post-COVID Era Research Articles

How have respiratory tract infections changed in the post-covid era for children under 5 years?

Abstract Background Social distancing measures introduced in response to the covid-19 pandemic reduced transmission of all respiratory pathogens. Exposure to respiratory pathogens in early life affects future lung health. We aimed to describe changes in the incidence of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in children <5 years in England in the post-pandemic era. Methods Population-based retrospective cohort study using electronic health records. We included all children aged <5 years registered with a primary care practice from April 2016 to March 2023. We compared monthly GP consultation rates for RTIs in the two post-pandemic years (April 2021 - March 2022 and April 2022 - March 2023) with corresponding months during pre-pandemic years (April 2016 - February 2020). Results There were 3 045 701 respiratory tract infections among 2 894 539 children <5 years registered with a GP practice during the study period. Pre-pandemic, monthly RTI rates varied from lows of 29.1 per 100 child-years in August to highs of 108.8 per 100 child-years in November. In 2021/22, monthly RTI rates were bimodal peaking in June and October, although the winter peak was lower than pre-pandemic years and mean monthly RTI rates were ∼15% lower overall. In 2022/23 mean monthly RTI rates remained ∼15% lower than pre-pandemic years, but there was a single peak in December 2022 of 117.6 RTIs per 100 child-years, exceeding the pre-pandemic winter peaks by 8.1%. Conclusions Overall, monthly RTIs in post-pandemic years were 15% lower than pre-pandemic years. However, there was a concerning peak in December 2022 that exceeded the winter peaks from previous years. Comparisons with national surveillance data suggest this peak reflects changes in RTI incidence, particularly among group A streptococcal infections, but this peak may also reflect changes in access to care or healthcare seeking behaviour. Continued monitoring of post-pandemic seasonal patterns will assist in planning for health service use. Key messages • Respiratory tract infections in children <5 years in post-pandemic years were 15% lower than pre-pandemic years, but winter peaks in incidence may be of greater magnitude in the post pandemic era. • Ongoing monitoring of patterns of respiratory tract infections in young children is important for future health service planning and delivery.

Exploring the experience of cardiothoracic ICU clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic: A grounded theory study.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic a flexible approach to visiting was adopted by many Intensive Care Units in the United Kingdom. Due to the rapid spread globally of COVID-19, significant policy changes were put in place, including the restriction on visitors to patients in hospital. Evidence has emerged demonstrating the negative impact of these restrictions on patients with COVID-19, their families and the staff caring for them. However, there is limited data about the impact of these restrictions in the non-COVID ICU environment. This study aimed to explore the experiences of staff caring for non-COVID-19 patients in a cardiothoracic critical care unit during the COVID-19 pandemic. This qualitative research study adopted a grounded theory methodological approach. This methodology was used due to the unique situation, with no prior research available. We recruited healthcare staff that worked in a cardiothoracic critical care unit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Semi structured interviews were carried out, transcribed, and analysed. Using the data collected, a theory was constructed. Interviews were carried out with 20 healthcare staff from a range of professions including nurses, doctors, and allied health professionals. Following data analysis four main categories emerged from the data: impact and implementation of visiting restrictions; the dehumanisation of patients; end-of-life care and witnessing distress. From these four categories, a theory has emerged suggesting that healthcare staff in a non-covid ICU were regularly exposed to potentially moral injurious events, despite being shielded from caring for patients with COVID-19. This study provides a theory that healthcare staff caring for non-COVID-19 critical care patients during the period of visiting restrictions were exposed to potentially morally injurious events. Repeated exposure to potentially morally injurious events can lead to the development of moral injury and its adverse consequences. This study highlights the need to support all staff in the post COVID era, including those who worked in a non-COVID environment.

