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Riemma G, De Franciscis P, Tesorone M, Coppa E, Schiattarella A, Billone V, Lopez A, Cucinella G, Gullo G, Carotenuto RM. Obstetric and Gynecological Admissions and Hospitalizations in an Italian Tertiary-Care Hospital during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Retrospective Analysis According to Restrictive Measures. J Clin Med 2023; 12:7097. [PMID: 38002709 PMCID: PMC10672011 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12227097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The national lockdown and the different restrictions applied in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic brought several changes to hospitalization procedures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the patterns in access to emergency services and hospitalization in a tertiary-care obstetric and gynecological emergency department (OG-ED) throughout the restrictions applied during 2020. METHODS A single-center retrospective comparative study on data from January to December 2020 was carried out on the following timeframes: January to February 2020 (before COVID-19 pandemic), March to June 2020 (nationwide lockdown period), July to September 2020 (removal of restrictive measures), October to December 2020 (regional lockdown) and compared to the same periods of 2019. All obstetric and gynecological patients with complete medical data admitted to the OG-ED were included. RESULTS Overall, 4233 accesses for 2019 and 3652 for 2020 were reported, with a decreasing trend of -13.7%. Between March and June 2020 (nationwide lockdown) and 2019, the overall number of patients attending the OG-ED decreased compared to July-September and October-December differences (Δ -23.5% vs. -3.1% and -5.9%; p = 0.001 respectively) for 2020-2019, but this reduction was not statistically significant when compared to January-February (Δ -23.5% vs. -18.5%; p = 0.356). No significant differences for obstetric patients (Δ -1.8% vs. -1.0% vs. -2.3% and +1.9% respectively; p = 0.883) were noted. Hospitalizations showed a stable trend with an increase between October-December 2019 and 2020 (Δ +4.6%; p = 0.001 vs. January-February (+2.4%) and March-June (+2.6%) 2019-2020), mainly related to regional lockdowns. CONCLUSIONS In contrast to available national studies, in our institution, the overall rate of OG-ED admissions was slightly reduced with a similar trend of decrease even before COVID-19, with an increase in admissions for serious issues, despite expectations that the suspension of elective admissions and outpatient services would have led to an increase in non-urgent hospitalizations during the COVID-19 lockdown period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaetano Riemma
- Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (P.D.F.); (E.C.); (A.S.); (R.M.C.)
| | - Pasquale De Franciscis
- Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (P.D.F.); (E.C.); (A.S.); (R.M.C.)
| | - Marina Tesorone
- Local Health Services “Napoli 1 Centro”, 80138 Naples, Italy;
| | - Egle Coppa
- Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (P.D.F.); (E.C.); (A.S.); (R.M.C.)
| | - Antonio Schiattarella
- Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (P.D.F.); (E.C.); (A.S.); (R.M.C.)
| | - Valentina Billone
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Villa Sofia Cervello Hospital, University of Palermo, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (V.B.); (A.L.); (G.C.); (G.G.)
| | - Alessandra Lopez
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Villa Sofia Cervello Hospital, University of Palermo, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (V.B.); (A.L.); (G.C.); (G.G.)
| | - Gaspare Cucinella
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Villa Sofia Cervello Hospital, University of Palermo, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (V.B.); (A.L.); (G.C.); (G.G.)
| | - Giuseppe Gullo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Villa Sofia Cervello Hospital, University of Palermo, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (V.B.); (A.L.); (G.C.); (G.G.)
| | - Raffaela Maria Carotenuto
- Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (P.D.F.); (E.C.); (A.S.); (R.M.C.)
