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The effect of the COVID-19 related stressors on the mental health of both infected patients and the general public has been well established. However, knowledge is limited on how psychosocial support buffers the association. This study aimed to examine this buffering role in the context of China. We utilized cross-sectional data collected online in mid-March 2020, involving 585 respondents. Mental health status was determined through depression symptoms and loneliness. COVID-19 related stressors include three aspects: perceived severity, perceived threat to life and health, and perceived risk of COVID-19 infection. Psychosocial support included family and social supports. Analyses include ordinary linear regression. The finding showed that psychosocial support buffered the negative effect of loneliness in the context of perceived severity of COVID-19, but appeared to intensify the negative effect of depression symptoms in the context of perceived threat to life and health. However, there was no significant buffering effect on depression or loneliness in the context of the perceived risk of infection. The buffering effect of psychosocial support on COVID-19 related stressors is of mixed patterns. This study contributes to the emerging body of literature trying to understand how the COVID-19 impacts the mental health of individuals., Author(s): Ying Wang [sup.1] , Tolulope Ariyo [sup.1] , Huijun Liu [sup.1] , Chenjuan Ma [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.43169.39, 0000 0001 0599 1243, Institute for Population and Development Studies, [...]

An increasing body of evidence highlights the importance of an individual's place of residence on their health and functional outcomes. This study is based on Outcome and Assessment Information Set data to assess the differences in emergency department visits among Medicare home health care patients by patients' residence location (rural/urban status and neighborhood socioeconomic status). Compared to urban patients, a disproportionately higher proportion of rural patients lived in more or most disadvantaged neighborhoods (83.9% vs. 41.3%). Using linear probability regression models, patients in rural areas (coefficient =.02, p <.001) and disadvantaged neighborhoods (less disadvantaged: coefficient =.02, p <.001; more disadvantaged: coefficient =.034, p <.001; most disadvantaged: coefficient =.042, p <.001) were more likely to experience emergency department visits. Policymakers should consider utilizing area-based target interventions to mitigate gaps in home health care. Also, given that the majority of rural patients reside in disadvantaged neighborhoods, neighborhood characteristics should be considered in addressing rural–urban disparities and improving home health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While home health agencies (HHAs) can seek accreditation to recognize their quality of service, it is unknown whether agencies with accreditation perform better in providing care than those without accreditation. Using 5-year data from national data sources, the aims of this study were: 1) to depict characteristics of HHAs with and without accreditation; and 2) to examine the relationship between accreditation status and HHA performance on quality-of-care metrics. This study analyzed 7,697 agencies in the US and found that 1) agencies that were for-profit, urban, not-hospital-affiliated, single-branch, Medicare enrolled only, and without hospice program were more likely to have accreditation; and 2) overall, accredited agencies performed better on the three commonly used quality indicators, timely initiation of care, hospitalization, and emergency department visit, though not all the observed differences were substantial in absolute value. Our results provide unique empirical information to agencies considering seeking accreditation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]