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Background As the most basic unit of infectious disease prevention and control，community health service institutions are the frontline and important gateway for the prevention and control of infectious disease. Primary care physicians are responsible for epidemic surveillance，vaccination，health promotion and assistance to centers for disease control in investigating and disposing outbreaks and public health emergencies in their districts，and play an active role in disease prevention and control by groups，susceptible population protection，infectious source control and health education，as well as the effective prevention and control of infectious diseases. Objective To understand the ability of primary care physicians to diagnose and treat infectious diseases in the community，analyse their existing problems and shortcomings，design and conduct a series of intensive training related to infectious diseases for improving the capacity of infectious disease prevention and control at the primary level；To evaluate the effectiveness of online continuing medical education，so as to provide a reference for better continuing medical education on infectious diseases in the community. Methods All participants of the National Community Infectious Diseases Continuing Education Conference held by the Department of Family Medicine of the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital in November 2021 were selected as research subjects from November 2021 to March 2022. The questionnaires were distributed to all registered attendees before and after the conference through the QR code of the questionnaire star，and the content of pre-conference questionnaire included demographic characteristics of the participants，participation in infectious disease training in the community since started working，diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases in the community，subjective attitudes towards the prevention and control of infectious diseases in the community（willingness to manage infectious diseases in the community，satisfaction with their own infectious disease management skills），expertise in infectious disease prevention and control and knowledge related to conference content，attitude towards hepatitis B. The content of the post-conference questionnaire mainly included knowledge about the content of conference，attitude towards hepatitis B and satisfaction survey of this online conference. A total of 301 primary care physicians completed the questionnaire before and after the conference，and a total of 194 completed the questionnaire before and after the conference. Results Among all participants，166 （55.1%） had attended infectious disease training in the community，of whom 49（29.5%） were satisfied with their infectious disease diagnosis and treatment ability；135（44.8%） had not attended the training，of whom 22（16.3%） were satisfied with their infectious disease diagnosis and treatment ability. 143（86.1 %） of 166 participants who had attended infectious disease training in the community indicated their willingness to manage community infectious diseases，99（73.3%） of 135 participants who had not attended infectious disease training in the community indicated their willingness to manage community infectious diseases. 66（27.3%） of participants who were satisfied with their infectious disease diagnosis and treatment ability indicated their willingness to manage community infectious diseases. The top three infectious disease tests conducted by the institutions were hepatitis B，AIDS，and hepatitis C；the top three infectious diseases treated in the past six months were hepatitis B，influenza，hand，foot and mouth disease. Different self-evaluation and willingness to train may affect the willingness to manage community infectious diseases（P<0.05）. Among the participants who completed the questionnaire both before and after the conference，the highest correct answer rate for compulsory management of statutory infectious diseases before the conference was 89.7%，the owest accuracy rate for the type of disinfection of the COVID-19 infection was only 17.0%，the correct rates of other questions ranged from 34.0% to 40.7%. The correct rates of the questions after the conference were higher than those before the conference，and the correct rates ranged from 48.9% to 52.6%. The score of attitude towards hepatitis B after the conference was higher than that before the conference （P<0.05）. In terms of feedback after conference，254（98.1%） expressed satisfaction in the total of 259 questionnaires. In terms of suggestions for online conference，179（69.1%） and 174（67.2%） participants believed that online fluency and online interaction need to be improved. Conclusion The primary care physicians receive relatively less infectious diseases training in the community，inadequate infectious diseases training in the community can improve the confidence of self-competence，attitude of active management of infectious diseases and diagnosis and treatment ability in the primary care physicians. The future direction of continuing medical education should focus on the training of emerging infectious diseases and novel medical concepts，relevant experts should be invited to comment on the necessity and effectiveness of training in the community. © 2023 Chinese General Practice. All rights reserved.