Breast Cancer Detection System Using Machine Learning

This study, titled "Students' Attitudes in the Post-COVID Era: A Study on the Impact of Online Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic," explores the effects of the rapid shift to online learning on students' attitudes, experiences, and future expectations in education. The COVID-19 pandemic forced educational institutions worldwide to adopt online learning models, which significantly altered the traditional dynamics of teaching and learning. This research investigates how students from diverse educational levels and backgrounds responded to these changes, examining both the positive and negative aspects of online learning. A mixed-methods approach was used, combining quantitative data from 400 students through surveys. Key findings reveal that while students appreciated the flexibility and convenience of online learning, many struggled with engagement, technical difficulties, and feelings of isolation. The study also highlights how socioeconomic factors and access to technology influenced students’ experiences, with those from underprivileged backgrounds facing greater challenges. A significant portion of students expressed a preference for blended learning models, which integrate both online and in-person elements. The research concludes that online learning has the potential to enhance education if critical challenges such as the digital divide, mental health support, and hands-on learning deficiencies are addressed. The study’s recommendations focus on adopting flexible learning approaches, improving digital infrastructure, and providing better support for both students and educators in the evolving educational landscape. This study provides valuable insights into the future of education post-pandemic and suggests that, with the right interventions, the digital transformation in education can lead to more inclusive and effective learning environments.

E-Learning in the Post-COVID Era: Undergraduate Students’ Experience in Nigerian Universities

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted traditional classroom learning in Nigerian universities and prompted the adoption of e-learning as an alternative means of delivering academic content. This research paper aimed to explore the experience of undergraduate students in Nigerian universities during the post-COVID era, with a specific focus on the effectiveness of e-learning. This study employed a quantitative approach. The study population consisted of 237 undergraduate students from seven selected universities in Nigeria. The data was collected using a structured questionnaire. The findings of this study showed that while e-learning has its advantages, it also presents several challenges to undergraduate students in Nigerian universities. Some of the challenges include poor internet connectivity, lack of access to electronic devices, and insufficient training on how to use e-learning platforms. The study recommends that Nigerian universities and the government should invest in improving internet connectivity and power supply to support e-learning; and institutions should provide consistent and comprehensive technical support to all students, ensuring they have the necessary resources and assistance.

Exploring the changing landscape of medical imaging: insights from highly cited studies before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To investigate whether and how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed medical imaging trends by synthesizing the highly cited studies before and during the pandemic. In this cross-sectional study, we identified highly cited studies on medical imaging from the essential science indicators (ESI) database, categorizing them into two periods: before the pandemic (January 2016-December 2019) and during the pandemic (January 2020-December 2023). We conducted a global research landscape comparative analysis and utilized CiteSpace and VOSviewer software to create knowledge maps for analyzing the co-occurrences of keywords and references in this field. A total of 2914 highly cited studies were included in this study, which revealed a notable 30.1% increase in medical imaging publications during the pandemic. Enhanced international cooperation has been observed, with European countries and the US leading the research efforts. Keyword analysis revealed that artificial intelligence (AI) has remained a dominant hotspot in medical imaging research before and during the pandemic. References analysis showed a shift in focus towards COVID-19-related studies, overshadowing some important areas including cancer imaging, cardiac imaging, and neuroimaging. Over the past four years, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to changes in the research output, international collaborations, and hotspots within highly cited medical imaging studies. Navigating the post-COVID era, it is imperative to continue fostering international collaboration, prioritize resource allocation to refocus on overlooked research areas, and develop long-term strategic plans to prepare for and mitigate the impact of future public health crises. Question Understanding how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed medical imaging trends and priorities, which is crucial for preparing against future public health crises, remains unclear. Findings The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increases in highly cited medical imaging studies, enhancements in international collaborations, and shifts in research hotspots. Clinical relevance This study provides a comprehensive overview of highly cited studies on medical imaging before and during the pandemic, highlighting the pivotal role of AI in the post-COVID era and emphasizing the need to refocus on potentially neglected research areas.

Pandemic scars: long-term impact of COVID-19 on work stress among healthcare workers in China.

