Substance Use and the Self-Management of Persistent Symptoms of COVID-19.

Background: Understanding the self-management practices of persistent symptoms of SARS-Cov-2 (COVID-19) is critical given the misinformation that has been presented about this disease in the U.S. The purpose of this descriptive study is to assess the self-management of persistent symptoms of COVID-19 with commonly used and misused substances (i.e., alcohol, marijuana and commonly prescribed medications) among adults in the U.S. Methods: The data for this study comes from a cross-sectional survey of U.S. adults that was designed to broadly assess symptom burden, persistent symptom patterns, self-efficacy for symptom management and self-management strategies among people who experienced persistent/Long COVID. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to assess how symptom length of COVID-19 was associated with the use of several substances to manage these persistent symptoms. Results: The analysis found that adults who had COVID-19 symptoms that persisted for 13 weeks or longer had higher rates of using alcohol (27.3%), marijuana (30.9%) and prescription tranquilizers (21.4%) to manage these symptoms when compared to their adult peers who had COVID-19 symptoms persist for only 4 weeks or less. For instance, the odds of indicating the use of marijuana (AOR = 4.21 95% CI = 1.68,10.5) to manage COVID-19 related symptoms was roughly four times higher for respondents who had COVID-19 symptoms persist for 13 weeks or longer when compared to respondents whose COVID-19 symptoms persisted for only 4 weeks or less. Conclusion: The findings suggest that screening of substance use disorders should be considered among healthcare providers who are treating adults who have persistent symptoms of COVID-19.

Perceptions of COVID-19 symptoms, prevention, and treatment strategies among people in seven Arab countries: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUP: the widespread COVID-19 infection worldwide has resulted in the inability of healthcare facilities to receive all infected patients; therefore, most are treated at home. In addition, factors such as high mortality, types and severity of symptoms, and the prevalence of unreliable information have prompted patients to resort to self-treatment. OBJECTIVES: To assess prevention, treatment, degree of symptoms, and sources of information among patients with COVID-19 in Arab countries METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted in seven Arab countries: Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Tunisia, and the United Arab of Emirates. People who have recovered from COVID-19 completed the study questionnaire. Score of symptoms during and after COVID-19 infection has been calculated by giving the participants a list of 13 symptoms. RESULTS: A total of 3519 participants completed the survey. Mostly females (68.3%), and aged between 18 and 40 years old (59.4%). Prophylaxis treatments, including vaccines and antibiotics, have been used in around 40% of the participants. The total average score of symptoms during the infection period was found 7.31 ± 3.66 out of 13. However, the symptoms score upon recovery was low (0.48 ± 1.11 score). The significant associations with increased incidence of symptoms during infection were reported with older people, married, divorced or widowed, people with chronic diseases, and obese. Moreover, significant associations with decreased symptoms were reported with those who worked in the health sector, non- or ex-smokers, and vaccinated people. CONCLUSION: The use of medication and other treatments to prevent infection with COVID-19 was common among the participants in the seven countries. Taking the vaccine was the only effect on the number of symptoms experienced by patients. Although nearly two years have passed since the onset of the disease, there is still a need to raise treatment awareness among patients at home.

Assessment of Self-Treatment Knowledge, Beliefs and Practice during COVID-19 Pandemic among Egyptian Population: A Cross Sectional Study

Background: Owing to absence of definitive treatment to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and vaccine hesitancy, the general population sought information from various sources to prevent or treat the disease. Consequently, self-treatment (ST) was boosted in many parts of the world. Aim: The current study aimed to assess ST knowledge, beliefs and practice during the COVID-19 pandemic among Egyptians. Subjects and Method: A cross-sectional, anonymous online survey was conducted using different social media platforms to recruit participants. The survey assessed the sociodemographic characteristics, past COVID-19 infection and vaccination, exposure to ST, and reasons for ST. Results: A total of 400 participants completed the questionnaire;their mean age was 34.9±11.5, females represented 67.8%, married (63.3%), living in urban areas (76.8%) and had chronic diseases (28%). About 67.5% had received vitamins or minerals, antibiotics or herbals or food supplements either due to ST (59.6%) or non-ST (40.4%). Among the ST group, vitamins were used by (81.9%), antibiotics (45.9%), and herbals and supplements (40.9%). Conclusion: ST may delay medical advice seeking leading to worsening of the patient's health. Efforts to raise public awareness about risks of ST should be done by healthcare members especially in the media. © 2022, Ain Shams University Faculty of Medicine. All rights reserved.

Reducing Test Anxiety by Device-Guided Breathing: A Pilot Study.