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INTRODUCTION: Anesthesiologists and intensive care specialists are considered to be an extremely vulnerable group of medical specialists, more susceptible to professional stress in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to study the severity of professional burnout syndrome (PB), quality of life (QoL) issues and psychological burben in anesthesiologists and intensive care specialists working in a multi-field hospital, as well as to determine the risk factors for PB in these specialists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Physicians completed the online survey questionnaire including MBI, WHOQOL-BREF and HADS for assessment of PB, QoL and anxiety and depression, respectively, as well as the checklists with general questions related to COVID-19. Pairwise or multiple comparisons as well as correlation and regression analyses were performed within the statistical analysis. RESULTS: The online survey involved 101 physicians (mean age 38.3 ± 9.8 years, 54.5% — females). During the pandemic, 68.3% of specialists worked in the red zone. It was demonstrated that the PB syndrome or its signs were observed 2 years after the start of the pandemic in 75% of specialists — in 27% it was formed, and in 48% its signs were revealed. Decreased levels of the main QoL domains, physical, psychological and social well-being, were observed in 1/3 of physicians. About one third of specialists had borderline or increased levels of anxiety/depression. Working in the red zone during pandemic and elevated levels of depression increase the probability of PB, and a high level of social well-being decreases it. CONCLUSIONS: For the prevention of the PB development of screening examinations are recommended on the regular basis to reveal those specialists who are at high risk of PB. The results obtained may be used to develop evidence-based practical recommendations for the prevention of PB syndrome and psychosocial disorders in anesthesiologists and intensive care specialists. © 2023, Practical Medicine Publishing House LLC. All rights reserved.
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BACKGROUND: In 2019/20 major bushfires devastated Australia's East Coast. Shortly afterward the COVID-19 pandemic was declared. Older people are disproportionately affected by disasters and are at high risk from respiratory pandemics. However, little is known about how these events impact on older peoples' health and well-being and engagement with services such as primary care. OBJECTIVE: To explore the health impacts of the 2019/20 bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic on older Australians' health and well-being. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-five people aged over 65 years living in South-eastern New South Wales, Australia participated in an online survey. The survey measured the impacts of the bushfires and COVID-19 on physical and mental health and the capacity of older people to manage these impacts. RESULTS: Most respondents felt that the bushfires caused them to feel anxious/worried (86.2%) and negatively affected their physical (59.9%) and mental (57.2%) health. While many participants had similar feelings about COVID-19, significantly fewer felt these physical and mental health impacts than from the bushfires. A significantly greater perceived level of impact was observed for females and those with health problems. More respondents described negative mental health than physical health effects. Those who felt more impacted by the events had lower levels of resilience, social connection and support, and self-rated health. CONCLUSION: The health impacts identified in this study represent an opportunity for primary care to intervene to both ensure that people with support needs are identified and provided timely support and that older people are prepared for future disasters.
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BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Despite the rapid growth of the online food delivery service market since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019, little research has focused on how consumers are using food delivery service and what they are concerned about when using food delivery service. Moreover, previous studies have not paid adequate attention to how these concerns are related to consumers' intention to use food delivery service. Therefore, our study examines behaviors and concerns regarding food delivery service and identifies the key factors in consumers' intention to use food delivery service. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Using data collected from 549 Korean consumers, we conducted descriptive analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and multiple regressions. RESULTS: We found that using food delivery service is not only for main meals at home or the office but also to meet a variety of dietary needs and occasions. The findings indicated that Korean consumers are most concerned about the sustainability of food delivery service, followed by health, hygiene, hedonic, and usability aspects of the service. Hygiene concerns and a hedonic aspect of the service were negatively associated with consumers' intention to use food delivery service among users, while health concerns decreased the intention of non-users. CONCLUSION: The findings have implications for practitioners and policy makers in food delivery service. To further propel market growth, they should help reduce health concerns of non-users, as well as hygiene and hedonic concerns of existing users.
