Burnout and anxiety level of healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has affected many countries in the world and has been known as one of the fast-spreading viruses in recent history. OBJECTIVE: Our aim is to reveal the level of anxiety and burnout, attitudes, thoughts, and behaviors of healthcare professionals about COVID-19 in Turkey. METHODS: The individuals included in the study answered seven questions containing demographic information, 27 questions determining their views and perspectives on COVID-19. Anxiety level was measured by Beck Anxiety Scale (BAI), and State Anxiety Inventory (SAI); burnout was measured by Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). RESULTS: We included 66 health staff (50 female, 16 male) whose mean age was 31.71±5.18 years (22-46 ranged). Twenty-two (33.3%) of the participants worked on the COVID-19 frontline while 44 (66.6%) of them worked on usual wards.We found that participants' anxiety was at a moderate level in BAI (mean: 14.00±12.66). The mean of the SAI was 49.93±13.06. MBI subscales were low. We found that there was a significant difference in BAI between COVID-19 frontline healthcare professionals and those who worked on the usual wards (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: It is important to consider the level of anxiety and burnout in all healthcare professionals and to help them to protect their mental health.

The contribution of neurocognitive situation, physical capacity and daily life activities to quality of life in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivors

Background/aim: There are no extensive studies on the QL in children who completed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treatment and currently living without any disease in Turkey. Our study aimed to analyze both the QL and the effects of physical, neurocognitive capacities on QL in childhood ALL survivors aged 7­12 years at the time of recruitment. Materials and methods: PedsQL cancer module 3.0 child and proxy report, for ages 5­7 and 8­12 years, WeeFIM scale, BOTMP Short Form, RPM, reading, writing, and mathematics assessment tools, sociodemographic information form were carried out to the children and their family. Results: There was no effect of the months since the completion of therapy on pain, anxiety, cognitive problems, perceived physical appearance, and the total QL scores of children and proxy reports (p > 0.05). Children's physical capacities were significantly worse than healthy controls and have not reached the level of healthy children even after a long time since completion of ALL therapy. There was a significant association between physical capacity and daily independent living status (p < 0.001). Reading, writing, and mathematical skills were significantly associated with the mean time off-treatment (p < 0.001), and the total score of RPM and PedsQL of those with mathematical difficulties were significantly lower than those without any difficulty (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The months after the treatment (off-treatment time) have not affected total and subunit QL scores. As motor skills difficulties will lead to low academic achievement, early recognition direct the parents for immediate intervention. lead to low academic achievement, early recognition could direct the parents for immediate intervention. Planning psychosocial support programs for physical activity and age-appropriate development of patients from the initiation of treatment will increase the QL in childhood ALL with a survival rate of 80% or more.

Clinical Characteristics of and Services Provided for Patients with Lymphedema Referred to a Physiotherapy Program During the Years 2009 Through 2019.

Background: Lymphedema is a chronic and progressive disease whose diagnosis involves determination of clinical and demographic characteristics. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with lymphedema and their various diagnoses. We studied patients who were referred for physiotherapy services at any point during the years 2009 through 2019. Methods: Retrospective data were collected from the files of 430 lymphedema patients. The type, cause, localization, stage, and severity of lymphedema and physiotherapy needs were analyzed and reported. Results: Primary and secondary lymphedema were observed in 18 (4.2%) and 412 (95.8%) patients, respectively. The patients' mean body mass index score was 30.66 kg/m2. The data indicated that the most common cause of secondary lymphedema was breast cancer and its treatments (n = 196, 47.6%). Other causes were chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) (n = 140, 34%), lipolymphedema (n = 11, 2.7%), and other types of cancers (n = 65, 15.7%). According to the affected body regions, 416 patients had unilateral/bilateral upper and lower extremity lymphedema and 14 had head and neck lymphedema. The patients were followed with a home-based physiotherapy program (n = 353, 82.1%) or they underwent treatments through an outpatient program (n = 77, 17.9%). Conclusions: Most patients admitted to the clinic had a diagnosis of breast cancer and CVI. The severity and stages of lymphedema were variable. The data indicated that most patients were followed through a home-based physiotherapy program. These results may set a frame for understanding the treatment and care needs of patients with lymphedema.