This study mainly focused on the long-term effect of different risk exposure levels and prior anti-epidemic experience of healthcare workers in mitigating COVID-19 on their work stress in the post-COVID era. The study sample included 359 physicians, 619 nurses, 229 technicians and 212 administrators, for a total of 1,419 healthcare workers working in the Lanzhou area during the investigation. Data were analyzed by multivariate regression models. Our findings indicated that the interaction between pandemic effect mitigation experience and high-risk exposure significantly affected healthcare workers in the post-COVID era by increasing their work stress (p<0.001) and reducing their rest time (p<0.001). Healthcare workers may have experienced worse outcomes in the long term if they had higher levels of risk exposure and more experience in fighting epidemics. Furthermore, poor mental health (p<0.001) and prior experience with SARS (p<0.001) further amplified these adverse effects. However, surprisingly, we did not observe any effect of prior anti-epidemic experience or high-risk exposure on the mental health of healthcare workers in the post-COVID era (p>0.1). The adverse impact of COVID-19 may have left long-lasting effects on Health professionals (HPs), particularly those with high Risk exposure (RE) and more mitigation experience. Poor Mental health (MH) and previous experience in mitigating previous similar outbreaks (such as SARS) are risk factors that should be considered. Support programs must be designed and promoted to help HPs respond and improve their performance. Our study presents compelling evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic will have long-term detrimental effects on the work stress of healthcare workers.

국내외 교육 커먼즈 연구에 관한 체계적 문헌고찰

Objectives This study aims to identify the landscape of discussions on educational commons in domestic and international research, discover the value of educational commons, and explore its applicability. Methods A systematic literature review was conducted on 28 studies related to educational commons (5 domestic and 23 international). For data collection, various combinations of the keywords “education” and “commons” were searched on academic databases, including RISS, KISS, SCHOLA, eArticle, DBpia, domestic and international university libraries' databases, and Google Scholar. The searches were conducted twice between January 19, 2024, and January 26, 2024. The final selected literature underwent a process of planning, screening, extraction, and implementation, with frequency analysis conducted using SPSS 18. Results Research was minimal from 2008 to 2018 but increased from 2019, with the most studies conducted in 2023, sparking related discussions. All studies proposed educational commons as an alternative educational framework based on concerns about capitalist and neoliberal educational systems. The most common research methods were literature reviews and case studies. The main trend was that discussions on educational systems emerged as a key debate surrounding educational commons. Interest in educational commons is growing in various fields, such as environmental and civic education. Additionally, the discourse on educational commons is expanding beyond schools to broader social contexts, covering from preschool children to adults. Conclusions Educational commons is confirmed to be a crucial concept for reimagining and realizing new education in the post-COVID era. However, to enhance both the quantity and quality of discourse on educational commons, it is necessary to 1) reach an academic consensus on the scope of the concept of educational commons, 2) engage in more fundamental discussions on educational commons, and 3) consider the discourse within the context of a digital-based society. It is suggested that future research on educational commons suitable for domestic circumstances should accumulate both quantitatively and qualitatively.

Business models transformation in the creative industries: Performing arts organizations in the post-COVID era

Rapid changes in the business models (BMs) of cultural and creative industries (CCIs) have occurred recently, owing largely to the dynamics accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and technological evolution, which have resulted in a strong interconnection between social, cultural, and digital challenges. The present review highlights the main changes that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the BM of 12 Italian performing arts organizations using a mixed research methodology (qualitative and quantitative) carried out through semi-structured interviews, a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis, and an analysis of the economic-financial data of the organizations involved. The paper presents the study&amp;rsquo;s main findings and contrasts them with some recent scientific research on BM, allowing for comparison and debate on significant issues developed (new technologies and social and environmental impact). The uniqueness of the approach employed in this review lies in recognizing these characteristics, particularly the challenges of sustainability, as critical in producing value for CCI.

Embracing market dynamics in the post-COVID era: A data-driven analysis of investor sentiment and behavioral characteristics in stock index futures returns