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Objective: Patients with primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) are thought to be particularly vulnerable to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, little is known about its true impact on this group. We assessed morbidity and health promotion attitudes during the pandemic amongst a large cohort of patients with PAI. Design: Cross-sectional, single-centre study. Methods: In May 2020, COVID-19 advice on social distancing and sick-day rules was distributed to all patients with PAI registered with a large secondary/tertiary care centre. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to survey patients in early 2021. Results: Of 207 contacted patients, 162 responded (82/111 with Addison's disease, AD; 80/96 with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, CAH). Patients with AD were older than those with CAH (median age 51 vs 39 years; P < 0.001) and had more comorbidities (Charlson comorbidity index ≥2 47.6% vs 10.0%; P< 0.001). By the time of the survey, 47 patients (29.0%) had been diagnosed with COVID-19, the second commonest cause of sick-day dosing during the study and the leading trigger of adrenal crises (4/18 cases). Patients with CAH had a higher risk of COVID-19 compared to AD (adjusted odds ratio 2.53 (95% CI 1.07-6.16), P= 0.036), were less inclined to have the COVID-19 vaccine (80.0% vs 96.3%; P = 0.001), and were less likely to have undergone hydrocortisone self-injection training (80.0% vs 91.5%; P = 0.044) or wear medical alert jewellery (36.3% vs 64.6%; P = 0.001). Conclusions: COVID-19 was a principal trigger for adrenal crises and sick-day dosing in patients with PAI. Despite a higher risk of COVID-19, patients with CAH showed less engagement with self-protective attitudes. Significance statement: We conducted a cross-sectional study on a large and well-characterised group of patients with PAI and demonstrated that COVID-19 was a leading cause of morbidity during the early phases of the pandemic. Patients with AD were older and had a greater burden of comorbidity than those with CAH, including non-adrenal autoimmune disorders. However, patients with CAH were more likely to develop COVID-19 and demonstrated reduced engagement with healthcare services and health promotion strategies.
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INTRODUCTION: During the coronavirus disease 2019, pandemic clinical practice had to change, and this study trialled a diagnostic questionnaire to assess patients with dizziness over the telephone. METHODS: All 115 patients awaiting otorhinolaryngological assessment for balance were randomised to receive a dizziness questionnaire in the post prior to their telephone consultation or not. Consultation outcomes were recorded by the clinicians conducting the consultation. Follow-up data were collected in June 2022 for final outcomes. RESULTS: 82/115 patients had consultations with complete data collection: 35 in the questionnaire group (QG) and 47 in the no questionnaire group (NQG), with a 70% response rate in the QG. Clinicians made a diagnosis in 27/35 QG consultations versus 27/47 NQG consultations. Nine out of 35 QG patients required additional investigations compared to 34/47 in the NQG (p < 0.05). Only 6/35 QG patients needed additional telephone follow-up, compared to 20/47 NQG patients (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Using a diagnostic questionnaire increased clinicians' ability to come to a diagnosis in telephone consultations.
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Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) confer a significant risk of disability and poor quality of life, though fatigue, an important contributing factor, remains under-reported in these individuals. We aimed to compare and analyze differences in visual analog scale (VAS) scores (0-10 cm) for fatigue (VAS-F) in patients with IIMs, non-IIM systemic autoimmune diseases (SAIDs), and healthy controls (HCs). We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the data from the COVID-19 Vaccination in Autoimmune Diseases (COVAD) international patient self-reported e-survey. The COVAD survey was circulated from December 2020 to August 2021, and details including demographics, COVID-19 history, vaccination details, SAID details, global health, and functional status were collected from adult patients having received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose. Fatigue experienced 1 week prior to survey completion was assessed using a single-item 10 cm VAS. Determinants of fatigue were analyzed in regression models. Six thousand nine hundred and eighty-eight respondents (mean age 43.8 years, 72% female; 55% White) were included in the analysis. The overall VAS-F score was 3 (IQR 1-6). Patients with IIMs had similar fatigue scores (5, IQR 3-7) to non-IIM SAIDs [5 (IQR 2-7)], but higher compared to HCs (2, IQR 1-5; P < 0.001), regardless of disease activity. In adjusted analysis, higher VAS-F scores were seen in females (reference female; coefficient -0.17; 95%CI -0.21 to -13; P < 0.001) and Caucasians (reference Caucasians; coefficient -0.22; 95%CI -0.30 to -0.14; P < 0.001 for Asians and coefficient -0.08; 95%CI -0.13 to 0.30; P = 0.003 for Hispanics) in our cohort. Our study found that patients with IIMs exhibit considerable fatigue, similar to other SAIDs and higher than healthy individuals. Women and Caucasians experience greater fatigue scores, allowing identification of stratified groups for optimized multidisciplinary care and improve outcomes such as quality of life.