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Au AKY, Ng JCK, Wu WCH, Chen SX. Who do we trust and how do we cope with COVID-19? A mixed-methods sequential exploratory approach to understanding supportive messages across 35 cultures. HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 10:272. [PMID: 37273414 PMCID: PMC10228461 DOI: 10.1057/s41599-023-01747-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Based upon a mixed-methods follow-up exploratory model, we examined the link between trust and coping during the early outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic at the society level. Qualitative data were collected from the supportive messages written by 10,072 community adults across 35 societies. Trust and coping were used as the two pre-defined themes in the conceptual content analysis. Five subthemes emerged from the theme trust, depicting five distinct trusted targets: God, a larger us, country/government, science/healthcare, and the affected. Six subthemes emerged from the theme coping, depicting six distinct coping strategies: interpersonal/social coping, religious/spiritual coping, acceptance, blame, wishful thinking, and strength-based coping. A follow-up quantitative investigation also showed that four society-level factors (viz., individualism, cultural tightness, globalization, and severity of pandemic) had differential effects on people's trusted targets and ways of coping with the pandemic. Our study made both methodological and practical contributions to cross-cultural research on COVID-19 by using a mixed-methods approach in a multinational study and demonstrating the importance of making meaningful virtual connection during a time of physical distancing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Algae K. Y. Au
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon Hong Kong
| | - Jacky C. K. Ng
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon Hong Kong
| | - Wesley C. H. Wu
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon Hong Kong
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Zhang L, Cheng X, Li Z. How perceived risk influences college students' preventive behavior: Novel data of COVID-19 campus lockdown from Wuhan, China. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1029049. [PMID: 36992880 PMCID: PMC10040553 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1029049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Following preventive behaviors is a key measure to protect people from infectious diseases. Protection motivation theory (PMT) suggests that perceived risk motivates individuals to take protective measures. The COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented stress to the public, and changes in perceived risk may be more pronounced among college students than among other groups due to the related campus lockdown. With 1,119 college students recruited as research subjects, a quantitative research was conducted in Wuhan, China, to deduce the relationship between the perceived risk and preventive behavior of college students, as well as between the mediation effect of individual affect and the moderating effect of physical exercise. The results showed that the preventive behavior of college students was significantly affected by perceived risk, and both positive affect and negative affect played a mediating role between perceived risk and preventive behavior. Specifically, positive affect aided the relationship between perceived risk and preventive behavior, negative affect was detrimental to their relationship, and the mediation effect of positive affect is significantly higher than that of negative affect. Furthermore, physical exercise played a moderating role in the mediation effects of positive affect and negative affect. Therefore, appropriate measures should be taken to strengthen Chinese college students' perceived risk and provide them with corresponding guidance. The importance of physical exercise should also be emphasized to help college students with low perceived risk reduce negative affect, increase positive affect, and promote their preventive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanxing Zhang
- School of Physical Education, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Lanxing Zhang
| | - Xiaoyu Cheng
- School of Physical Education, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhuangzhuang Li
- School of Physical Education, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, China
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Kogler AM, Schöttl SE. Sports-related leisure behavior in Alpine regions during the COVID-19 pandemic-A cross-sectional study in Austria, Germany and Italy. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1136191. [PMID: 36969658 PMCID: PMC10033945 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1136191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction As a planetary health challenge, COVID-19 forced governments around the world to take action to prevent the most severe consequences resulting from the spread of the virus. These measures ranged from stay-at-home orders to limitations on indoor and outdoor activities, travel restrictions and the cancelation of sports events, all of which affected people's leisure activities and daily lives. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine changes in sports-related leisure behavior in terms of attending major sports events, following major sports events via media, travel intentions and the use of new sports offerings. Furthermore, we aimed to identify variables associated with changed sports-related leisure behavior during the pandemic. Methods A cross-sectional online survey (n = 1,809) was conducted from December 2020 to January 2021 in the Alpine regions of Austria, Germany and Italy. Sports-related leisure behavior was investigated for changes during the pandemic compared to the time before the coronavirus outbreak and for differences between the three countries. Results Results showed that the self-reported importance of attending major sports events decreased significantly in the Alpine regions of all three countries during COVID-19. Prevailing restrictions affected vacation planning for over 80% of participants. A majority of approximately three quarters of respondents stated they had spent their holidays at home during the travel restrictions. Sports facilities and opportunities played an important role in the choice of vacation destination for more than half of participants. A binary logistic regression showed significant correlations between vacation planning during COVID-19 and the variables gender, income, quality of life and mental health. 