[Emergency and intensive care medicine aspects of COVID-19 infections]

The association between COVID-19 anxiety levels and tobacco use among patients within a smoking cessation polyclinic

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the anxiety level of smokers and the relationship between smoking behavior and COVID-19 anxiety level.

METHODS

Our study was planned as a descriptive cross-sectional survey. A 32-question face-to-face questionnaire containing the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) and the Fagerström test for nicotine dependence (FTND) was administered to 349 patients who had applied to the smoking cessation polyclinic between 15 May 2021 and 1 August 2021. SPSS 25.00 was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 349 individuals participated in the study. The mean CAS and FTND total scores were 0.89±2.13 (range: 0-20) and 6.34±2.53 (range: 0-10), respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between CAS total score and gender (p=0.005), marital status (p=0.006), changes in the amount of smoking during the pandemic (p=0.011), and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on smoking cessation (p<0.001). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on smoking cessation was statistically significantly different between knowing that the rate of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions due to COVID-19 infection is higher in smokers, smokers are heavily infected with COVID-19 and the mortality rate due to COVID-19 infection is higher in smokers (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Anxiety due to the COVID-19 pandemic may cause a change in the amount of smoking and the decision to quit smoking. Healthcare professionals should transform COVID-19 anxiety into an opportunity to improve health and quit smoking, one of the healthy behaviors.

[Medical applications of ionising radiation for the diagnosis of coronavirus-associated lung disease : Statement by the German Commission on Radiological Protection]

ISSUE

Since the start of the global pandemic, a number of publications have suggested using ionising radiation to diagnose a COVID-19 infection. Some proposals call for the use of computed tomography (CT) to screen for presymptomatic SARS-CoV-2-infections.

INTENT OF THE CONSULTATION

With these proposals in mind, the German Commission on Radiological Protection (SSK) agreed during its 307th meeting on 2 and 3 July 2020 to establish a working group aimed at evaluating the use of ionising radiation in connection with a COVID-19 infection. The working group focussed on radiological protection aspects with a view to using computed tomography to diagnose COVID-19. The group started its work on 5 October 2020. Although not commissioned by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), representatives of the BMU and the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) were involved in the consultations.

STATEMENT

The SSK issues the following statement: 1. The use of CT in asymptomatic persons to diagnose COVID-19 outside of approved studies is not evidentially justified. 2. Pursuant to Section 83 (3) of the German Radiation Protection Act, a CT scan for the diagnosis or follow-up of a COVID-19 pneumonia requires the prior justifying indication from a doctor with the requisite specialist knowledge in radiation protection. To this end, specialist medical associations provide recommendations based on up-to-date findings.