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BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has potentially had a negative impact on the mental health and well-being of individuals and families. Anxiety levels and risk factors within particular populations are poorly described. ObjectiveThis study aims to evaluate confidence, understanding, trust, concerns, and levels of anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in the general population and assess risk factors for increased anxiety. MethodsWe launched a cross-sectional online survey of a large Russian population between April 6 and 15, 2020, using multiple social media platforms. A set of questions targeted confidence, understanding, trust, and concerns in respondents. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory was used to measure anxiety. Multiple linear regressions were used to model predictors of COVID-19–related anxiety. ResultsThe survey was completed by 23,756 out of 53,966 (44.0% response rate) unique visitors; of which, 21,364 were residing in 62 areas of Russia. State Anxiety Scale (S-Anxiety) scores were higher than Trait Anxiety Scale scores across all regions of Russia (median S-Anxiety score 52, IQR 44-60), exceeding published norms. Time spent following news on COVID-19 was strongly associated with an increased S-Anxiety adjusted for baseline anxiety level. One to two hours spent reading COVID-19 news was associated with a 5.46 (95% CI 5.03-5.90) point difference, 2-3 hours with a 7.06 (95% CI 6.37-7.74) point difference, and more than three hours with an 8.65 (95% CI 7.82-9.47) point difference, all compared to less than 30 minutes per day. Job loss during the pandemic was another important factor associated with higher S-Anxiety scores (3.95, 95% CI 3.31-4.58). Despite survey respondents reporting high confidence in information regarding COVID-19 as well as an understanding of health care guidance, they reported low overall trust in state and local authorities, and perception of country readiness. ConclusionsAmong Russian respondents from multiple social media platforms, there was evidence of higher levels of state anxiety associated with recent job loss and increased news consumption, as well as lower than expected trust in government agencies. These findings can help inform the development of key public health messages to help reduce anxiety and raise perceived trust in governmental response to this current national emergency. Using a similar methodology, comparative surveys are ongoing in other national populations.

BackgroundHealth games provide opportunities for the treatment and prevention of childhood obesity. We developed a motion-controlled serious game for children that addresses 3 core topics of nutrition, physical activity, and stress coping. It is the first serious game that extensively targets the dietary energy density principle (DED-P) in relation to nutrition. The game is intended to provide an additional educational component for the prevention and treatment of obesity in children. ObjectiveThe Kids Obesity Prevention study aimed to evaluate the newly developed game and to evaluate how well children are able to understand and apply the DED-P. MethodsThis cluster randomized controlled trial collected data from 82 primary school children aged 9 to 12 years and their parents at baseline (T0), at 2 weeks after study commencement (T1), and at the 4-week follow-up (T2). The dropout rate was 3.6%. The intervention group (IG) played the game within 2 weeks (2 sessions with different game modules). One part of the game involves selection of food with the lower energy density when presented with a pair of foods. This allows assessment of whether the children have understood the DED-P and whether they can apply it to unknown foods under time pressure. The control group (CG) received a brochure about the food pyramid concept and physical activity. The primary outcome was the gain in knowledge (nutrition and stress coping) and measured with a pretested questionnaire. The secondary outcomes were the maintenance of knowledge, application of the DED-P, feelings during game play, game acceptance, and behavioral measures (physical activity, media consumption, and dietary intake). ResultsThe knowledge score ranging from 0 to 100 increased from T0 (IG: 53 [SD 10], CG: 50 [SD 11]) to T1 (IG: 69 [SD 11], CG: 52 [SD 12]) in IG versus CG (P

Background and Objectives: Among the clinical skills needed by all physicians, history taking is one of the most important. The teaching model for peer-assisted history-taking groups investigated in the present study consists of small-group courses in which students practice conducting medical interviews with real patients. The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the expectations, experiences, and subjective learning progress of participants in peer-assisted history-taking groups.Methods: The 42 medical student participants completed a 4-month, peer-assisted, elective history-taking course, which both began and ended with a subjective assessment of their interview skills by way of a pseudonymized questionnaire. Measures comprised the students’ self-assessment of their interview skills, their expectations of, and their experiences with the course and especially with the peer tutors. Results: Medical students’ most important motivations in attending peer-assisted history-taking groups were becoming able to complete a structured medical interview, to mitigate difficult interviewing situations, and to address patients’ emotional demands appropriately. By the end of the course, students’ self-assessment of both their interview skills and management of emotional issues improved significantly. Students especially benefitted from individual feedback regarding interview style and relationship formation, as well as generally accepted and had their expectations met by peer tutors. Conclusions: To meet the important learning objectives of history-taking and management of emotional issues, as well as self-reflection and reflection of student–patient interactions, students in the field greatly appreciate practicing medical interviewing in small, peer-assisted groups with real patients. At the same time, peer tutors are experienced to be helpful and supportive and can help students to overcome inhibitions in making contact with patients.

