Background: Cancer diagnosis has been reported in some studies to have a significant psychosocial impact on both the patients and their caregivers. The estimated prevalence of psychosocial distress is between 35% and ...Background: Cancer diagnosis has been reported in some studies to have a significant psychosocial impact on both the patients and their caregivers. The estimated prevalence of psychosocial distress is between 35% and 55%. Commonly encountered psychological issues include and are not limited to fear, anxiety, and emotional distress. Many sources of emotional distress in patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic have been reported to include poorly controlled symptoms arising from a lack of access to symptom control services and treatment. Social distress is associated with social isolation, separation from family and loss of employment. Cancer patients and society have been reported to experience anxiety, despair, and stress due to the COVID-19 restrictions on community movement and hospital appointment rescheduling. The objective of this study was to explore psychosocial distress and social burdens experienced by cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A descriptive phenomenological design was employed to describe “lived experiences of patients with Cancer” during the COVID-19 Pandemic. A total of 20 participants with Cancer and COVID-19 positive were purposefully selected and interviewed. Thematic analysis was utilized for data analysis by the use of themes generated from participants’ responses. Findings: Five major themes emerged: fear, self-isolation compliance, anxiety, low income and emotional distress. The findings of the study indicated that participants experienced fear, emotional distress and anxiety when diagnosed with COVID-19. Conclusion: The experiences of psychosocial distress and social burdens were a result of a lack of psychosocial support by both caregivers and health care workers. This study recommends appropriate health education concerning psychosocial support for cancer patients and the need to have appropriate clinical protocols and materials in allaying anxiety and fear in cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.展开更多
This article addresses issues regarding the transmission of HIV;without the combination antiretroviral treatment (cART), HIV causes a fatal outcome of those infected in most cases. First, legal issues: For years, cont...This article addresses issues regarding the transmission of HIV;without the combination antiretroviral treatment (cART), HIV causes a fatal outcome of those infected in most cases. First, legal issues: For years, controversial discussions have dealt with the subject of the legal classification of HIV infection, such as “… criminalization of HIV exposure might limit access to and uptake of HIV prevention services…” Based on the rule of law of a constitutional state, we explain the legal principles that serve to protect the legal rights of its citizens. The state has to protect its citizens from harm by other people. The prosecution and conviction of a specific person for a proven HIV infection are legal. Therefore, general decriminalization of HIV infection would undermine the right of thereby harmed citizens to compensation. Second, HIV prevention strategies: Based on the Test and Treatment Strategy (TASP)1, controlled studies were undertaken to find out which framework conditions could improve their benefit. We outline concepts that can help to curb the still ongoing spread of HIV: By providing early HIV diagnosis and ongoing HIV care services as part of updated education and prevention campaigns. Also, concerted, comprehensive campaigns are required to demonstrate further impacts of HIV infection: Both on the quality of life of infected individuals due to the development of non-communicable diseases and the increasing burden to societies as a whole.展开更多
Objective: Schizophrenia is a lifelong chronic psychiatric disorder with a relatively early onset. Renal failure, a chronic physical disorder has also negative effects on the families and causes a serious burden in a ...Objective: Schizophrenia is a lifelong chronic psychiatric disorder with a relatively early onset. Renal failure, a chronic physical disorder has also negative effects on the families and causes a serious burden in a similar manner. It is aimed in this study to investigate to what extent the burden, social support and psychological wellbeing among the caregivers of schizophrenic patients compare to those of the caregivers of chronic renal failure patients. Methods: Relatives of patients with schizophrenia and chronic renal failure were included in the study. Each group consisted of 30 volunteers. The volunteers completed demographical information questionnaire, Burden Interview Scale (BIS), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and General Health Questionnaire (GSA). Results: A dominance of female caregivers was found in the study. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of burden. Among the caregivers of chronic renal failure was a positive correlation both between age and burden and education and social support respectively. It was found out that relatives of chronic renal failure got less social support and reported a poorer psychological wellbeing when compared to the relatives of schizophrenic patients. A negative correlation was found between social support and burden in both of the study groups. Conclusion: The results of this study underline the importance of social support in alleviating the burden of the caregivers of chronic patients. The monitarisation of the psychological states of caregivers of both the schizophrenic and renal failure patients has to be taken into consideration.展开更多
