Attitudes of vaccination workers toward COVID-19 vaccination in patients with chronic liver disease (preprint)

Objectives Vaccination workers play an important role in the acceptance of various vaccines in patients with chronic liver diseases. We mainly investigated the attitude of vaccination workers toward COVID-19 vaccination in patients with chronic liver disease.Methods An anonymous, population-based, cross-sectional online survey were completed by 721 out of 1008 (71.5%) vaccination workers from July 1st to July 14th, 2022, in patients with chronic liver disease in Taizhou, China. The data were uploaded to Wen-Juan-Xing, one of the largest online platforms for collecting survey data.Results We found that only 51.9% of vaccination workers recommended all chronic liver diseases vaccinations. 81% of vaccination workers fully recommended vaccination in patients with fatty liver and chronic hepatitis B, while 53.1% of them fully recommended in patients with cirrhosis and liver cancer. Logistic regression analysis showed that vaccination workers who had undergone systematic training were more likely to recommend that patients with four chronic liver diseases get vaccinated (OR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.05–2.43, p = 0.030). Vaccination workers that believed it is safe to vaccinate against patients with four chronic liver diseases were likely to recommend (OR: 8.12; 95% CI: 1.84–35.88, p = 0.006).Conclusion Vaccination workers who hold a positive attitude towards recommending vaccination for patients with chronic liver disease needs to be improved. Strengthening the training of vaccination workers could improve vaccine immunization coverage.

Psychological Distress Reported by Patients with Atrial Fibrillation in China During COVID-19 (preprint)

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted routine cardiovascular health assessments and services. The objective of this study was to explore the factors associated with self-reported psychological distress among a sample of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in China in relation to COVID-19. Methods: An online survey was administered to 288 patients with AF at several hospitals in China. The survey consisted of three sections: demographic characteristics, questions related to COVID-19, and the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12). Results: A total of 177 patients with AF completed the baseline survey; 177 (61.46%) were male and 133 (46.18%) were older than 65 years. High levels of psychological distress (GHQ-12 ≥3) were observed in 27 (9.4%) participants of the sample. These high levels were found to be associated with older age, radiofrequency ablation, drinking, and combined basic diseases (p values < .05). Logistic regression analysis showed that psychological distress in patients with AF was associated with radiofrequency ablation (OR = 0.316, 95% CI = 0.147–0.666), drinking (OR = 4.761, 95% CI = 2.076–10.916), and concerns regarding infection (OR = 1.244, 95% CI = 1.052–1.472). Conclusions: COVID-19 has resulted in high levels of psychological distress in approximately 9.4% of patients with AF in China. Factors associated with high levels of psychological distress in AF patients include older age, radiofrequency ablation, drinking, and combined comorbidities. These findings highlight the importance of enhancing psychological health throughout the course of infectious pandemics.

Influencing factors of COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy among adults in Taiwan, China: a cross-sectional study (preprint)

Objectives The promotion of the COVID-19 vaccine is key to controlling the spread of COVID-19. One of the most significant obstacles in tackling the pandemic is vaccine hesitancy. While many published studies have examined vaccine hesitancy among adults, there is a dearth of such studies exploring vaccine hesitancy among adults in Taiwan, China.Study design and Methods We surveyed 384 adults in Taiwan from July 14 to September 23, 2021. Using a Chi-square test and a binary logistic regression, we examined the prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and the factors influencing this. In addition, we summarized the regional differences in vaccine hesitancy across China that was reported by previous research.Results Overall, 64.3% of participants were hesitant to be vaccinated. Gender and perception of the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine was identified as a risk factor for vaccine hesitancy. Additionally, hesitancy in mainland China was found to be lower than that in Taiwan and Hong Kong.Conclusion The results of this study highlight the attitudes of the adults towards vaccination and the factors that influence it. The results can inform the government’s development of epidemic prevention and control policies that would improve vaccine uptake.

No increase in body mass index in a healthy Chinese population during the COVID-19 outbreak (preprint)

Background The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic continues to spread worldwide. This study aimed to investigate (1) the change in body mass index (BMI) before and after the COVID-19 outbreak and (2) the impact of behaviours on BMI during the quarantine period. Methods We recruited 197 healthy adults who underwent a physical examination within two months after the Spring Festival holidays of 2018, 2019 and 2020 in Taizhou, China. Of them, 138 respondents answered a questionnaire on lifestyle behaviours during the quarantine period. Univariate analysis and multiple logistic regression models were used to analyse the impact of behaviours during the quarantine period on changes in BMI. Results The average BMI of the population increased from 2018 to 2019 (P<0.05) and then decreased from 2019 to 2020 (P>0.05). The proportion of BMI increase after the COVID-19 outbreak was significantly lower than that in the previous year (41.6% vs. 59.4%, paired χ2=8.151, P=0.002). Young age and living in an urban area were risk factors for a BMI increase in men from 2019 to 2020 (P<0.05), while the habit of eating late-night snacks increased the risk of higher BMI in women (OR=6.11, 95% CI: 1.87–19.98, P<0.05). Conclusions The results of this study demonstrated that there was no significant increase in BMI among the healthy population during the COVID-19 outbreak. Late-night snacking should be discouraged to prevent BMI increases, especially in at-risk women. Level of Evidence: Level III，well-designed cohort

The mediating effects of positive coping for the relationship between anxiety, depression and job involvement among medical staff for emergency assistance in Shanghai, China (preprint)