Test anxiety remains a challenge for students and has considerable physiological and psychological impacts. The routine practice of slow, Device-Guided Breathing (DGB) is a major component of behavioral treatments for anxiety conditions. This paper addresses the effectiveness of using DGB as a self-treatment clinical tool for test anxiety reduction. This pilot study sample included 21 healthy men and women, all college students, between the ages of 20 and 30. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: DGB practice (n = 10) and wait-list control (n = 11). At the beginning and the end of 3-weeks DGB training, participants underwent a stress test, followed by measures of blood pressure and reported anxiety. Anxiety reduction in the DGB group as compared to controls was not statistically significant, but showed a large effect size. Accordingly, the clinical outcomes suggested that daily practice of DGB may lead to reduced anxiety. We assume that such reduction may lead to improved test performance. Our results suggest an alternative treatment for test anxiety that may also be relevant for general anxiety, which is likely to increase due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Self-Medication with Antibiotics during COVID-19 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region Countries: A Review.

Self-treatment with medicines including treatment with antibiotics is a growing global concern, as it can cause public health problems, such as antibiotic resistance and drug toxicity. Therefore, the significance of the self-medication impact of COVID-19 in any region can have an influence on the prevalence of such problems. The review aimed to investigate the self-treatment with antibiotics among the general population in Eastern Mediterranean region countries during COVID-19 pandemic. A comprehensive review of literature in four databases was conducted for the pandemic period from January 2020 to the end of March 2022. Nine studies related to self-treatment with antibiotics were found. The studies were homogeneous in terms of assessing the antibiotic self-treatment usage during the COVID-19 pandemic among the general population and among community pharmacies. The prevalence of self-treatment with antibiotics ranged from 20.8% to 45.8% between the studies. The main reasons for that were cost-saving, fear of COVID-19 infection, quarantine, and ease of accessibility without time limits. Antibiotic self-treatment has been high during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, it was less reported during the study period than before the time of the pandemic. There is a need for more restrictions on dispensing antibiotics from community pharmacies. In addition, there is a need to raise awareness among the population regarding self-treatment with antibiotics.

The Effect of an Educational Intervention on Self-Care in Patients with Venous Leg Ulcers-A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Although patients with venous leg ulcers are involved in ulcer management, little is known about why and how these patients self-treat their ulcers without direct supervision by health professionals. Yet patients' knowledge of ulcer management can be important for achieving ulcer closure and/or preventing recurrence. This study thus investigates the effects of an educational intervention on knowledge of self-care among patients with venous leg ulcers, mainly on wound dressing practice, compression therapy, physical activity and nutrition. METHODS AND PARTICIPANTS: This research was conducted in three outpatient hospitals in central Croatia. An educational brochure was made and distributed to patients; patients were surveyed about caring for venous leg ulcers before the brochure was distributed and after 3 months. RESULTS: In total, 208 patients were involved in the study: 112 in the experimental group and 96 in the control group. The educational intervention increased awareness of compression therapy, knowledge of recurrence prevention, appropriate lifestyle habits, and warning signs related to venous leg ulcers. CONCLUSIONS: Patient education on illness and self-care is necessary to achieve positive effects in self-care knowledge. In this study, patients learned how to change dressings, learned how to improve their lifestyle, and were empowered to deal with their illness.

In a life full of risks, COVID-19 makes little difference. Responses to COVID-19 among mobile migrants in gold mining areas in Suriname and French Guiana.

Worldwide, the socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19 disproportionally affect vulnerable groups in society. This paper assesses responses to, and impacts of, the pandemic among mobile migrant populations who work in Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) in Suriname and French Guiana. These populations are characterized by poverty, informal or illegal status, and limited access to health care and information. Field research in Suriname (November 2020-January 2021) and French Guiana (January, May, June 2021) included qualitative interviews, informal conversations and observations, and a quantitative survey with 361 men and women in ASGM communities. Contrary to reports from the ASGM sector elsewhere, interviewed inhabitants of ASGM areas in Suriname and French Guiana showed little concern about COVID-19. Respondents reported feeling safer in the forest where they work than in the urban areas or in their home country. Trust in home remedies and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals further reduced anxiety about the pandemic. Three-quarters of survey respondents reported that the COVID-19 pandemic had not affected their work or income at all. The researchers conclude that in these remote Amazon communities, responses to COVID-19 mirror attitudes and behavior vis-à-vis malaria and other health risks: self-medicate, ignore, and pray. Living on the margins of society mitigates the socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19, as containment measures are not applied to these socially invisible populations. Whereas the urban poor are severely hit by the pandemic, this hidden population benefits from high gold prices, an outdoors lifestyle, and traditional resourcefulness in dealing with a life full of risks.

