Assessing the knowledge of endometriosis diagnostic tools in a large, international lay population: an online survey.

Objective: To assess the general population’s knowledge regarding the utility and availability of tools to diagnosis endometriosis, with focus on ultrasound. Design: An international cross-sectional online survey study was performed between August and October 2019. Setting and Population: 5301 respondents, representing 73 countries. Methods: 23 questions survey focused on knowledge of endometriosis diagnosis distributed globally via patient- and community-endometriosis groups using social media. Main outcomes and measures: Descriptive data of the knowledge of diagnostic tools for diagnosing endometriosis, including details about diagnosis using ultrasound. Results: 84.0% of respondents had been previously diagnosed with endometriosis, 71.5% of which were diagnosed at the time of surgery. Ultrasound and MRI were the methods of diagnosis in 6.5% and 1.8%, respectively. 91.8%, 28.8%, and 16.6% of respondents believed surgery, ultrasound and MRI could diagnose endometriosis, respectively (more than one answer allowed). In those diagnosed by surgery, 21.7% knew about ultrasound as a diagnosis method compared to 51.5% knowing in those diagnosed non-surgically (p<0.001). 14.7%, 31.1%, and 18.2% stated superficial, ovarian, and deep endometriosis could be diagnosed with ultrasound (32.9% stated they did not know which phenotypes of endometriosis could be diagnosed). 58.4% of respondents do not believe they could access an advanced ultrasound in their region. Conclusions: There are significant gaps in the understanding of diagnosing endometriosis using non-surgical tools in this study population.

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3029 Willingness to Engage in a Statewide Virtual Community for Biomedical Research

Journal of Clinical and Translational Science ◽

10.1017/cts.2019.229 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (s1) ◽

pp. 100-101

Author(s):

Christi Patten ◽

Milton Eder ◽

Tabetha A Brockman ◽

Deborah Hendricks ◽

Miguel Valdez Soto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Media ◽

Biomedical Research ◽

Online Survey ◽

Virtual Communities ◽

Virtual Community ◽

Diverse Populations ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Group Methods ◽

Study Population

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Virtual communities are an untested method to enhance community engagement in biomedical research. Our CTSA Hubs collaborated to assess receptivity to engage in a statewide Facebook (FB) group. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Cross-sectional online survey administered via iPads at the MN State Fair in 2018 to adults aged 18+ years residing in MN assessed demographics, social media use, interest in participating in a FB group for biomedical research; and open-ended questions on health topics of interest, and what would keep people engaged in this group. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Respondents (N=487) were 21% racial minorities and 65% female sex. Most (87%, n=422) had created a personal FB profile. Of these, the proportion who agreed/strongly agreed was: 57% that the FB group sounded interesting, 45% were interested in being part of it, 41% were willing to share it with others, 62% that it would allow the community’s thoughts/ideas to be heard and 59% wanted to learn about opportunities to participate in research on health topics they care about. Using content analysis, the top 3 health topics people wanted to learn about were chronic disease and prevention, wellness, and mental health. Top ways to keep people engaged were providing personable, relevant health information; and interactive bi-directional discussions. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Findings will inform development of a FB group to engage diverse populations in biomedical research.

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The Effects of Instagram Use, Social Comparison, and Self-Esteem on Social Anxiety: A Survey Study in Singapore

Social Media + Society ◽

10.1177/2056305120912488 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 205630512091248

Author(s):

Shaohai Jiang ◽

Annabel Ngien

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Social Anxiety ◽

Social Comparison ◽

Online Survey ◽

Interactive Media ◽

Well Being ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Survey Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Mediation Effects

Social media have been growing rapidly during the past decade. However, it remains unclear whether social media make people more emotionally healthy or less. This study aims to explore the effect of Instagram use on individuals’ social anxiety. With a general basis of the three-stage model of interactive media use for health promotion, we conducted a cross-sectional online survey study ( N = 388) in the context of Singapore and empirically tested a mediation pathway linking Instagram use to social anxiety. The results indicated that Instagram use did not directly increase social anxiety. Instead, social comparison, a proximal outcome, and self-esteem, an intermediate outcome played mediating roles, supporting the complete mediation effects. This finding provides important theoretical and practical implications for the design of health campaigns and education in this digital era to enhance the positive effect of social media on health and emotional well-being.