Introduction: Post-COVID-19 is an increasing chronic disease for which potential treatment options require further development and examination. A well-established approach to symptom management in post-COVID-19 patients could be e-Health interventions. To enhance the implementation and utilization of e-Health interventions, the needs and demands of patients should be taken into consideration. The aim of this study was to investigate needs and demands of post-COVID-19 patients concerning e-Health symptom management interventions. Methods: A total of 556 patients participated in this cross-sectional online survey study. Recruitment was performed from January 19 to May 24, 2022. Data related to the needs and demands for e-Health interventions were analyzed, along with medical and sociodemographic information. Results: The majority of the patients preferred interventions accessible on smartphones (95.3%). The favored content formats were applications (82.7%), interactive training (69.3%), or audio and video materials (61.1%). Furthermore, the preferred session length was about 10–20 min. The most desired topics included "quality of life," "information about how intensively I may exert myself or do sports," "adjustment to new life situation," and "handling physical changes." Conclusions: This study provides a detailed framework for the content and design of e-Health interventions to support patients managing their post-COVID-19 symptoms. The findings could significantly influence the further development of tailored e-Health interventions to address this pressing global health concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The development and advancement of treatment and care options is one priority in the field of eating disorders. The inclusion of persons with lived experience with eating disorders into clinical research could enrich and accelerate this endeavor, as they can add different perspectives on the disease and its treatment. Although lived experience perspectives are increasingly part of eating disorder research, they have not been widely or structurally implemented into clinical trials and there is limited information on the practice of participatory research, its framework and consequences. Aims: The present work outlines the participatory collaboration with a lived experience council in the randomized controlled treatment trial SUSTAIN. Materials & Methods: The manuscript is a participatory publication co‐written by individuals with lived experience with anorexia nervosa and eating disorder researchers. Results: We report on motivations for this approach, our collaboration principles, structures and shared experience of working together in the trial, the potential burdens and benefits related to participation for people with lived experience. Discussion: We outline future directions and perspectives to integrate a participatory framework into clinical eating disorder research. Conclusion: The involvement of people with experiential knowledge is complex, but possible in clinical research on ED and bears huge potential for the development of more effective care. Public Significance: Incorporating perspectives of people with lived experience into a participatory framework of mental health research bears huge potential on a societal level. This includes more relevant research topics and designs, more tailored and effective interventions, and facilitated implementation, as well as dissemination, higher credibility, destigmatization of mental illness, and patient empowerment. Participatory clinical research, however, needs structural anchorage within science and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:e-Health interventions are increasing in the field of organ transplantations; however, the literature lacks evidence regarding needs, attitudes, and preferences of organ recipients and donors during the course of an organ transplantation. Methods:In a cross-sectional study, 70 subjects were assessed using self-rated and validated questionnaires, such as the PRIME MD Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-D) and the Essen Resource Inventory (ERI). Group differences and a multiple linear regression were also applied. Results:Organ recipients had significantly higher scores for depression (U = 245.00, z = −2.65, p = 0.008, Cohen's d = 0.32), somatoform (U = 224.50, z = −2.99, p = 0.003, Cohen's d = 0.37), and stress syndromes (U = 266.00, z = −2.25, p = 0.008, Cohen's d = 0.27). They also named the internet and apps as resources to find information regarding organ transplants (U = 177.50, z = −2.07, p = 0.017, Cohen's d = 0.28; Z = −2.308, p = 0.021) and preferred to use apps to monitor the physical condition (Z = −2.12, p = 0.034) significantly more than organ donors. Anxiety and somatoform syndromes were significant predictors to search for information regarding the transplant process (F[6,38] = 3.98, p < 0.001; R2 = 0.386). Conclusions:e-Health interventions are promising in accompanying the course of an organ transplant for patients to be informed and educated. Predominantly, potential organ recipients might benefit from apps to record physical parameters. However, anxiety syndromes might hinder patients from searching for information about the transplant process, while somatoform syndromes might enable patients who are searching for such information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]