lifestyle in this period. Managers, educators, family and the society must be involved in the articulation of Public Policies to prevent alcohol consumption.Copyright © 2023 A Epidemio e uma publicacao da Associacao Brasileira de Saude Coletiva-ABRASCO.

Mental health parameters of adolescents during COVID-19 Pandemic, an era of compulsory online education in India

Background: COVID-19-Pandemic Lockdowns initiated online teaching-learning in India. We aimed to assess mental health (MH) of adolescents studying online for academic milestone of matriculation during these circumstances. Material(s) and Method(s): It was a cross sectional study carried out in Western Maharashtra, during 2021. MH of study subjects was assessed by presence and severity of symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress (DAS) and emotional intelligence (EI). They were measured by DAS Scale-42 (DASS-42) and Schutte's self-report EI test (SET) respectively with collection of socio-demographic information maintaining confidentiality. Data were analysed by SPSS-20 software. MH parameters were compared with pre-pandemic pilot and other studies to study effect of online education and overall COVID-19 Pandemic scenario on MH of study subjects. Result(s): Total 1162 adolescents participated, out of which 59 were omitted from the analysis due to incomplete data. Out of remaining 1103 participants, 43% boys & 57 % girls with the mean age of 14.69 (+0.78) years. Majority of them belonged to middle socio-economic-status. Mean DAS and EI scores denoted mild anxiety with no evidence of depression and stress. Mean EI score was in normal range. Mean DAS scores were significantly lower and mean EI score was significantly higher than reported in -pandemic pilot and other studies. Conclusion(s): MH derangement of matriculating adolescents during COVID-19- Pandemic with online education seemed to be less severe than that was in pre-pandemic times with in-class education. Recommendations: MH support at schools needs to be strengthened. During the post-COVID-19 period, online school education may be continued in LMIC like India on the basis of willingness of students and parents but with caution and understanding of socio-cultural background and support.Copyright © 2022 Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.

The effect of COVID-19 pandemic on depression and suicidal ideation in Korean community dwelling elderly

Aims: The impacts of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on mental health have been relatively severe. This study examined the influence of the COVID-19 especially on depression and suicidal ideation in community-dwelling elderly in Korea. Method(s): Data were employed from a survey on elderly mental health in Jeollanam-do (southwest province in Korea). A total of 2423 elderlies were recruited from 22 counties in Jeollanam-do between April and October 2021. We used self-reported questionnaires, including sociodemographic factors, COVID-19 related stress, suicidal ideation, Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form Korean Version (GDS-SF). Logistic regression was performed to examine the factors on depression and suicidal ideation. Result(s): Of the 2423 subjects, 622 (25.7%) reported depressive symptoms and 518 (21.4%) reported suicidal ideation. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that living alone, poor perceived health status, the worry of COVID-19 infection and restriction of daily activity due to COVID-19 pandemic were significantly associated with depression. Male sex, poor perceived health status, disability in house chores and depressive symptom are risk factors for suicidal ideation. Conclusion(s): These findings showed that increased risk factor for depression and suicidal ideation in community dwelling elderly during COVID-19 pandemic. We confirmed that feelings of isolation and negative perception of health were risk factors on depression in community dwelling elderly in the context of the COVID -19 pandemic. Also male, poor self-perceived health status, difficulty of independent living and worry and depression are increased the risk of suicidal ideation among the elderly.

Health-related quality of life in long COVID-19 in context of symptom type

Aim: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is complex multisystem disease. After 4 weeks of persistent symptoms, it is termed as Long COVID-19. Long COVID-19 causes a decrease in health-related quality of life (HRQoL). In this study, it was aimed to determine which symptoms were associated with lower HRQoL in Long COVID-19 in this study. Material(s) and Method(s): This cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary research hospital. Patients who have positive RT-PCR results at least 28 days and at most 180 days ago were selected for the study. Online survey was applied to 266 patients who had positive PCR test results for COVID-19. The EuroQoL 5D-3L scale was used to measure the HRQoL as a dependent variable. Socio-demographic features and symptoms were assessed by the survey as independent variables. Due to heteroscedasticity, a robust standard error regression analysis was conducted to make inferences on the effects of persistent symptoms on HRQoL. Result(s): Of the total 266 participants, 163 were females (63.3%). The mean age was 41.2 +/- 11.8 years. One hundred forty-two patients (53.3%) did not report any ongoing symptom. Female gender and lower education level as socio-demographic variables, visual problems and myalgia as persistent symptoms were identified as risk factors for reduced HRQoL in Long COVID-19 patients. Discussion(s): Long COVID-19 patients experience lower levels of HRQoL, especially those with visual problems and/or myalgia. Interventions to raise the HRQoL of Long COVID-19 patients should first target visual problems and myalgia.Copyright © 2023, Derman Medical Publishing. All rights reserved.