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Predictors of the COVID-19 Social Distancing Practice among Undergraduate Health Students in Samarinda City, Indonesia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Kesmas National Public Health Journal ◽

10.21109/kesmas.v16i4.5072 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Siti Hadijah Aspan ◽

Pramon Viwattanakulvanid

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Online Survey ◽

Target Population ◽

World Health ◽

Survey Study ◽

Accurate Information ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Social Distancing ◽

The Government

Social distancing is a health protocol recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for reducing the spread of COVID-19. Undergraduate health students play an important role in the dissemination of accurate information. This study identified predictors that influenced the COVID-19 social distancing practice and examined the sources of social distancing information among undergraduate health students in Samarinda City, Indonesia. This cross-sectional online survey study (March-April 2021) to involved 422 undergraduate students from medicine, public health, and pharmacy faculties at Mulawarman University. Binary logistic regression was conducted to identify factors associated with the COVID-19 social distancing practice. The results showed that age (AOR 1.47; 95% CI 1.97–2.22, p = 0.045), sex (AOR 2.26; 95% CI 1.38–3.69, p=0.001), and attitude (AOR 2.61, 95% CI: 1.75, 3.90, p<0.001) were significantly associated with social distancing practices. The top three sources of COVID-19 social distancing information used were social media (80.6%), websites (14.0%), and television (3.8%). The study findings encourage the government to disseminate more health information on social media and education programs to this target population.

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COVID-19 information exposure and its implications for employees in the health care sector: findings from an online survey (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.20752 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Paulo Bazan ◽

Raymundo Machado de Azevedo Neto ◽

Julia Dias ◽

Vanessa Salvatierra ◽

Liana Guerra ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Information Processing ◽

Online Survey ◽

Survey Study ◽

Healthcare Sector ◽

Media Access ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Processing Style ◽

Processing Demands ◽

Information Exposure

BACKGROUND During the COVID-19 pandemic, the massive delivery of rapidly changing information about the science of the disease and its implications on everyday life can place high demands on individuals' abilities to deal with all this information. Professionals working in the healthcare sector are in the spotlight of this scenario. OBJECTIVE In this survey study, our aim was to quickly assess estimates about the sources, type and volume of information these individuals receive, and their feelings related to information processing demands during the pandemic. METHODS An online cross-sectional questionnaire survey was distributed to employees of a major healthcare provider in São Paulo, Brazil, between April 3-10 2020. Quantitative data were assessed with descriptive statistical analysis. Data from open-ended questions were assessed with word cloud graphs. RESULTS A total of 2646 respondents were included in the analysis. Most participants (44.3%) reported having had access to excessive, or close to excessive information about the new coronavirus and 67.6% reported an increase in the average time spent on social media per day (mean increase of 2.46 hours, standard deviation of 4.35 hours). When asked how frequently they consider it is easy to determine the reliability of information, sometimes’ corresponded to 43.2% of the answers in contrast to 14.6% responding ‘always’. Participant's responses on possible signs of information overload associated with the pandemic indicated that: 31% always or almost everyday felt stressed about the amount of information they had to follow. Among the total of respondents, 80.0% reported experiencing at least one symptom such as headache, eye twitching, restlessness or sleeping difficulty. Participants showing a more negative information–processing style regarding dealing with a lot of information also reported a higher proportion of symptoms than participants that have a positive information-processing style. Similarly, participants that increased their social media access reported higher proportion of symptoms than participants that decreased their social media access during the pandemic. 45.5% respondents reported deliberately reducing their exposure to information about COVID-19. The most common reported reasons for this behavior change were information repetition (77.6%) and fatigue (59.4%). CONCLUSIONS Our survey provides a description of the ways in which individuals consume COVID-19 related information during the pandemic, and suggests that excessive information exposure and high processing demands may impose psychological distress.