This paper aims to enhance the understanding and prediction of stock market behavior during unexpected events like the COVID-19 pandemic, with a specific focus on the role of market attention, social media sentiment indicators, and the development and evolution of unexpected events. We highlight that the common trading and technical indicators used in forecasting the stock index futures prices often overlook investor sentiment and pandemic-related data, which can be instrumental in predicting stock market behavior during significant emergencies. In response, we propose a multi-faceted approach that incorporates these overlooked factors. First, we enhance the predictive index system by integrating investor sentiment, derived from stock message board commentary, and investor behavior influenced by the development and evolution of the pandemic. This innovative approach refines our model's predictive capabilities and is validated through comparative analysis. Second, we introduce a hybrid framework for predicting stock index futures closing prices. By decomposing the closing price series into long-term trends, cyclical variations, and random fluctuations, we create a more nuanced forecast. Each component is predicted separately using appropriate time-series algorithms, improving the overall predictive accuracy and offering generalizability and scalability. Third, we devise a dynamic trading strategy that recognizes pandemic-related data, evolving over time, as a pivotal factor. This strategy is adaptable to evolving market conditions, and our experimental evidence demonstrates its effectiveness in yielding higher returns and reducing associated risks. Our findings underline the importance of incorporating investor sentiment and pandemic-related data into stock market predictions, thus offering a more comprehensive and accurate approach to market forecasting and risk management.

The continuous rise in orbital subperiosteal abscess incidence in the Iranian pediatric population

In this study, we aimed to follow up on the surprising increase in the incidence of orbital subperiosteal abscesses (SPA) reported in the Iranian pediatric population in the post-COVID era. Pediatric patients (≤ 18 years old) diagnosed with orbital SPA following acute sinusitis who were hospitalized between October 1st, 2023, and March 31st, 2024 in Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran, were included. Demographic, clinical, microbiologic, and radiological characteristics of patients were reviewed. During the 6-month study period, 39 patients were admitted to our tertiary referral hospital. The average age of patients was 7.29 ± 4.13 years and 30 patients (76.92%) were male. The ethmoid sinus was involved in 100% of patients, and SPA involvement was in the medial wall in 27 patients (69.23%). The mean volume of SPA was 1.45 ± 1.77 cm3. Nineteen patients (48.72%) underwent surgical interventions, however, 20 patients (51.28%) received only medical treatment. The best corrected visual acuity of patients increased from 0.63 (0.20 LogMAR) on the first day of admission to 0.84 (0.07 LogMAR) according to the Snellen chart in the first month after treatment. It seems that the outbreak of orbital SPA in the Iranian children population in the post-COVID era is an increasing trend.

Resurgence of influenza and enterovirus infections in Taiwan post-COVID-19: A nationwide surveillance study

BackgroundThe global impact of COVID-19 has prompted profound shifts in public health policies. The epidemiology of respiratory infectious disease may change in the post-covid era. This study investigates the repercussions of these policies on respiratory infectious diseases, specifically the resurgence of severe influenza and enterovirus infections in the post-COVID-19 era. MethodsExamining the period from January 2020 to December 2023, our nationwide study analyzes data from the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control and Our World in Data. Two distinct phases, containing (Week 1, 2020, to Week 43, 2022) and coexisting (Week 44, 2022, to Week 50, 2023), are scrutinized, emphasizing policy changes and their potential impact on epidemiology. ResultsEpidemiological trends reveal a decline in COVID-19 and all-cause pneumonia during the co-existing period but a notable rise in severe influenza and enterovirus infections. Interrupted time series analysis confirms the surge in severe influenza and enterovirus cases post-restriction ease. ConclusionThe post-COVID-19 era introduces challenges with the resurgence of traditional respiratory diseases, necessitating continuous surveillance, timely non-pharmaceutical interventions, and vaccination as crucial strategies. Vigilance and targeted measures by policymakers and healthcare providers are imperative to navigate the evolving landscape of respiratory infectious diseases in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Navigating between worlds: Cultural identity and emigration intentions of chinese international student returnees in the post-COVID era

Navigating between worlds: Cultural identity and emigration intentions of chinese international student returnees in the post-COVID era

Image restoration strategies in pandemic crisis communication: a comparative analysis of Chinese and American COVID-19 political speeches

This study explores the effectiveness of image restoration strategies in pandemic crisis communication at the highest levels of administration. By integrating corpus-assisted discourse analysis with Image Repair Theory, it aims to uncover the prevailing strategies adopted by Chinese and American leaders to restore or enhance a positive national image in the post-COVID era. Lancsbox 6.0 was utilized to extract excerpts and analyze linguistic devices from a self-built corpus of 144 political speeches delivered by top leaders in China and the United States. The results reveal that Chinese leaders, through the use of shared image restoration strategies such as bolstering and transcendence, shape a positive national image of a responsible country. In contrast, American leaders construct a confident and ambitious national image, projecting a leading geopolitical role in the world. These strategies have distinct features that contribute to the image restoration process. Apart from contributing significantly to the comparative research on Chinese and American pandemic-related political speeches, the research findings carry implications for the practice and promotion of national ideologies. The study also highlights the diverse ways in which credible and accurate crisis messages are employed, providing valuable insights for handling pandemics or other crises in the foreseeable or distant future.