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Autoimmune Diseases , COVID-19 , Myositis , Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome , Adult , Animals , Humans , Female , Male , Quality of Life , COVID-19 Vaccines , Cross-Sectional Studies , Surveys and Questionnaires , Fatigue/etiologyABSTRACT
Background: The mental health of current medical students is predictive of their mental health as future doctors. The prevalence of anxiety, depression and burnout is high among medical students, but less is known about the occurrence of other mental ill-health symptoms, such as eating or personality disorders, and factors contributing to mental ill-health. Aims: (1) To explore the prevalence of various mental ill-health symptoms in medical students and (2) to investigate what medical school factors and students' attitudes contribute to these mental ill-health symptoms. Methods: Between November 2020 and May 2021, medical students from nine geographically spread medical schools in the UK participated by completing online questionnaires at two points in time, approximately 3 months apart. Results: Of the 792 participants who filled in the questionnaire at baseline, over half experienced medium to high somatic symptoms (50.8%; 402) and drank alcohol at hazardous levels (62.4%; 494). Adjusted longitudinal data analysis of 407 students who completed the follow-up questionnaire demonstrated that less supportive educational climates that were more competitive and less centralised around the students, lower feelings of belongingness, greater stigma towards mental ill-health and lower intentions to seek help for mental ill-health, all contributed to students' mental ill-health symptoms. Conclusions: Medical students experience a high prevalence of various mental ill-health symptoms. This study suggests that medical school factors and students' attitudes towards mental ill-health are significantly associated with students' mental health.
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Background: A symptom scale can be useful for the standardization of clinical evaluations and follow-up of COVID-19 patients in ambultaroy care. Scale development should be accompanied by an assessment of its reliablility and validity. Objective: To develop and measure the psychometric characteristics of a COVID-19 symptom scale to be answered by either healthcare personnel or adult patients in ambulatory care. Material and methods: The scale was developed by an expert panel using the Delphi method. We evaluated inter-rater reliability, where we defined a good correlation if Spearman's Rho was >= 0.8;test-retest, where we defined a good correlation if Spearman's Rho was >= 0.7;factor analysis using principal component methodology;and discriminant validity using Mann-Whitney's U test. A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: We obtained an 8 symptom scale, each symptom is scored from 0-4, with a total minimum score of 0 and a maximum of 32 points. Inter-rater reliability was 0.995 (n = 31), test-retest showed correlation of 0.88 (n = 22), factor analysis detected 4 factors (n = 40) and discriminant capacity of healthy versus sick adults was significant (p < 0.0001, n = 60). Conclusions: We obtained a reliable and valid Spanish (from Mexico) symptom scale for COVID-19 ambulatory care, answerable by patients and health care staff. Copyright © 2023 Revista Medica del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social.
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Background: The incidence of maternal morbidity and mortality gets reduced if antenatal care (ANC) is provided since it focuses on providing birth preparedness, good health maintenance measures, and awareness regarding pregnancy complications as well as danger signs.Methodology: The present study was conducted in the selected 10 villages in the Bahadarbad block of Haridwar (Uttarakhand). 479 out of 580 pregnant women (who had visited Antenatal Health Camps), responded to the questionnaire thus, leading to a response rate of 82.8%. Most respondents, i.e. 96% (n=461), were 21-30 years old. Result: Out of 461 pregnant women, only 45% visited Antenatal Health Camps and 58% were found anemic. The study also indicated that of the pregnant women who visited Antenatal Health Camps during this period, more than 72% of women gave their previous birth in less than two years. Only 15% of women obtained complete ANC (4 Visits) during the study period, just half of the previous year's coverage (31%) for the same duration. The study found that home deliveries increased significantly during the lockdown period. From April to June 2020, the percentage of home deliveries was 41% while from July to December 2020 it was 24%.Conclusion: The study suggested reduced utilization of ANC services during the pandemic and significant factors were women's age, residence, educational status, repurposing of maternity healthcare services, fear of COVID-19 transmission, and transportation disruptions. Thus, efforts should be taken to enhance maternal health services.