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Public perspectives on social distancing and other protective measures in Europe: a cross-sectional survey study during the COVID-19 pandemic

10.1101/2020.04.02.20049676 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Karien Meier ◽

Toivo Glatz ◽

Mathijs C Guijt ◽

Marco Piccininni ◽

Merel van der Meulen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

The Netherlands ◽

Online Survey ◽

Communication Channels ◽

European Countries ◽

Stage Iii ◽

Survey Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Protective Measures ◽

Social Distancing

ABSTRACTObjectivesThe extent to which people implement government-issued protective measures is critical in preventing further spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Our study aimed to evaluate the public belief in the effectiveness of protective measures, the reported implementation of these measures in daily life, and to identify communication channels used to acquire relevant information on COVID-19 in European countries.DesignA cross-sectional online survey available in multiple languages was disseminated on social media starting March 19th, 2020. After five days, we computed descriptive statistics for countries with more than 500 respondents. Each day, we compiled and categorized community containment measures enacted in each country by stringency (stage I-IV). Response collection continued for one week to explore possible dynamics as containment strategies intensified.ParticipantsIn total, 9,796 adults responded, of whom 8,611 resided in the Netherlands (stage III), 604 in Germany (stage III), and 581 in Italy (stage IV). An additional 1,365 respondents completed the survey in the following week.ResultsParticipants indicated support for governmental measures related to avoiding social gatherings, selective closure of public places, and hand hygiene and respiratory measures (range for all measures: 95.0%-99.7%). Respondents from the Netherlands were less likely to consider a complete social lockdown effective (59.2%), compared to respondents in Germany (76.6%) or Italy (87.2%). Italian residents did not only apply enforced social distancing measures more frequently (range: 90.2%-99.3%, German and Dutch residents: 67.5%-97.0%), but also self-initiated hygienic and social distancing behaviors (range: 36.3%-96.6%, German and Dutch residents: 28.3%-95.7%). Respondents largely reported being sufficiently informed about the COVID-19 outbreak and about behaviors to avoid infection (range across countries: 90.2%-91.1%). Information channels most commonly reported included television (range: 53.0%-82.0%), newspapers (range: 31.0%-63.0%), official health websites (range: 39.0%-54.1%), and social media (range: 40.0%-55.8%). We observed no major changes in answers over time.ConclusionsIn European countries, the degree of public belief in the effectiveness of protective measures was high and residents reported to be sufficiently informed by various communication channels. In March 2020, implementation of enacted and self-initiated measures differed between countries and were highest among Italian respondents, who were subjected to the most elaborate measures of social lockdown and greatest COVID-19 burden in Europe.

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Psychological Impacts of COVID-19 During the First Nationwide Lockdown in Vietnam: Web-Based, Cross-Sectional Survey Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.24776 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Khanh Ngoc Cong Duong ◽

Tien Nguyen Le Bao ◽

Phuong Thi Lan Nguyen ◽

Thanh Vo Van ◽

Toi Phung Lam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

General Population ◽

Psychological Health ◽

Online Survey ◽

Survey Study ◽

Limited Information ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Event Scale ◽