31.9% of all respondents tried new sports offerings during extended restrictions, with a large proportion (72.4%) using apps, online tools or courses. Furthermore, approximately 30% of respondents increased their e-sports consumption. Discussion The results showed that sports-related leisure behavior in Alpine regions changed in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the future, policymakers as well as sports and leisure providers should react to these behavioral changes and adapt their portfolio and services to meet consumers92 demands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Maria Kogler
- Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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Schöttl SE, Schnitzer M, Savoia L, Kopp M. Physical Activity Behavior During and After COVID-19 Stay-at-Home Orders-A Longitudinal Study in the Austrian, German, and Italian Alps. Front Public Health 2022; 10:901763. [PMID: 35712287 PMCID: PMC9194442 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.901763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In Alpine regions, which are very similar due to their topographical location and their wide-ranging sports offerings, the restrictions on sports activities during the COVID-19 pandemic differed in type and level: while in some regions (Tyrol, South Tyrol, Trentino), all sports activities were forbidden except for walking near the home, in other regions (Upper Bavaria, Vorarlberg), people were allowed to go hiking and running during the first lockdown. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the change in physical activity (PA) behavior in different Alpine regions (Upper Bavaria, Vorarlberg, Tyrol, South Tyrol, Trentino) over four periods in 2020, to examine the effects of COVID-19 measures of varying severity on PA behavior and to identify factors associated with a change in PA over time. Methods A retrospective online survey was conducted (N = 2975) from December 2020, to January 2021. Using the questionnaire of the Eurobarometer 472 study, PA behavior was measured over four periods: before COVID-19 (March), during the first lockdown (March and April), during the relaxed period (May-October) and during the second lockdown (November and December) in 2020. Results During the first (M = 5.0h, SD = 4.5) and the second lockdowns (M = 4.9h, SD = 4.3), the participants (age: 42 years, overly active in sports) engaged less in sports than before (M = 5.9h, SD = 4.8) and during the relaxed period in summer (M = 6.4h, SD = 5.0) (average number of hours per week being physically active). A larger percentage of participants from Alpine regions with severe restrictions (Tyrol, South Tyrol, Trentino) decreased their PA during the first lockdown as compared to participants from Upper Bavaria and Vorarlberg with a less strict first lockdown. Those with psychological distress, male participants, and individuals with decreased physical health and less free time during COVID-19 were more likely to reduce their PA. Conclusions Despite a short-term negative effect of COVID-19 restrictions on exercise participation during lockdowns, the majority of respondents returned to their original levels of PA during the relaxed COVID-19 phases. As a comparison of Alpine regions shows, particularly severe COVID-19 measures seem to have reduced PA with potential negative health effects. For the future, policy makers and sports organizations should collaborate to support the population in their PA behavior during pandemics to outweigh restrictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie E Schöttl
- Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Martin Schnitzer
- Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Laura Savoia
- Sports Observatory of the Autonomous Province of Bozen/Bolzano-South Tyrol, Bozen, Italy
| | - Martin Kopp
- Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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Menculini G, Albert U, Bianchini V, Carmassi C, Carrà G, Cirulli F, Dell'osso B, Fabrazzo M, Perris F, Sampogna G, Nanni MG, Pompili M, Sani G, Volpe U, Tortorella A. Did we learn something positive out of the COVID-19 pandemic? Post-traumatic growth and mental health in the general population. Eur Psychiatry 2022; 64:e79. [PMID: 35000665 PMCID: PMC8888429 DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.2263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background When facing a traumatic event, some people may experience positive changes, defined as posttraumatic growth (PTG). Methods Understanding the possible positive consequences of the pandemic on the individual level is crucial for the development of supportive psychosocial interventions. The present paper aims to: 1) evaluate the levels of PTG in the general population; 2) to identify predictors of each dimension of post-traumatic growth. Results The majority of the sample (67%, N = 13,889) did not report any significant improvement in any domain of PTG. Participants reported the highest levels of growth in the dimension of “appreciation of life” (2.3 ± 1.4), while the lowest level was found in the “spiritual change” (1.2 ± 1.2). Female participants reported a slightly higher level of PTG in areas of personal strength (p < .002) and appreciation for life (p < .007) compared to male participants, while no significant association was found with age. At the multivariate regression models, weighted for the propensity score, only the initial week of lockdown (between 9-15 April) had a negative impact on the dimension of “relating to others” (B = −.107, 95% CI = −.181 to −.032, p < .005), while over time no other effects were found. The duration of exposure to lockdown measures did not influence the other dimensions of PTG. Conclusions The assessment of the levels of PTG is of great importance for the development of ad hoc supportive psychosocial interventions. From a public health perspective, the identification of protective factors is crucial for developing ad-hoc tailored interventions and for preventing the development of full-blown mental disorders in large scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Menculini
