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Barbos V, Feciche B, Bratosin F, Tummala D, Shetty USA, Latcu S, Croitor A, Dema V, Bardan R, Cumpanas AA. Pandemic Stressors and Adaptive Responses: A Longitudinal Analysis of the Quality of Life and Psychosocial Dynamics among Urothelial Cancer Patients. J Pers Med 2023; 13:1547. [PMID: 38003862 PMCID: PMC10672688 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13111547] [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: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has had a profound influence on different sectors of society, including health. This study hypothesized a significant impact of the pandemic on the quality of life and psychosocial well-being of urothelial cancer patients, specifically anticipating a decrease in anxiety and depression scores as the pandemic progressed. The primary objectives were to assess longitudinal changes in quality of life indexes, evaluate Healthcare Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) score trends over three years (2020-2022), and identify any correlational patterns between the progression of the pandemic and anxiety, depression, and stress levels among this cohort. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 1 and Tumor Node Metastasis (TNM) stage 1 bladder cancer patients from the Timis County Emergency Clinical Hospital in Romania. Sixty patients were evaluated each year from 2020 to 2022, utilizing a detailed selection process involving the review of both the hospital database and paper records. Key data included demographic information, medical history, and responses to the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Short Form (SF-36), HADS, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) questionnaires. A total of 163 completed questionnaires were analyzed, providing insight into various aspects of patients' experiences during the pandemic. Notably, the mean hospitalization days ranged from 3.6 ± 2.1 days in 2020 to 4.0 ± 2.4 days in 2022 (p = 0.663). Concerns that current symptoms might be pandemic-related spiked to 63.5% in 2021, but reduced to 50.9% in 2022, with this fluctuation being significant (p = 0.026). The perception of decreased quality of or accessibility to medical care was significant over the years, with a decline to 52.7% in 2022 (p = 0.033). Quality of life assessments demonstrated an upward trend, from an average score of 55.9 ± 8.9 in 2020 to 59.3 ± 8.8 in 2022 (p = 0.049). Interestingly, anxiety levels, as indicated by the HADS survey, revealed a significant decline from a score of 7.8 in 2020 to 6.5 in 2022 (p = 0.008). On the other hand, GAD-7 scores displayed a downward trend over the years, potentially indicative of developed coping strategies (p = 0.034). This study provides a comprehensive insight into the fluctuating dynamics of psychosocial factors and quality of life among urothelial cancer patients during the pandemic years. It underscores a potential adaptive response, as evidenced by the decrease in anxiety levels and an upward trend in the quality of life scores over the period. These findings highlight the resilience and adaptability of this patient cohort amidst the challenges posed by the pandemic, potentially guiding future interventions and supports in similar health crises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vlad Barbos
- Department XV, Discipline of Urology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (V.B.); (S.L.); (A.C.); (V.D.); (R.B.); (A.A.C.)
- Doctoral School, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, E. Murgu Square, Nr. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Bogdan Feciche
- Department of Urology, Emergency County Hospital Oradea, Strada Gheorghe Doja 65, 410169 Oradea, Romania
| | - Felix Bratosin
- Doctoral School, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, E. Murgu Square, Nr. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
- Department XIII, Discipline of Infectious Diseases, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, E. Murgu Square, Nr. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Durganjali Tummala
- Department of General Medicine, K.S. Hegde Medical Academy, Mangaluru 575018, India;
| | | | - Silviu Latcu
- Department XV, Discipline of Urology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (V.B.); (S.L.); (A.C.); (V.D.); (R.B.); (A.A.C.)
| | - Alexei Croitor
- Department XV, Discipline of Urology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (V.B.); (S.L.); (A.C.); (V.D.); (R.B.); (A.A.C.)
| | - Vlad Dema
- Department XV, Discipline of Urology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (V.B.); (S.L.); (A.C.); (V.D.); (R.B.); (A.A.C.)
| | - Razvan Bardan
- Department XV, Discipline of Urology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (V.B.); (S.L.); (A.C.); (V.D.); (R.B.); (A.A.C.)
| | - Alin Adrian Cumpanas
- Department XV, Discipline of Urology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (V.B.); (S.L.); (A.C.); (V.D.); (R.B.); (A.A.C.)
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Ingadottir B, Bragadottir B, Zoëga S, Blondal K, Jonsdottir H, Hafsteinsdottir EJG. Sense of security during COVID-19 isolation improved with better health literacy - A cross-sectional study. PATIENT EDUCATION AND COUNSELING 2023:107788. [PMID: 37173221 PMCID: PMC10159664 DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2023.107788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess sense of security, health literacy, and the association between sense of security and health literacy during COVID-19 self-isolation. METHODS In this cross-sectional survey all adults who caught COVID-19 from the onset of the pandemic until June 2020 in Iceland and received surveillance from a special COVID-19 outpatient clinic, were eligible. Participants retrospectively answered the Sense of Security in Care - Patients' Evaluation and the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire. Data were analysed with parametric and non-parametric tests. RESULTS Participants' (N = 937, 57% female, median age 49 (IQR=23)) sense of security during isolation was Med 5.5 (IQR=1) and 90% had sufficient health literacy. The proposed regression model (R2 =.132) indicated that those with sufficient health literacy had, on average, higher sense of security than those with inadequate health literacy. CONCLUSION Sense of security was high among individuals who received surveillance from an outpatient clinic during isolation and was associated with health literacy. The high health literacy rate may be an indication of a high COVID-19 specific health literacy rather than general health literacy. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Healthcare professionals can improve the sense of security of patients through measures to improve their health literacy, including their navigation health literacy, by practising good communication, and providing effective patient education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brynja Ingadottir
- University of Iceland, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Eiriksgata 34, 105 Reykjavik, Iceland; Landspítali - University Hospital of Iceland, Skaftahlid 24, 105 Reykjavik, Iceland.
| | - Bjork Bragadottir
- Primary Care of the Capital Area, Alfabakka 16, 109 Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Sigridur Zoëga
- University of Iceland, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Eiriksgata 34, 105 Reykjavik, Iceland; Landspítali - University Hospital of Iceland, Skaftahlid 24, 105 Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Katrin Blondal
- University of Iceland, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Eiriksgata 34, 105 Reykjavik, Iceland; Landspítali - University Hospital of Iceland, Skaftahlid 24, 105 Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Helga Jonsdottir
- University of Iceland, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Eiriksgata 34, 105 Reykjavik, Iceland; Landspítali - University Hospital of Iceland, Skaftahlid 24, 105 Reykjavik, Iceland
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