Green-Synthesised Silver Nanoparticles from Pandan Extract: Enhancing PPE Effectiveness and Sustainability in the Post-COVID Era

Green-Synthesised Silver Nanoparticles from Pandan Extract: Enhancing PPE Effectiveness and Sustainability in the Post-COVID Era

Hybrid data mining and data-driven algorithms for a green logistics transportation network in the post-COVID era: A case study in the USA

This study examines the problem of item allocation in a post-COVID environment with various products and a large customer base. The number of customers has increased due to the rise of internet access and the growing willingness to shop online. Problems such as the timely delivery of goods or services, the selection and destination of orders in decentralized warehouses, and the allocation of warehouses to customers are difficult to overcome with a large variety of items and many customers. It has been proposed that mathematical modeling in combination with meta-heuristic solution techniques solve these problems. However, solving mathematical models is very time-consuming and labor-intensive because there are many different location situations. Due to computing power and memory capacity advances, researchers have been looking at data-driven solutions to these problems. This study aims to tackle the diversity of commodities and the number of consumers in the post-COVID era by proposing a hybrid data-driven approach that combines data mining and mathematical modeling to solve mathematical location models with high accuracy in less time. This paper was implemented based on data from real cases in the USA.

Health of Saudi Women in the Post-Pandemic Era: Candidiasis Incidence and Post COVID-19 and COVID-19-Vaccination.

Candidiasis, commonly known as yeast infection, affects people worldwide due to the overgrowth of Candida species. Of several types, genital candidiasis, particularly vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), primarily caused by C. albicans is frequently observed in females of reproductive age. Candidiasis has also become a serious issue in the post-pandemic era, as it occurs as a secondary infection in COVID-19 patients during or after the course of viral illness. Therefore, this study investigated the incidence of C. albicans infections in women of reproductive age, and its relationship with the incidence of COVID-19 and vaccination in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, this study aimed to determine the awareness of women on candidiasis and its subsequent impact on the occurrence of infection. A survey-based quantitative study was conducted in which primary data were collected from participants using a self-reported questionnaire. A total of 200 women aged 18-45 were selected through random sampling. Apart from their sociodemographic characteristics, the history of COVID-19 incidence, COVID-19 vaccination, and candidiasis occurrences among respondents were recorded. Their level of awareness and knowledge of candidiasis, along with their perceptions of strategies for mitigating the risk of incidence, were also evaluated. The collected data were analysed using different statistical tools. The findings of this study revealed a positive correlation between candidiasis, viral infection, and vaccination, regardless of the type and dosage of vaccine administered. Furthermore, both COVID-19 incidence and vaccination had a positive and significant impact on the occurrence of candidiasis among Saudi women. Despite certain limitations, this study has theoretical and managerial implications for improved management of candidiasis in the post-COVID era.

The impact of scholarly podcasts on research distribution and uptake in oncology.