Objective: We aim to investigate the mediating effects of positive coping for the relationship between anxiety, depression and job involvement among medical staff for emergency assistance in Shanghai, China.  Methods: A total of 69 medical staff for emergency assistance were studied in April 2022.We analyzed the data using the multivariate regression model and mediation analysis method.  Results: Anxiety (r=-0.54, p<0.001) and depression (r=-0.63, p<0.001) are negatively correlated with job involvement. It was found that positive coping was significantly correlated with job involvement (r=0.46, p<0.001). The mediation effect of positive coping on the relationship between anxiety and job involvement (=0.87, 95% CI: 0.39~1.34), as well as between depression and job involvement (=0.63, 95% CI: 0.16 ~1.11).  Conclusion: Our results revealed that anxiety/depression could directly affect job involvement. Positive coping played a mediating role between anxiety/depression and job involvement among medical staff. Public health implications: Hospital administrators should provide professional mental health interventions to relieve the anxiety/depression of medical staff , increase their self-confidence and coping ability in handling COVID- 19 practice, enhance positive coping and motivate job involvement.

Parents in Taiwan are hesitant to have their children vaccinated against COVID-19 and its influencing factors (preprint)

Background Since July 2021, some countries and regions have initiated the vaccination of minors against COVID-19, and the parents' COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy will affect the vaccination of minors. The motive of our learning was to be to discover the hesitancy of parents in Taiwan to vaccinate their children towards COVID-19 and its influencing factors.Methods We conducted a population-based self-administered online questionnaire in Taiwan to assess parental hesitancy and the factors influencing their children’s vaccination against COVID-19.Results Among the 384 respondents, 64.1% of the parents were hesitant to have their children vaccinated toward the COVID-19. Mothers were more extra hesitant to vaccinate their teens than their fathers (67.5% vs. 50%, P < 0.005). Multivariate logistic regression evaluation confirmed that the lack of understanding of the COVID-19 vaccine (OR = 1.87, 95%CI: 1.22–2.86), the belief that the COVID-19 vaccine is dangerous (OR = 0.31, 95%CI: 0.20–0.49), and vaccination with the COVID-19 vaccine for themselves who are hesitant (OR = 13.16, 95%CI: 7.86–22.05) are greater hesitant to vaccinate their children, and parents who have a greater opinion rating (OR = 3.83, 95%CI: 2.80–7.05) for their adolescents to vaccinate their children do not hesitate.Conclusions According to the study's findings, 64.1% of Taiwanese parents were hesitant to have their children vaccinated against COVID-19. Parents' reservations about immunizing their children against COVID-19 are connected to the amount of information about the vaccine, its safety, their hesitation to receive the vaccine themselves, and their attitudes toward vaccinating children. An in-depth discussion of the factors that affect vaccine hesitancy and targeted health education is conducive to promoting vaccination of children with the COVID-19.

COVID-19 booster vaccine willingness among patients with chronic kidney disease in Taizhou, China (preprint)

Purpose Investgate the willingness of CKD patients to receive a COVID-19 booster vaccine dose and analyze the related factors of COVID-19 booster vaccine willingness in such patients.Methods An online questionnaire investigation addressing participants’ willingness to receive a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine was organized among patients with chronic kidney disease in Taizhou, China.Result A total of 350 valid copies were retrieved, among which 246 respondents (70.29%) were willing to receive a COVID-19 booster vaccine dose. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that high perceived vaccine safety and effectiveness, non-hemodialysis treatment, and one or two rounds of COVID-19 vaccine were related to COVID-19 booster vaccine willingness of CKD patients. Therefore, enhancing propaganda on safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccine for CKD patients, raising their awareness about vaccination, and increasing vaccination of the first and second rounds can help increase the COVID-19 booster vaccination rate.

The relationship between nosocomial infections and coronavirus disease 2019 in the neurosurgery unit: Clinical characteristics and outcome (preprint)

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate how the “COVID-19 prevention and control measures” changed nosocomial infections in neurosurgery.Methods To explore changes in nosocomial infections in neurosurgery during the COVID-19 pandemic, the clinical data of inpatients of neurosurgery from January 1, 2020, to April 30, 2020 (COVID-19 era) were first analyzed and then compared with the same period in 2019 (pre-COVID-19 era). We also analyzed data from May 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020 (post-COVID-19 era) at the same time in 2019 (second pre-COVID-19 era).Results The nosocomial infection rate was 7.85% (54/688) in the pre-COVID-19 era and 4.30% (26/605) in the COVID-19 era (P = 0.011). Between the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 eras, the respiratory system infection rate was 6.1% vs. 2.0% (P < 0.001) and the urinary system was 1.7% vs. 2.0% (P = 0.837). Between the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 eras, the proportion of respiratory system and urinary infections in total nosocomial infections was 77.78% (42/54) vs. 46.15% (12/26) and 22.22% (12/54) vs. 46.15% (12/26), respectively, (P = 0.006). Between the second pre-COVID-19( ) and post-COVID-19 eras, the proportion of respiratory system and urinary infections in total nosocomial infections was 53.7% (44/82) vs. 40.6% (39/96) and 24.4% (20/82) vs. 40.6% (39/96), respectively, (P = 0.022).Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic reduced the incidence of nosocomial infection in neurosurgery, and the main reduction was in respiratory infection, while the proportion of urinary infections in total nosocomial infections increased significantly.