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Background: Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) for HIV has changed a highly fatal disease to a chronic manageable condition. National technical guidelines by NACO say that adherence of >95%(optimal) is required for optimal viral load suppression which is a challenge both for the patient and the health system.Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the reasons for missed and lost to follow-up (LFU) cases and to assess the impact of the COVID pandemic on ART adherence.Settings and Design: Cross-sectional study conducted at ART center, Jhansi.Methods and Material: 357 patients were administered a self-designed questionnaire after taking informed consent to enquire about the reasons for missing doses and LFU and whether they missed treatment during the lockdown.Statistical analysis used: the results were expressed in frequencies and percentages and appropriate statistical tests were applied.Results: 72% HIV patients had optimal adherence and 6.7% were on second-line treatment. Out of 357 patients, 56 had missed treatment and 10 were LFU. The main reasons for the missing were run out of pills, busy with other things and being away from home. The number of episodes of missed and LFU increased during the pandemic. The main problems faced were lack of transport (24), fear of catching the disease (7), no money to hire a vehicle (5).Conclusions: Constant monitoring and handholding of those with suboptimal adherence is required. Travel allowance to such patients and regular counseling will help to ensure adherence. Long-term solutions include vocational rehabilitation and awareness programs to reduce stigma and discrimination.
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Background: During the contingency derived from the COVID-19 pandemic, there were no instruments assessing the aspects of clinical training, which is why it is necessary to have a questionnaire that let us know the opinion of medical students about the disruptive education. Objective: To validate a questionnaire designed to know the opinion of medical students about disruptive education in their clinical training. Material and methods: Validation cross-sectional study which was developed in three phases: 1) Elaboration of the questionnaire aimed at undergraduate medical students who include clinical science subjects in their curricular program;2) validation of content by Aiken's V test with 7 expert judges and reliability estimation with Cronbach's alpha coefficient in a pre-sample test with 48 students;3) analysis of the information through descriptive statistics, where the following results were observed: Aiken's V index of V = 0.816;Cronbach's alpha coefficient = 0.966. A total of 54 items were incorporated in the questionnaire after the pre-sampling test. Conclusions: We can rely on a valid and reliable instrument that objectively measures disruptive education in the clinical training of medical students. Copyright © 2023 Revista Medica del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social.
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Background: Lockdown measures are being implemented in several parts of the world to control the spread of novel coronavirus. This unprecedented crisis has significantly affected the lives of people in different ways.Aim: To understand the experiences and vulnerability to mental health problems during lockdown among the Indian population during COVID-19 pandemic.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey form circulated through various social media platforms from April 12 to May 3, 2020 containing self-reported questionnaires to collect lockdown related experiences and scales to assess anxiety (GAD-7) and depression (PHQ-9). A convenience sampling method was used.Results: 442 valid responses were received from different states of India. Statistical analysis revealed that one-third of the respondents suffered from some form of anxiety and depression during a lockdown. Less than 10% of them had severe levels of symptoms. The majority were males aged 18-45 years and private sector employees. Delivering essential services was involved with significant anxiety and depression. Availability of food and daily essentials was the most common problem. Difficulty in availing medicines and financial crisis were significant predictors of anxiety and depression. Worsening of interpersonal relationships was associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression.Conclusions: The study concluded that experiences during the lockdown and associated psychological outcomes are important factors to consider and appropriate preventive measures to be taken in case of any future lockdowns.
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The COVID-19 pandemic triggered an unprecedented expansion of telemedicine, leading to development of new workflows. We conducted a survey of telemedicine practice among pediatric gastroenterology practitioners on March 26, 2020. Responses were coded and analyzed. The survey garnered 33 responses. Most centers were 3 weeks into the implementation. The most commonly used telemedicine software was Zoom followed by FaceTime, telephone, and Epic software. Provider education was through online meetings, webinars, and tip sheets. Patient education was by nonclinical staff at the time of visit scheduling or tip sheets. A major barrier was the need for patients to enroll in an electronic portal. Two thirds of practices offered telemedicine to both new and return patients. Most sites billed based on time. This represents a record of the very early response of the pediatric gastroenterology community to the COVID-19 telemedicine expansion and can inform follow-up studies.