The Impact

BACKGROUND The first nationwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic was implemented in Vietnam from April 1 to 15, 2020. Nevertheless, there has been limited information on the impact of COVID-19 on the psychological health of the public. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of psychological issues and identify the factors associated with the psychological impact of COVID-19 during the first nationwide lockdown among the general population in Vietnam. METHODS We employed a cross-sectional study design with convenience sampling. A self-administered, online survey was used to collect data and assess psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and stress of participants from April 10 to 15, 2020. The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) were utilized to assess psychological distress, depression, anxiety, and stress of participants during social distancing due to COVID-19. Associations across factors were explored using regression analysis. RESULTS A total of 1385 respondents completed the survey. Of this, 35.9% (n=497) experienced psychological distress, as well as depression (n=325, 23.5%), anxiety (n=195, 14.1%), and stress (n=309, 22.3%). Respondents who evaluated their physical health as average had a higher IES-R score (beta coefficient [B]=9.16, 95% CI 6.43 to 11.89), as well as higher depression (B=5.85, 95% CI 4.49 to 7.21), anxiety (B=3.64, 95% CI 2.64 to 4.63), and stress (B=5.19, 95% CI 3.83 to 6.56) scores for DASS-21 than those who rated their health as good or very good. Those who self-reported their health as bad or very bad experienced more severe depression (B=9.57, 95% CI 4.54 to 14.59), anxiety (B=7.24, 95% CI 3.55 to 10.9), and stress (B=10.60, 95% CI 5.56 to 15.65). Unemployment was more likely to be associated with depression (B=3.34, 95% CI 1.68 to 5.01) and stress (B=2.34, 95% CI 0.84 to 3.85). Regarding worries about COVID-19, more than half (n=755, 54.5%) expressed concern for their children aged <18 years, which increased their IES-R score (B=7.81, 95% CI 4.98 to 10.64) and DASS-21 stress score (B=1.75, 95% CI 0.27 to 3.24). The majority of respondents (n=1335, 96.4%) were confident about their doctor’s expertise in terms of COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment, which was positively associated with less distress caused by the outbreak (B=–7.84, 95% CI –14.58 to –1.11). CONCLUSIONS The findings highlight the effect of COVID-19 on mental health during the nationwide lockdown among the general population in Vietnam. The study provides useful evidence for policy decision makers to develop and implement interventions to mitigate these impacts. CLINICALTRIAL

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Survey of young people in one region of the UK on accessing COVID-19 information (SOCIAL)

BMJ Paediatrics Open ◽

10.1136/bmjpo-2020-000942 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. e000942

Author(s):

Oliver G P Lawton ◽

Sarah A Lawton ◽

Lisa Dikomitis ◽

Joanne Protheroe ◽

Joanne Smith ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Young People ◽

Significant Role ◽

Online Survey ◽

Descriptive Statistics ◽

Sources Of Information ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Education Gaps ◽

The Uk

COVID-19 has significantly impacted young people’s lives yet little is known about the COVID-19 related sources of information they access. We performed a cross-sectional survey of pupils (11–16 years) in North Staffordshire, UK. 408 (23%) pupils responded to an online survey emailed to them by their school. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the data. Social media, accessed by 68%, played a significant role in the provision of information, despite it not being considered trustworthy. 89% felt that COVID-19 had negatively affected their education. Gaps in the provision of information on COVID-19 have been identified.

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Young adults’ coping strategies against loneliness during the COVID-19-related quarantine in Greece

Health Promotion International ◽

10.1093/heapro/daab053 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Adrianos Golemis ◽

Panteleimon Voitsidis ◽

Eleni Parlapani ◽

Vasiliki A Nikopoulou ◽

Virginia Tsipropoulou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Young Adults ◽

Social Responsibility ◽

Coping Strategies ◽

Online Survey ◽

Adult Population ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Well Being ◽

