The effect of having COVID-19 on anti-vaccination: observational prospective study

Objective: In this study, the effect of having had coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) disease on anti-vaccination was investigated. Material and Methods: The study was conducted between February 2022-August 2022 in the COVID chest diseases clinic in our hospital. The cases who were COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and not vaccinated against COVID-19 hospitalized in our clinic were included in the study. The level of anti-vaccination of the cases was measured with the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (VHS). In addition, demographic informations such as age, gender, educational status, marital status, number of people living in the household, average monthly income, smoking history, and additional chronic diseases were recorded. Routine radiological and laboratory examinations, follow-up times in the clinic, and treatment results were recorded for cases like all patients hospitalized in our COVID chest diseases clinic. Results: 46 cases were included in the study. The mean age of the cases was 54.63+or-14.81 years, 24 (52.1%) were female. VHS was applied to all cases at the time of hospitalization. Since 6 cases were referred to the intensive care unit due to respiratory failure, the second VHS could not be applied to these cases, and these 6 cases were excluded from the study. A 2nd VHS was performed in the remaining 40 patients just before discharge. Each question score, A-B-C section score and total scale score were compared for the pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 cases. While the VHS total score before COVID-19 infection was 36.48+or-7.36, the post-COVID-19 total score was found to be 25.65+or-9.10, a statistically significant decrease was observed (p < 0.001). It was observed that the mean scores of A-B-C decreased statistically in all sections (p < 0.001). Conclusion: As a result of our study, we found that the degree of anti-vaccine resistance decreased after the patients who were against the COVID-19 vaccine had the disease. As a result of our study, we found that the degree of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy of patients decreased after they had the disease. We believe that conducting similar studies and sharing their results through mass media, can change the perspective of vaccine hesitancy individuals in society on this situation, especially during pandemic periods.

Evaluation of pediatric patients with COVID-19 in a Turkish university hospital.

Background: Although COVID-19 has a milder course in pediatric patients than in adults, it can have a severe and fatal course in children with an underlying disease (UD). Aims: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics, treatment methods, and prognosis of pediatric patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Patients and Methods: The files of patients aged 0-18 years diagnosed with COVID-19 were retrospectively evaluated. Clinically and radiologically suspicious cases were accepted as confirmed cases if SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity was found in nasopharyngeal swab samples. The severity of the disease was defined as asymptomatic, mild, moderate, and severe according to clinical, laboratory, and radiological features. Results: A total of 322 pediatric patients, 51.2% male and 48.8% female, were included in the study. The median age of the patients was 12.08 years (1 month-18 years). Of the 322 patients, 81 (25.1%) were asymptomatic. Disease severity was as follows: 218 were (67.7%) mild, 14 were (4.3%) moderate, and 9 (2.7%) were severe. 35.7% of the patients were hospitalized. Six percent were admitted to the intensive care unit, and three (0.93%) patients died. The mortality rate in patients with the UD was 3.3%. Conclusion: In our study, we determined that the disease had a more severe course in patients with initial procalcitonin, D-dimer, troponin increase, and thrombocytopenia. Although COVID-19 has a mild course in children, this is unfortunately not true for children with an UD.

Approaches of the Physicians on COVID-19 Vaccination: An Online Survey from Turkiye

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by a newly discovered coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. The Turkish govern-ment has planned to procure COVID-19 vaccine through multiple agencies and companies in order to vaccinate at least 75% of the population. Physicians' beliefs and attitudes to COVID-19 vaccines are important for the immunization rate of the public. This study aimed to evaluate the vaccination approaches of the Turkish physicians against COVID-19.Materials and Methods: This study was conducted as an online survey between 15.01.2021-12.02.2021, among mainly infectious disease and internal medicine physicians in Turkiye. The survey included questions on the demographics of physicians and their approaches toward vaccination against COVID-19.Results: Among the 486 participants, 34.6% were internal medicine physicians and 17.5% were infectious diseases physicians. Total acceptance rate of the COVID-19 vaccine among physicians was 89.9%. Physicians who stated having sufficient information about COVID-19 vaccines had a higher rate of COVID-19 vaccine recommendation to their patients compared to those who stated not having sufficient information (95.8% vs 86.7%, p= 0.011). Physicians with concerns about adverse effects or efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine had a lower rate of COVID-19 vaccine recommendation to their patients/relatives/friends (p< 0.001). Female and younger physicians were more concerned about the adverse effects of the COVID-19 vaccine (p< 0.05). Recommendation of COVID-19 vaccine was higher among physicians with confidence in having sufficient information and without concern about efficacy of the vaccine. Conclusion: Since physicians have an important role in providing information and reducing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among the community, improvement in the knowledge and concerns of physicians should be considered.

The effect of comorbid disease on the severity and prognosis of patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection

Objective: Patients with coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), the disease caused by infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), frequently have comorbidities and this is thought to be a risk factor for poorer outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and effect of comorbidities on the severity and prognosis of patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of COVID-19.

Temporal association of contamination obsession on the prehospital delay of STEMI during COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND: One of the modifiable risk factors for ST elevation myocardial infarction is prehospital delay. The purpose of our study was to look at the effect of contamination contamination obsession on prehospital delay compared with other measurements during the Covid-19 pandemic. METHOD: A total of 139 patients with acute STEMI admitted to our heart center from 20 March 2020 to 20 June 2020 were included in this study. If the time interval between the estimated onset of symptoms and admission to the emergency room was >120 min, it was considered as a prehospital delay. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Padua Inventory-Washington State University Revision (PI-WSUR) test were used to assess Contamination-Obbsessive compulsive disorder (C-OCD). RESULT: The same period STEMI count compared to the previous year decreased 25%. The duration of symptoms onset to hospital admission was longer in the first month compared to second and third months (180 (120-360), 120 (60-180), and 105 (60-180), respectively;P = 0.012). Multivariable logistic regression (model-2) was used to examine the association between 7 candidate predictors (age, gender, diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, smoking, pain-onset time, and coronary artery disease (CAD) history), PI-WSUR C-OCD, and admission month with prehospital delay. Among variables, PI-WSUR C-OCD and admission month were independently associated with prehospital delay (OR 5.36 (2.11-13.61) (P = 0.01);0.26 (0.09-0.87) p < 0.001] respectively]. CONCLUSION: Our study confirmed that contamination obsession was associated with prehospital delay of STEMI patients, however anxiety and depression level was not associated during the pandemic.

A comparison of two standard-setting methods for tests consisting of constructed-response items

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the cut scores obtained by the Extended Angoff and Contrasting Groups methods for an achievement test consisting of constructed-response items. Research Methods: This study was based on survey research design. In the collection of data, the study group of the research consisted of eight mathematics teachers for the Extended Angoff method, 75 eighth grade students, and a mathematics teacher for the Contrasting Groups method. Data were collected through math achievement test consisting of constructed-response items, scoring rubrics, expert opinion form for Extended Angoff method and student classification form for Contrasting Groups method. Findings: Cut score was determined to be 13,38 by the Extended Angoff method and 12,50 by the Contrasting Groups method. It has been determined that the two standard-setting methods do not make significant difference between the master accepted student ratios. It has been found that there is a high level of harmony between the methods in terms of classifying the students as qualified and unqualified. Implications for Research and Practice: This study was restricted to test consisting of constructed-response items and two standard-setting methods. It is suggested that future research tests should include different types of items and compare different methods. In the Covid-19 pandemic process, judge panel discussions can be made online in the Extended Angoff method. Online meetings can allow the creation of a heterogeneous judge group. Therefore, both methods can be used in the Covid-19 process. © 2020 Ani Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.