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Aims The aim of the present study was to investigate the preoperative Trail Making Test (TMT) and its association with postoperative delirium. Materials and methods This cross-sectional, observational study consisted of 51 patients admitted to the surgical ward for any planned operative procedure. Consenting patients provided their sociodemographic information, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test, and Trail Making Test (TMT) were applied. Results A total of 51 patients (66.7% male and 33.3% female) were categorized as the "normal" group (n=34), completing TMT in time, and the "slow" group (n=17). The mean age was 45.05 ± 13.69 for the normal group and 44.29 ± 10.95 for the slow group. The HADS score mean was 15.02 ± 9.52 and 11.64 ± 5.73, respectively, for these two groups (t = -1.577; degrees of freedom {df} = 47.11; p = 0.121). However, the "normal" group scored significantly higher MoCA scores in comparison to the slow group (26.35 ± 1.06 and 24.29 ± 1.10, respectively) (t = -6.410; df = 49; p = 0.000). Conclusions The study shows that the TMT can indicate effectively the cognitive decline in preoperative patients, which predicts postoperative delirium.
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BACKGROUND: The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been found to be associated with increased psychosocial problems such as depression, anxiety, stress, and stigma. Many health-related stigma instruments that have been developed are condition-specific; these should be adapted and validated for generic use, across different health conditions. This study was conducted to measure stigma, stress, anxiety, and depression using the COVID-19 Stigma Scale-Modified (CSS-M), a modified version of the HIV Stigma Scale, among the Indian population. METHODS: A weblink-based online survey was conducted using the adapted CSS-M, along with the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21. Collected data were analyzed with correlation analysis, reliability analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and convergent and divergent validity. RESULTS: With a sample size of 375, the modified scale for COVID-19 stigma showed internal consistency and a good inter-item correlation (Cronbach's alpha 0.821). Principal axis factoring with varimax rotation along with alternative parallel analysis established the two factorial structure and had valid composite reliability, discriminate validity, and partial convergent validity. CONCLUSION: We found that COVID-19 Stigma Scale-Modified is a valid measure to assess COVID-19-related stigma. The scale was found to be internally consistent with a good inter-item correlation, composite reliability, valid discriminate validity, and partial convergent validity. Specific COVID-related validated scales for stigma should be developed in the future.
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INTRODUCTION: Being ignorant or unaware is not expected in a situation like the pandemic of COVID-19 with modern internet connectivity and the era of social media. However, information overload may itself lead to health anxiety. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the predictability of health anxiety with information overload and sociodemographic profiles during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was done among 400 caretakers of non-covid patients in a tertiary healthcare medical college. The consenting participants provided their sociodemographic details and responded to the short health anxiety inventory (SHAI), Beck anxiety inventory (BAI) and Information overload scale (IOS) for COVID-19. RESULTS: A total number of 400 participants aged 35.58 ± 10.57 years participated and out of which 88.2% acknowledged health-related anxiety and 56.8% for excessive use of social media. BAI measured anxiety was mild for 19.8%, moderate for 3.5% and severe for 3%. The linear regression analysis predicted health anxiety by three variables only: total anxiety as measured by the Beck anxiety inventory [ß = 0.416, t = 9.318, p = 0.000], information overload (rejection of information) [ß = 0.171, t = 3.126, p = 0.002], and excessive use of social media [ß = 0.124, t = 2.888, p = 0.004]. CONCLUSION: Information overload, its rejection and excessive use of social media were found to be predictive of health-related anxiety.
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BACKGROUND: Although the psychosocial impact of type-1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients is well recognized, data about its prevalence in India is scant. Hence, this study was undertaken to determine the prevalence and spectrum of psychosocial morbidities among pediatric T1DM patients and factors associated with psychosocial distress. METHODS: Among 39 pediatric T1DM patients, a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was carried out. Psychological distress was measured by applying a childhood psychopathological measurement schedule (CPMS) questionnaire. Psychosocial distress was analyzed across various sociodemographic factors and disease-specific variables by applying the Chi-square test using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 16. RESULTS: The mean age of the study sample was 11.59 + 2.65 years (range: 6-16 years). Out of a total 39 patients, 21 (53.85%) were found to be psychologically distressed. The mean CPMS score was 12.74 + 9.54. Mean scores among psychologically distressed and nondistressed patient groups were 19.19 + 8.5 and 5.22 + 2.74, respectively. Anxiety, conduct disorder, and depression were the most common problems identified. Psychosocial distress was more prevalent among those who were postpubertal, males, Muslims, residing in rural areas, living in a nuclear family, having no sibling, and from the upper-lower socioeconomic background. Psychosocial distress was significantly associated with an increased number of insulin injections per day (P = 0.041) and dietary and drug regimen noncompliance (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The present study revealed a very high prevalence (53.85%) of psychosocial morbidity among T1DM patients. Psychosocial distress was significantly more among patients taking an increased number of insulin injections per day and patients who were noncompliant with the dietary and drug regimen.