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Perugia, Piazza Lucio Severi 1, 06132Perugia, Italy
| | - Umberto Albert
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, 34128Trieste, Italy.,Department of Mental Health, Psychiatric Clinic, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Giuliano-Isontina-ASUGI, 34128Trieste, Italy
| | - Valeria Bianchini
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, Psychiatric Unit: Trattamenti Riabilitativi Psicosociali, Interventi Precoci, TRIP, Psychosocial Rehabilitation Treatment, Early Interventions University Unit, University of L'Aquila, 67100L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Claudia Carmassi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126Pisa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Carrà
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan Bicocca, 20126Milano, Italy
| | - Francesca Cirulli
- Center for Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, National Institute of Health, 00161Rome, Italy
| | - Bernardo Dell'osso
- Department of Mental Health, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "Luigi Sacco", University of Milan, 20157Milan, Italy.,Department of Health Sciences, Aldo Ravelli Center for Neurotechnology and Brain Therapeutic, University of Milan, 20142Milan, Italy
| | - Michele Fabrazzo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Largo Madonna delle Grazie, 80138Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Perris
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Largo Madonna delle Grazie, 80138Naples, Italy
| | - Gaia Sampogna
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Largo Madonna delle Grazie, 80138Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Giulia Nanni
- Department of Biomedical and Specialty Surgical Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, University of Ferrara, 44121Ferrara, Italy
| | - Maurizio Pompili
- Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Sani
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, University Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168Rome, Italy.,Department of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, 00168Rome, Italy
| | - Umberto Volpe
- Clinical Psychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60121Ancona, Italy
| | - Alfonso Tortorella
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Perugia, Piazza Lucio Severi 1, 06132Perugia, Italy
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Bhuiyan AA, Brahmachari S, Ripa IJ, Noor R. Overview of dreadful consequences of SARS-CoV-2 invasion in Italy from March 2020 to March 2022. BULLETIN OF THE NATIONAL RESEARCH CENTRE 2022; 46:176. [PMID: 35756396 PMCID: PMC9207835 DOI: 10.1186/s42269-022-00867-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The unpredicted pandemic disease COVID-19 first flared up adversely in Europe by imparting interminable force of infected and fatality cases to Italy. In late February 2020, the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in northern Italy and swiftly proliferated to the entire country, albeit continuous to date (23 March 2022) with a lesser extent of deadliness. Current review focused on the invasions and the associated consequences by SARS-CoV-2 during the period of March 2020-March 2022. MAIN BODY OF THE ABSTRACT Initially, the lethality and transmissibility of the novel virus made Italy stunned within 1 month, the number of death cases reached 12,428 at the end of March 2020. The Italian Government announced an immediate emergency phase in entire country, educational institutions to local businesses, manufacturing works, cultural activities to elective activities were rescinded and all the hospitals to morgues were swamped, ensuing that fear of epidemic was impended. Besides, the Italian National Health System and Service coordinated massive public health interventions and conferred unprecedented efforts to limit the high mortality rate of the first wave of infection. Amidst 2 years of epidemic (as of 23 March 2022), Italy has documented 14,070,450 (23.74% of the population) confirmed infected cases, 12,685,306 (21.41% of the population) healed cases, 158,254 death cases (0.27% of the population) and ranking 9th worldwide in the number of deaths. SHORT CONCLUSION Based on publicly available Italian Ministry of Health COVID-19 data, current review has comprehended region-wise total infected cases, death cases and healed cases for three consecutive years 2020-2022 to foresee different patterns of the regional outbreak and gradual subservience. At a glance, we highlighted the overview of the exhaustion and exertion of COVID-19 crisis throughout the periods in Italy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asma Akter Bhuiyan
- Molecular Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Department of Industrial Biotechnologies, Universita Degli Studi di Milano, 20134 Milan, Italy
| | - Sreyashi Brahmachari
- Molecular Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Department of Industrial Biotechnologies, Universita Degli Studi di Milano, 20134 Milan, Italy
| | - Israt Jahan Ripa
- Medical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmaceutical, Veterinary and Medical Biotechnologies, Università di Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Rashed Noor
- Department of Life Sciences (DLS), School of Environment and Life Sciences (SELS), Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), Plot 16, Block B, Bashundhara, Dhaka, 1229 Bangladesh
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