Perception of the threat, mental health burden, and healthcare-seeking behavior change among psoriasis patients during the COVID-19 pandemic

This study aimed to investigate the perceived threat, mental health outcomes, behavior changes, and associated predictors among psoriasis patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 has been known to increase the health risks of patients with psoriasis owing to patients’ immune dysregulation, comorbidities, and immunosuppressive drug use. A total of 423 psoriasis patients not infected with COVID-19 was recruited from the Department of Dermatology, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and China Medical University Hospital from May 2020 to July 2020. A self-administered questionnaire was used to evaluate the perceived threat, mental health, and psychological impact on psoriasis patients using the Perceived COVID-19-Related Risk Scale score for Psoriasis (PCRSP), depression, anxiety, insomnia, and stress-associated symptoms (DAISS) scales, and Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), respectively. Over 94% of 423 patients with psoriasis perceived threat to be ≥ 1 due to COVID-19; 18% of the patients experienced psychological symptoms more frequently ≥ 1, and 22% perceived psychological impact during the pandemic to be ≥ 1. Multivariable linear regression showed that the higher psoriasis severity and comorbidities were significantly associated with higher PCRSP, DAISS, and IES-R scores. The requirement for a prolonged prescription and canceling or deferring clinic visits for psoriasis treatment among patients are the two most common healthcare-seeking behavior changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psoriasis patients who perceived a higher COVID-19 threat were more likely to require a prolonged prescription and have their clinic visits canceled or deferred. Surveillance of the psychological consequences in psoriasis patients due to COVID-19 must be implemented to avoid psychological consequences and inappropriate treatment delays or withdrawal.

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Negative Healthcare Experiences, Healthcare-Seeking Behavior, and Mental Health in Tampa Bay Area Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming Individuals

Southern Medical Journal ◽

10.14423/smj.0000000000001260 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 114 (6) ◽

pp. 361-367

Author(s):

Michele L. Bohlmann ◽

Alex J. Dolan ◽

Nat C. Jones ◽

Brian D. Knox

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Tampa Bay ◽

Gender Nonconforming ◽

Healthcare Seeking ◽

Bay Area ◽

Healthcare Experiences ◽

Seeking Behavior ◽

Healthcare Seeking Behavior ◽

And Gender

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Mental Healthcare-Seeking Behavior during The Perinatal Period among Rural Women in Bangladesh

10.21203/rs.3.rs-459178/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Goutam Kumar Dutta ◽

Bidhan Krishna Sarker ◽

Helal Uddin Ahamed ◽

Dipika Shankar Bhattacharyya ◽

Musfikur Rahman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Rural Women ◽

Mental Healthcare ◽

Perinatal Period ◽

Community Level ◽

Health Issues ◽

Healthcare Seeking ◽

Mental Health Issues ◽

Seeking Behavior ◽

Healthcare Seeking Behavior

Abstract Introduction: Mental health conditions are of rising concern due to their increased contribution to the global burden of disease. Mental health issues are inextricably linked with other sociocultural and health dimensions, especially in the rural areas in developing countries. The complex relationship between mental health issues and sociocultural settings may largely toll upon the healthcare-seeking behavior. Evidence suggests that mental illness affects more than 10% of women and one year after childbirth. So, it urges to document the current status of mental healthcare-seeking behavior during the perinatal period among rural women in Bangladesh to develop a context-specific intervention in the future.Methods: This study was carried out in one sub-district in Bangladesh from April 2017 to June 2018. We conducted 21 In-depth Interviews and seven Focus Group Discussions with different groups of purposively selected participants such as perinatal women, head of the family, community stakeholders, and community level healthcare providers. After collecting the recorded interview and making the verbatim transcription, the data were coded through Atlasti 5.7.a. Data were analyzed thematically to explain the findings.Results: Most of the women with mental disorders at the community level did not seek healthcare during the perinatal period. Women with mental illness also did not know who and where the mental health services are provided. The study found that only one respondent out of twenty-one sought maternal mental healthcare from a gynecologist from a private hospital. In this regard, socio-cultural factors such as social stigma traditional beliefs and practices, social and religious taboos, and social capital also negatively influence healthcare-seeking behaviors. Besides, the community-level service providers were not trained and did not have any guidelines regarding its proper management.Conclusion: The study findings provide us evidence that there is an urgent need to increase the awareness for service users and formulate a guideline for the community-level service provider to manage maternal mental problems during the perinatal period of women in rural Bangladesh.

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Psychological Consequences of the Delay in the Silent Mentor Programme During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Perspectives From Family Members of Silent Mentors

OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying ◽

10.1177/00302228211000952 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 003022282110009

Author(s):

Li Ping Wong ◽

Sik Loo Tan ◽

Haridah Alias ◽

Thiam Eng Sia ◽

Aik Saw

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Qualitative Interviews ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Family Members ◽

Well Being ◽

The Body ◽

Functional Health ◽

Psychological Consequences ◽

Negative Effect ◽

Health And Well Being

The COVID-19 pandemic has put a hold on the Silent Mentor Programme (SMP); this pause has not only caused unprecedented challenges for the delivery of medical education but has forced changes in the programme ceremony sessions. We aimed to describe the psychological impact and experiences of family members of silent mentors during the COVID-19 pandemic using qualitative interviews. Many expressed feelings of remorse and unrest about the unprecedented delay of the SMP. The delay increased negative emotions particularly among some elderly family members; however, there was no prominent negative effect on their functional health and well-being. Several participants relayed the belief that the soul cannot rest until the body receives a proper burial while some worried about the deterioration of the physical condition of the mentors. In conclusion, findings provide insights into the importance of not overlooking the mental health implications of delaying the SMP in future outbreaks or crises.

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Healthcare-Seeking Behavior among Chinese Older Adults: Patterns and Predictive Factors

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18062969 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 2969

Author(s):

Yanbing Zeng ◽

Yuanyuan Wan ◽

Zhipeng Yuan ◽

Ya Fang

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Predictive Factors ◽

Medical Insurance ◽

Utilization Rate ◽

Heckman Selection Model ◽

Healthcare Seeking ◽

Inpatient Services ◽

Medical Institutions ◽

Seeking Behavior ◽

Healthcare Seeking Behavior

This study aimed to investigate the patterns and predictive factors of healthcare-seeking behavior among older Chinese adults. A sample of 10,914 participants aged ≥60 years from the 2011, 2013 and 2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) was included. The bivariate analyses and Heckman selection model was used to identify predictors of healthcare-seeking behavior. Results shows that the utilization rate of outpatient services increased from 21.61% in 2011 to 32.41% in 2015, and that of inpatient services increased from 12.44% to 17.68%. In 2015, 71.93% and 92.18% chose public medical institutions for outpatient and inpatient services, 57.63% and 17.00% chose primary medical institutions. The individuals who were female, were younger, lived in urban, central or western regions, had medical insurance, had poor self-rated health and exhibited activity of daily living (ADL) impairment were more inclined to outpatient and inpatient services. Transportation, medical expenses, the out-of-pocket ratio and the urgency of the disease were associated with provider selection. The universal medical insurance schemes improved health service utilization for the elderly population but had little impact on the choice of medical institutions. The older adults preferred public institutions to private institutions, preferred primary institutions for outpatient care, and higher-level hospitals for hospitalization.

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