文摘Background: Cancer diagnosis has been reported in some studies to have a significant psychosocial impact on both the patients and their caregivers. The estimated prevalence of psychosocial distress is between 35% and 55%. Commonly encountered psychological issues include and are not limited to fear, anxiety, and emotional distress. Many sources of emotional distress in patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic have been reported to include poorly controlled symptoms arising from a lack of access to symptom control services and treatment. Social distress is associated with social isolation, separation from family and loss of employment. Cancer patients and society have been reported to experience anxiety, despair, and stress due to the COVID-19 restrictions on community movement and hospital appointment rescheduling. The objective of this study was to explore psychosocial distress and social burdens experienced by cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A descriptive phenomenological design was employed to describe “lived experiences of patients with Cancer” during the COVID-19 Pandemic. A total of 20 participants with Cancer and COVID-19 positive were purposefully selected and interviewed. Thematic analysis was utilized for data analysis by the use of themes generated from participants’ responses. Findings: Five major themes emerged: fear, self-isolation compliance, anxiety, low income and emotional distress. The findings of the study indicated that participants experienced fear, emotional distress and anxiety when diagnosed with COVID-19. Conclusion: The experiences of psychosocial distress and social burdens were a result of a lack of psychosocial support by both caregivers and health care workers. This study recommends appropriate health education concerning psychosocial support for cancer patients and the need to have appropriate clinical protocols and materials in allaying anxiety and fear in cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
文摘This article addresses issues regarding the transmission of HIV;without the combination antiretroviral treatment (cART), HIV causes a fatal outcome of those infected in most cases. First, legal issues: For years, controversial discussions have dealt with the subject of the legal classification of HIV infection, such as “… criminalization of HIV exposure might limit access to and uptake of HIV prevention services…” Based on the rule of law of a constitutional state, we explain the legal principles that serve to protect the legal rights of its citizens. The state has to protect its citizens from harm by other people. The prosecution and conviction of a specific person for a proven HIV infection are legal. Therefore, general decriminalization of HIV infection would undermine the right of thereby harmed citizens to compensation. Second, HIV prevention strategies: Based on the Test and Treatment Strategy (TASP)1, controlled studies were undertaken to find out which framework conditions could improve their benefit. We outline concepts that can help to curb the still ongoing spread of HIV: By providing early HIV diagnosis and ongoing HIV care services as part of updated education and prevention campaigns. Also, concerted, comprehensive campaigns are required to demonstrate further impacts of HIV infection: Both on the quality of life of infected individuals due to the development of non-communicable diseases and the increasing burden to societies as a whole.
文摘Objective: Schizophrenia is a lifelong chronic psychiatric disorder with a relatively early onset. Renal failure, a chronic physical disorder has also negative effects on the families and causes a serious burden in a similar manner. It is aimed in this study to investigate to what extent the burden, social support and psychological wellbeing among the caregivers of schizophrenic patients compare to those of the caregivers of chronic renal failure patients. Methods: Relatives of patients with schizophrenia and chronic renal failure were included in the study. Each group consisted of 30 volunteers. The volunteers completed demographical information questionnaire, Burden Interview Scale (BIS), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and General Health Questionnaire (GSA). Results: A dominance of female caregivers was found in the study. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of burden. Among the caregivers of chronic renal failure was a positive correlation both between age and burden and education and social support respectively. It was found out that relatives of chronic renal failure got less social support and reported a poorer psychological wellbeing when compared to the relatives of schizophrenic patients. A negative correlation was found between social support and burden in both of the study groups. Conclusion: The results of this study underline the importance of social support in alleviating the burden of the caregivers of chronic patients. The monitarisation of the psychological states of caregivers of both the schizophrenic and renal failure patients has to be taken into consideration.