Self-Reiki, Consideration of a Potential Option for Managing Chronic Pain during Pandemic COVID-19 Period.

While the world faces an unprecedented situation with the pandemic, other chronic diseases such as chronic pain continue to run their course. The social distancing and restrictive displacement imposed by the pandemic situation represents a new barrier to access to pain management and tends to reinforce chronification process. Given this context, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) might offer new opportunities to manage CP, notably with a hand-touch method, such as self-Reiki therapy. Although Reiki administered by a practitioner has shown promising results to reduce pain and psychological distress, and to improve quality of life, self-Reiki practice needs evidence-based medicine to be disseminated. Overall, self-Reiki could bring positive results in addition to, and without interfering with, conventional medicine approaches in patients experienced chronic pain.

The "self-treatment of wounds for venous leg ulcers checklist" (STOW-V Checklist V1.0): Part 1-Development, pilot and refinement of the checklist.

Patients who have chronic wounds such as leg ulcers should be active participants in their treatment and care. This participation may include self-treatment of the wound which involves the patient cleaning the wound, applying and removing wound dressings, and/or applying and removing compression therapy. The aim of the study was to develop a Checklist to assist nurses to appraise the conduct of wound treatment when undertaken by the patient. A three-phase mixed methods study was conducted. A systematic and evidence-based approach to developing and using structured observations for the study of health behaviour guided the process of developing, piloting and refining the Checklist. The resulting "Self-Treatment of Wounds for Venous Leg Ulcers Checklist" (STOW-V Checklist V1.0) can assist the nurse to evaluate the conduct of key self-treatment behaviours in the areas of equipment and workspace, hand hygiene, wound dressing removal, skin care, wound cleansing and debridement, wound assessment, wound dressing application, and compression therapy application. The growing recognition that patients can benefit when involved in care, the need to enact self-management because of COVID-19, and the ever present competition for healthcare funding and resources are compelling reasons for patients, care providers, and healthcare services to afford the self-management approach, and associated interventions such as self-treatment, greater consideration. It is recommended that the STOW-V Checklist is used with patients in a shared-care model, with nurses and other healthcare professionals providing supervision and oversight of self-treatment practices whenever this is feasible and acceptable to the patient.

Case report of oral mucosa garlic burn during COVID-19 pandemic outbreak and role of teledentistry to manage oral health in an older adult woman.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 global pandemic and the uncertainty of an effective treatment protocol have resulted in fear and anxiety, which have increased the search for natural products to prevent the disease and to manage the symptoms. AIMS: To discuss the negative effects of garlic used as a preventive measure against the novel coronavirus. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study reports a case of oral mucosa burn on the dorsal surface of the tongue in a 72-year-old woman. The patient was using raw garlic daily during the pandemic to improve her immunological system. She scheduled a dental appointment and was assessed by teledentistry due to the pandemic, in which a detailed anamnesis was carried out. The burned area and ulceration were identified by video call and photographs. The patient was instructed to cease the habit immediately and change to a soft and non-acid/spicy/hot diet, which resulted in a great recovery 2 days later. She was monitored for 2 weeks until her tongue was completely healed. CONCLUSION: This case highlights the consequences of inappropriate use of natural product and how self-treatment could negatively influence oral health. Additionally, it shows the importance of teledentistry for oral diagnosis and treatment during a pandemic.

The Development and Operation of a Home Management System during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experience of the Local Government Gyeonggi-do in Korea.

During the three the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) surges in South Korea, there was a shortage of hospital beds for COVID-19 patients, and as a result, there were cases of death while waiting for hospitalization. To minimize the risk of death and to allow those confirmed with COVID-19 to safely wait for hospitalization at home, the local government of Gyeonggi-do in South Korea developed a novel home management system (HMS). The HMS team, comprised of doctors and nurses, was organized to operate HMS. HMS provided a two-way channel for the taskforce and patients to monitor the severity of patient's condition and to provide healthcare counseling as needed. In addition, the HMS team cooperated with a triage/bed assignment team to expedite the response in case of an emergency, and managed a database of severity for real-time monitoring of patients. The HMS became operational for the first time in August 2020, initially managing only 181 patients; it currently manages a total of 3,707 patients. The HMS supplemented the government's COVID-19 confirmed case management framework by managing patients waiting at home for hospitalization due to lack of hospital and residential treatment center beds. HMS also could contribute a sense of psychological stability in patients and prevented the situation from worsening by efficient management of hospital beds and reduction of workloads on public healthcare centers. To stabilize and improve the management of COVID-19 confirmed cases, governments should organically develop self-treatment and HMS, and implement a decisive division of roles within the local governments.