Serological Profile of SARS-CoV-2 in Unvaccinated Blood Donors: A Nationwide Study During the Fifth Wave of the Pandemic in Iran

Background: Serological studies can demonstrate pathogen circulation in regional populations and reflect public health mea-sures' effectiveness during different pandemic phases. By late November 2021, coinciding with the third pandemic wave, the sero-prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG antibodies among the Iranian population was 32.63%. Objective(s): This study aimed to assess the Iranian population's seroprevalence during the fifth pandemic wave by analyzing donated blood samples. Method(s): This population-based cross-sectional study was conducted on Iranian blood donors referred to all 31 main provincial capitals between August 2021 and September 2021. The participants selected through quota sampling were asked to complete a questionnaire on socio-demographics and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related information. Also, SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG antibodies were measured in serum samples using SARS-CoV-2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. The seroprevalence was weighted based on the gender and age groups of the population and then adjusted for test performance. Result(s): Totally 3,339 blood donors participated in this study. The overall population-weighted seroprevalence adjusted for test performance was 52.67% (95% confidence interval (CI): 50.14-55.21). Seroprevalence was higher among participants with a high school diploma (55.45%, 95% CI 50.61-60.29), a positive history of close contact with COVID-19 patients (65.23%, 95% CI 60.83-69.63), and previous positive COVID-19 PCR tests (86.51%, 95% CI 82.32-90.7). Conclusion(s): More than half of the study population was exposed to SARS-CoV-2, indicating a 1.7-fold increase in the seroprevalence between late November 2020 and mid-September 2021. Our finding illuminated the pattern of Iran's fifth wave of the pandemic.Copyright © 2023, Author(s).

The Impact of Prenatal Maternal Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Birth Outcomes: A Study within CONCEPTION Cohort

Background: External natural events, such as hurricanes, floods, and the COVID-19 pandemic can contribute to increased populational stress, especially for pregnant persons. Exposure to crises can produce short- and longterm health effects on pregnant persons and their offspring. There has been much interest in the association between maternal depression, anxiety, and stress during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes such as preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW), before and since the COVID-19 pandemic, however results are controversial. Objective(s): Assess the association between prenatal mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and preterm birth (delivery <37 weeks gestation) and low birthweight (<2,500 grams). Method(s): Pregnant individuals, >18 years, were recruited in Canada and provided data through a web-based questionnaire. We analyzed data on persons recruited between 06/2020-08/2021 who completed questionnaires while pregnant and two months post-partum. Data on maternal sociodemographics, comorbidities, medication use, mental health (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, General Anxiety Disorder-7, stress), pandemic hardship (CONCEPTION - Assessment of Stress from COVID-19), and on gestational age at delivery and birth weight, were selfreported. Crude and adjusted relative risks (aRR) with 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were calculated to quantify the association between PTB/LBW and maternal mental health. Result(s): A total of 1,265 and 1,233 participants were included in the analyses of PTB and LBW, respectively. No associations between PTB and prenatal mental health (depression [aRR 1.01, 95%CI 0.91-1.11], anxiety [aRR 1.04, 95%CI 0.93-1.17], stress [aRR 0.88, 95%CI 0.71-1.10], nor hardship [aRR 1.00, 95%CI 0.96-1.04]) after adjusting for potential confounders. The risk of PTB was increased with nonwhite ethnicity/race (aRR 3.85, 95%CI 1.35-11.00), consistently with the literature. Similar findings were observed for LBW (depression [aRR 1.03, 95%CI 0.96- 1.13], anxiety [aRR 1.05, 95%CI 0.95-1.17], COVID stress [aRR 0.92, 95%CI 0.77-1.09], or overall hardship [aRR 0.97, 95%CI 0.94-1.01]). Conclusion(s): No association was found between prenatal mental health nor hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic and the risk of PTB or LBW. However, it is imperative to continue the follow-up of mothers and their offspring to detect long-term health problems early.

