How mindful self-care practices changed during the winter 2020 COVID-19 lockdown in Western Sydney.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Self-care strategies are important to maintain psychological wellbeing. The aim of this study was to explore how self-care changed during the first COVID-19 lockdown in winter 2020 and identify targets for interventions. METHOD: This was a cross-sectional study. Participants attending a COVID-19 testing clinic completed the Mindful Self-Care Scale (MSCS) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). RESULTS: A total of 332 participants completed questionnaires (mean age 38 years, 55% female). Self-care strategies used less frequently during lockdown when compared with pre-lockdown were in MSCS domains of Physical Care (P <0.001), Supportive Relationships (P <0.001), Supportive Structures (P <0.001) and Mindful Awareness (P <0.001). Mean anxiety and depression scores were 5.97 (standard deviation [SD] = 4.36) and 4.12 (SD = 3.594). DISCUSSION: Several pre-pandemic strategies were used less frequently, including individual activities not restricted during lockdown ('listening'; 'using images' to relax). This study provides insight into activities that are practised and reduced during a lockdown, which can guide wellbeing interventions to assist people in isolation.

Operator eye doses during computed tomography fluoroscopic lung biopsy.

The aim of this work was to examine the peak entrance surface air kerma (peak ESAK) to the eyes during CT fluoroscopy lung biopsy, and the impact of lead glasses, exposure parameters, head rotation, and height on peak ESAK to the eyes. Two phantoms simulating the patient and radiologist were used, and 108 exposures were made using a 16-slice Toshiba Alexion CT scanner (Toshiba Medical Systems, Nasu, Japan). ESAK to the phantom radiologist's right eye was measured using an Unfors Xi dosimeter (RaySafe, Billdal, Sweden) with and without lead glasses at two kilovoltages (120 kVp and 135 kVp) and three milliampere settings (10 mA, 20 mA, and 30 mA. A paired t test was used to compare peak ESAK to the eye at different angles, heights, and kVp and mA with and without lead glasses. Peak ESAK was higher without compared to with lead glasses (p ⩽ 0.001). The peak ESAK to the eyes increased as the phantom radiologist rotated toward the gantry without lead glasses, from 2.42 µGy at 120° to 10.54 µGy at 30° (p = 0.001). No significant difference was noted in peak ESAK with change in phantom radiologist height (p > 0.05). An increase from 120 kVp to 135 kVp resulted in 23% and 26% increases in peak ESAK with and without lead glasses respectively (p = 0.001). An increase of tube current from 10 mA to 20 mA almost doubled peak ESAK (p = 0.005). Findings demonstrate that lead glasses reduce ESAK to the eyes, and that increased kVp, mA, and eye rotation to the gantry increase ESAK to the eyes.