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Objective The objective of this study is to evaluate the acceptance of pregnant women with regards to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination during pregnancy and to identify any significant changes in their anxiety and knowledge on COVID-19 compared to our previous study. Methods This cross-sectional survey was performed in the antenatal clinics of United Christian Hospital and Tseung Kwan O Hospital of Hong Kong, China. Questionnaires were distributed to pregnant women for self-completion when attending follow-up from August to October 2021. Apart from basic demographic data, the questionnaire comprised of questions including knowledge on COVID-19 and its vaccines in pregnancy as well as attitudes and behaviors of pregnant women and their partners toward COVID-19. Continuous variables were analyzed by Student's test and Levene's test was used to confirm normal distribution and homogeneity of variance for continuous variables, whereas categorical variables were analyzed by the Chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test as appropriate. A P value of <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results A total of 816 completed questionnaires were included for analysis. Pregnant women were less worried about COVID-19 in the current survey as compared to the last survey (393/816, 48.2% vs. 518/623, 83.1%, P?<?0.001). Fewer pregnant women believed that pregnancy were more susceptible to contract SARS-CoV-2 as compared to the last survey (265/816, 32.5% vs. 261/623, 41.9%, P?<?0.001). They have significant knowledge gap and concerns about COVID-19 vaccines. Nearly half of the participants believed that pregnant women cannot have COVID-19 vaccination (402/816, 49.3%) and it is unsafe to fetus (365/816, 44.7%). Around a third of women perceived that they were more prone to the side effects and complications of COVID-19 vaccines than the general population (312/816, 38.2%) and did not recognize that maternal COVID-19 vaccination could effect transferral of antibodies to the fetus to promote postnatal passive immunity (295/816, 36.2%). Most of them had not been vaccinated (715/816, 87.6%) and only (12/715) 1.7% of them would consider vaccination during pregnancy. Conclusion Despite the local and international recommendations for pregnant women to be vaccinated, the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy remained extremely low. Efforts should be made to effectively provide information about the safety and benefits of COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy. There is an urgent need to booster vaccination rates in pregnant women to avoid excessive adverse pregnancy outcomes related to COVID-19.Copyright © the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.
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Objective. Coronavirus disease epidemic in 2019 (COVID-19) posed a big challenge to healthcare providers. The present study aimed to explore the relationship between coronavirus anxiety and the sexual function of healthcare providers. Methods. In this study, an online survey was used to explore the relationship between anxiety and sexual function in healthcare providers during COVID-19 pandemic. The questionnaire included Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and Corona Disease Anxiety Scale (CDAS). Results. A total of 300 healthcare providers were investigated in this study. The estimated self-reported rates of mild anxiety symptoms were 49%, moderate 29.2% and severe were 29.9%. The total mean score of FSFI of healthcare providers were 19.1 (SD=4.4). The results showed that on the total scale, 40.9% of healthcare providers had mild anxiety. The results also indicated that female sexual function is inversely correlated with anxiety during COVID-19 pandemic. Also, it was shown that anxiety during COVID-19 is inversely correlated with sexual functioning. Conclusion. This study presented the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on anxiety and sexual function in healthcare providers. Therefore, psychological or sexual assistance may be beneficial.Copyright © 2022, Serbian Medical Society. All rights reserved.
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PURPOSE: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the graduating dental residents' perspectives on the online clinical examination format. METHODS: The questionnaire used to assess the perspectives was developed via a focus group discussion and was validated for face and content validity, readability testing, and pilot testing for the online version. This self-administered, online questionnaire integrated 15 Likert-scale-based multiple choice questions and one open-ended question. It was distributed to the residents across 16 dental schools after the clinical examination was completed. The perspectives regarding examination preparation, the ability to transition to online mode, and the performance in the examination were assessed. Descriptive statistical analysis (counts and percentages) was performed. RESULTS: A total of 256 subjects participated in the study by returning the online survey. In the preparation phase, 70.7% (n = 181) residents reported anxiety and 56.1% (n = 144) reported stress. During the examinations, only 13.6% (n = 35) of the participants reported difficulty with internet speed. The majority, 64.6% (n = 165) of the participants reported that the absence of an external examiner face-to-face reduced anxiety. The compiled answers to the open-ended question revealed that residents expressed inconvenience in digitizing the academic logbooks and clinical work. The poor quality of sound and images affected the display of skills. CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed a moderate level of acceptance for the novel online practical examination method. The residents reported stress before and during the examination due to the sudden transition to an online examination. The online practical examination with modifications might be a viable alternative to the in-person clinical examination.
