Articles: pandemics.
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This study was designed to examine eating behaviors and their association with fear and depression states concerning COVID-19 among students in Turkey. ⋯ During the pandemic, negative psychological effects resulted in unfavorable dietary behavioral consequences, depending on the increasing levels of stress.
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We report here on the process and findings of a research prioritisation exercise for universal health coverage (UHC) in South Africa, conducted during the course of 2019. As plans to roll out National Health Insurance (NHI) gather momentum and we transition into a pandemic recovery phase, we believe that it is now time to revisit these priorities, while recognising that experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic have revealed new system challenges and strengths and introduced new priorities. ⋯ Themes related to leadership and governance were ranked most highly, and with other priorities generated, provide an initial road map of knowledge needs that could guide individual institutions and commissioning by funding bodies. We further reflect on the importance of researcher-decision-maker dialogue and strengthening the contribution of health policy and systems research to policy and practice, especially as new reforms are implemented.
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Older adults in acute hospitals are uniquely vulnerable to mental illness during the COVID-19 pandemic. We describe two eighteen-week periods of specialised liaison psychiatry for older inpatients in a large teaching hospital, pre- and mid-pandemic. Service delivery went from almost completely via face-to-face consultation in the Routine period, to majority remote work in the Pandemic period. ⋯ In the Pandemic period, 197 patients were assessed and received 3.1 consultations on average (range 1-19). Patient age trended toward older in the Pandemic period, mean 77 years (SD 6.9) vs 78 years (SD 1.32) in the Routine period. There were more referrals for behavioural disturbance and confusion during the Pandemic period, and more diagnoses of Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia, Delirium and Adjustment Disorder during the Pandemic period vs the Routine period.
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The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the shortcomings of our health care delivery system for vulnerable populations and created a need to rethink health disparity education in medical training. We examined how the early COVID-19 pandemic impacted third-year medical students' attitudes, perceptions, and sense of responsibility regarding health care delivery for vulnerable populations. ⋯ Our findings describe an educational approach to care for vulnerable populations based on awareness, attitudes, and social action. Medical education must continue to teach students how to identify ways to mitigate disparities in order to achieve health equity.