Daily Routine ◽

Cross Sectional

Summary COVID-19 and the related quarantine disrupted young adults’ academic and professional life, daily routine and socio-emotional well-being. This cross-sectional study focused on the emotional and behavioural responses of a young adult population during the COVID-19-related quarantine in April 2020, in Greece. The study was conducted through an online survey. A total of 1559 young adults, aged 18−30 years, completed Steele’s Social Responsibility Motivation Scale and the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, and answered questions about compliance with instructions, quarantine-related behaviours and coping strategies. According to the results, participants displayed a relatively high sense of social responsibility (M = 16.09, SD = 2.13) and a trend towards moderate feeling of loneliness (M = 2.65, SD = 1.62); young women reported significantly higher levels of loneliness than men. The majority complied with instructions often (46.4%) or always (44.8%). Significantly more women created a new social media account and used the social media longer than 5 h/day, compared with men. Resorting to religion, practicing sports and sharing thoughts and feelings about COVID-19 with others predicted higher levels of social responsibility; humour, practicing sports and sharing thoughts and feelings about COVID-19 with others predicted lower levels of loneliness. Conclusively, COVID-19 is expected to have a significant psychological impact on young adults. Currently, Greece is going through the second quarantine period. This study raises awareness about loneliness in young adults during the COVID-19-related quarantine and highlights the importance of developing online programmes, attractive to younger people, to nurture adaptive coping strategies against loneliness.

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The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Self-Reported Management of Chronic Conditions

Journal of Patient Experience ◽

10.1177/23743735211007693 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. 237437352110076

Author(s):

Hyllore Imeri ◽

Erin Holmes ◽

Shane Desselle ◽

Meagen Rosenthal ◽

Marie Barnard

Keyword(s):

Locus Of Control ◽

Chronic Conditions ◽

Online Survey ◽

Health Locus Of Control ◽

Patient Activation ◽

Survey Study ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

The Impact

Chronic conditions (CCs) management during the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of the pandemic on patient activation (PA) and health locus of control (HLOC) remain unknown. This cross-sectional online survey study examined the role of COVID-19 pandemic-related worry or fear in PA and HLOC among patients with CCs. Individuals with CCs (n = 300) were recruited through MTurk Amazon. The questionnaire included sociodemographic questions, the Patient Activation Measure, and the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control–Form B. Out of the 300 participants, 9.7% were diagnosed with COVID-19, and 7.3% were hospitalized. Patients with cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, drug abuse/substance abuse, and stroke reported significant difficulties in managing their CCs due to worry or fear because of COVID-19. More than half of the sample (45.7%) reported COVID-19-related worry or fear about managing their CCs, and these patients had lower PA and lower external HLOC compared to patients not affected by COVID-19-related worry or fear. Health professionals should provide more support for patients facing difficulties in managing their CCs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Mental Health, Information and Being Connected: Qualitative Experiences of Social Media Use during the COVID-19 Pandemic from a Trans-National Sample

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare9060735 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 735

Author(s):

Schoultz Mariyana ◽

Leung Janni ◽

Bonsaksen Tore ◽

Ruffolo Mary ◽

Thygesen Hilde ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Media ◽

Health Information ◽

Online Survey ◽

Negative Impact ◽

National Study ◽

Free Text ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Mental Health Information ◽

The Uk

Background: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the strict national policies regarding social distancing behavior in Europe, America and Australia, people became reliant on social media as a means for gathering information and as a tool for staying connected to family, friends and work. This is the first trans-national study exploring the qualitative experiences and challenges of using social media while in lockdown or shelter-in-place during the current pandemic. Methods: This study was part of a wider cross-sectional online survey conducted in Norway, the UK, USA and Australia during April/May 2020. The manuscript reports on the qualitative free-text component of the study asking about the challenges of social media users during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK, USA and Australia. A total of 1991 responses were included in the analysis. Thematic analysis was conducted independently by two researchers. Results: Three overarching themes identified were: Emotional/Mental Health, Information and Being Connected. Participants experienced that using social media during the pandemic amplified anxiety, depression, fear, panic, anger, frustration and loneliness. They felt that there was information overload and social media was full of misleading or polarized opinions which were difficult to switch off. Nonetheless, participants also thought that there was an urge for connection and learning, which was positive and stressful at the same time. Conclusion: Using social media while in a shelter-in-place or lockdown could have a negative impact on the emotional and mental health of some of the population. To support policy and practice in strengthening mental health care in the community, social media could be used to deliver practical advice on coping and stress management. Communication with the public should be strengthened by unambiguous and clear messages and clear communication pathways. We should be looking at alternative ways of staying connected.

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