Oral cancer knowledge in adults evaluated through a phone survey in the context of SARS-COV2 pandemic

Introduction: Oral cancer is Colombia's 8th most common cancer, with an estimated survival rate of 52%. Lack of knowledge and awareness about oral cancer and its risk factors is associated with a delay in diagnosis. Objective(s): To evaluate adults' oral cancer knowledge through a phone survey in the context of the SARS-COV2 pandemic. Material(s) and Method(s): A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted by phone during the COVID-19 pandemic on 268 patients attending at the dental school of Universidad de Antioquia, years 2020-2021. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software. Result(s): The mean age was 58.9 years. 58.6% of participants had heard about oral cancer. social media was the primary source of information for 42% of participants, and 96.7% considered the screening important. Most patients did not feel worried (54.5%), fearful (59.7%), or anxious (56.3%) in case they were submitted to a screening for early detection of oral cancer. Lower socioeconomic status and educational level are correlated with lower awareness of oral cancer. The dimensions of experience and attitude towards screening were not associated with sociodemographic variables. Conclusion(s): The knowledge of oral cancer is still poor and is related to low socioeconomic and educational levels. However, this association was not observed in the attitude and experience dimensions toward screening for oral cancer. Therefore, there seems to be a need for more educational programs about knowledge of oral cancer, especially in socially disadvantaged groups, considering that there are no barriers related to screening.

Intravenous Thrombolysis for Acute Ischemic Stroke during COVID-19 Pandemic in Srinagarind Hospital

Background: Stroke is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. In COVID-19 pandemic, stroke remains to be a medical emergency. To treat patients with acute ischemic stroke [AIS], early intravenous thrombolysis is highly time sensitive. This research investigated the impact of regionally imposed social and healthcare restrictions of COVID-19 on the time metrics in the management of AIS patients admitted at the stroke unit center in Srinagarind Hospital. Objective(s): Comparison of door to needle time for intravenous thrombolysis for AIS patients before and after the COVID-19 outbreak. Material(s) and Method(s): The present study is a retrospective analysis of patients with AIS who received intravenous tissue plasminogen activator [tPA] from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2020 in Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen. The patients admitted before and after the COVID-19 outbreak [January 13, 2020, as officially announced by the World Health Organization] were screened to collect sociodemographic data, medical history information, and symptom onset status from clinical medical records and to compared door-to-needle time (DNT) for intravenous thrombolysis before and after the outbreak. Result(s): A total of 239 patients were included, of which 113 were enrolled before and 126 after the COVID-19 outbreak. According to the findings, DNT is 35.3 minutes before the pandemic and 35.8 minutes after the epidemic. Conclusion(s): COVID-19 has remarkable impacts on the management of AIS. However, DNT for before and after COVID-19 outbreak is nearly identical. It was established that administering intravenous thrombolysis to patients in the emergency room rather than the stroke unit allowed for speedier access. Therefore, a policy which provides quick AIS treatments in COVID-19 situations should be implemented.Copyright © 2023 Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand.

Urban restaurants and online food delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic: a spatial and socio-demographic analysis

In this research, we analyzed the delivery service areas of restaurants, customer satisfaction, and restaurant sales of urban restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic. We obtained the datasets on food ordering options and restaurant rankings based on Google Maps, Open Street Map, and widely known online food order applications in Iran. Based on this analysis we further modeled suitable areas for future extension of restaurants. We analyzed the online food order data of restaurants' sales and food delivery reports for 1050 restaurants in the city of Tabriz. We collected and analyzed data on the restaurant locations, the number of food orders for each restaurant, and the number of customers and their locations. Our results revealed that the spatial dimension of the newly emerging food delivery areas is of utmost importance for the success of restaurants. This indicates that an optimal location is not longer only dependent on factors like population density and competitors in the direct vicinity but on the services density even from more distant competitors. The results indicate that an optimized spatial distribution of the restaurants together with efficient quality in services can contribute to optimistic urban development. © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.