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COVID-19 , Humans , COVID-19/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , SARS-CoV-2 , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Purpose: The purpose of the study is to identify the main sources of stress and bring out different coping strategies used by teachers amid COVID-19 pandemic.Design/ Methodology/Approach: A sample of 80 teachers (males, 40;females, 40) was drawn using the rolling snowball sampling technique from various colleges of Haryana for a primary survey. Teachers were enrolled, regardless of their experience and type of college, to quicken the data collection process.Finding: The study brought forth several stressors the teachers grappled with during COVID-19. Prominent among these were fear of contracting COVID infection, pressure related to changing teaching circumstances, and learning new skills for online teaching. . The major coping strategies used by teachers include, staying updated regarding the disease and alert to the government guidelines, adopting preventive measures, keeping busy in different household activities, spending quality time with family members, developing a healthy lifestyle, and connecting with friends and colleagues. Originality/Value: The present study is an empirical investigation based on primary survey.Implications of the study: Based on the revelation of fear, stress and anxiety among teachers amid COVID-19. The study emphasizes that the strategies adopted by teachers will help others too in reducing stress and improving their mental health. It is also felt that counselling for mental wellbeing and training for using technology in the teaching learning process will act as stress busters. i 2 n
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The objective of this cross-sectional study was to investigate health management, well-being, and pandemic-related perspectives of chronic disease patients in the context of stringent measures, and associated correlates. A self-report survey was administered during the Omicron wave lockdown in Shanghai, China. Items from the Somatic Symptom Scale (SSS) and Symptom Checklist-90 were administered, as well as pandemic-related items. Overall, 1,775 patients (mostly married females with hypertension) were recruited through a community family physician group. Mean SSS scores were 36.1 ± 10.5/80, with 41.5% scoring in the elevated range (i.e., >36). In an adjusted model, being female, diagnosis of coronary artery disease and arrhythmia, perceived impact of pandemic on life, health condition, change to exercise routine, tolerance of control measures, as well as perception of future and control measures were significantly associated with greater distress. One-quarter perceived the pandemic had a permanent impact on their life, and 44.1% perceived at least a minor impact. One-third discontinued exercise due to the pandemic. While 47.6% stocked up on their medications before the lockdown, their supply was only enough for two weeks; 17.5% of participants discontinued use. Chief among their fears were inability to access healthcare (83.2%), and what they stated they most needed to manage their condition was medication access (65.6%). Since 2020 when we assessed a similar cohort, distress and perceived impact of the pandemic have worsened. Greater access to cardiac rehabilitation in China could address these issues.
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Anxiety in parents of children with allergic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic may impact hospital visits. This study explored the effect of the pandemic on parents' fears about hospital visits and their relationship with their personality traits. A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted between September 2020 and March 2021, with parents of children aged 0-15 years, who regularly visited 24 outpatient facilities for allergic disease. The survey included patient information, fears about hospital visits, desired information, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Responses were compared between parents with high and low trait anxiety. The response rate was 97.6% (2439/2500). The most common fear was "Fear of getting medical care as usual (85.2%)" and "Fear of COVID-19 infection during hospital visits (87.1%)". High trait anxiety showed a significant association with "Fear of worsening of children's allergies" (adjusted OR: 1.31, 95%CI: 1.04 to 1.65, p = 0.022), and "Fear of worsening of COVID-19 due to allergy" (adjusted OR: 1.52, 95%CI: 1.27 to 1.80, p < 0.01). Healthcare professionals should share updates on COVID-19 and healthcare system to reduce parents' fear. Subsequently, they should communicate the importance of continuing treatment to prevent worsening of COVID-19 and avoid emergency visits, considering parental trait anxiety.