423 Background: Scholarly podcasts have grown in number and popularity in the post-COVID era. While such podcasts aim to increase research readership and understanding, their impact on these areas has not been quantitatively established. We assessed the relationship between Oncology research podcasts and various research distribution metrics. Methods: All research articles published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO) from January 2023 to December 2023 were reviewed. Published research articles in the JCO not discussed on the JCO or ASCO Clinical Guidelines podcast were used as controls. Google Scholar citations, Dimensions citations, Mendeley readership, News and Blog shares, Altmetric Attention Score (AAS), social media uptake (i.e., twitter shares), and article downloads were gathered, as well as podcast release dates and the presence of editorial(s) associated with the research article. Mann-Whitney U-tests were used to compare the medians of distribution metrics across podcast and control groups. A multivariate regression analysis incorporating confounding variables (accompanying editorial, subject of research, type of research) was completed. All non-research articles published during the inclusion period were removed from both control and podcast groups. Results: 421 research articles were published during the inclusion period, 57 of which were featured on featured in JCO or ASCO Clinical Guidelines Podcast. The median downloads (p &lt; 0.02), AAS (p &lt; 0.001), and Twitter shares (p &lt;0.001) were significantly higher in the podcast group. Median Twitter shares were 2.3x greater in the podcast group, the largest difference for any metric between podcast and control groups. Median Google Scholar citations, Mendeley readership, News shares, and Dimensions citations were not significantly different between podcast and non-podcast groups. Upon multivariable regression analysis, only Twitter shares were significantly greater in the podcast group (β =22.0; 95% CI: 0.4 – 43.7; p=0.046). Similarly, only Twitter shares were significantly affected by the delay (in days) between podcast release and online publishing of the article (r = -0.284, p = 0.03). Conclusions: Of all distribution metrics, Twitter shares were most positively affected by the association of scholarly podcasts with research published in the JCO, while academic measures (i.e., citations) were unaffected by an association with a podcast. These findings can inform the application of podcasts to increase research uptake amongst target audiences.

The impact of COVID-19 on time toxicity in patients with advanced cancer.

267 Background: The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the rapid adoption of telemedicine but little is known about whether the changes in care delivery has led to differences in time toxicity for patients with advanced cancer. This study examines the impact of the pandemic on time toxicity, defined as the time burden of interacting with the healthcare system, by comparing healthcare contact days between pre-COVID and post-COVID periods. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed on patients with advanced (stage 4) cancer who died within one year of diagnosis at Kaiser Permanente Northern California between January 1, 2015 and June 30, 2023. Time toxicity was defined as the percentage of healthcare contact days over the course of survival period between cancer diagnosis and death (contact days/survival days). We included outpatient days (imaging, labs, treatment, provider visits), inpatient stays (emergency department, acute inpatient, non-acute institutional stays), and in-home days (in-home care, virtual care, home hospice). Differences between pre-COVID (diagnosed and died before March 1, 2020) and post-COVID (diagnosed after March 1, 2020) periods were analyzed using Wilcoxon tests. Results: The cohort included 9643 patients, with 6558 pre-COVID and 3085 post-COVID. Median age at diagnosis was 74 years, and the cohort was 46.9% female, largely white (64.5%), with a high comorbidity score (median Elixhauser score: 4). Post-COVID, there was an increase in institutional stay (8.7% vs. 9.3%) and outpatient service (imaging and labs) (4.4% vs. 3.1%), while in-person outpatient visits decreased (5.9% vs. 8.7%, p&lt;0.0001). Additionally, in-home days increased (25.0% vs. 20.8%), with a significant rise in in-home virtual care (3.9% vs. 1.8%, all p&lt;0.01). Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic led to notable shifts in healthcare utilization for patients with advanced cancer in the last year of life. The increase in telehealth and in-home services in the post-COVID era was accompanied by a slight increase in emergency and ancillary services. Further understanding patient experiences around these shifts is crucial for optimizing care and managing time toxicity in the evolving healthcare landscape. Description of outcomes pre and post-COVID-19 pandemic. Total Pre-COVID Post-COVID P-value Survival Days, median 86.0 84.0 89.0 0.02 Percentage of Contact, median (interquartile range) Comprehensive Contact 63.3 (41.0-92.0) 62.5 (40.7-91.0) 65.2 (41.7-94.1) 0.01 Institutional stay 9.0 (2.7-26.2) 8.7 (2.7-25.9) 9.3 (2.9-26.8) 0.11 Outpatient 12.4 (5.3-19.8) 12.9 (5.6-20.6) 11.2 (4.8-18.1) &lt;.001 Outpatient visit 7.7 (2.8-13.4) 8.7 (3.5-14.6) 5.9 (1.6-10.7) &lt;.0001 Outpatient service 3.5 (0.8-6.3) 3.1 (0.4-5.8) 4.4 (1.5-7.1) &lt;.0001 In-home 22.2 (7.4-50.0) 20.8 (6.0-48.4) 25.0 (10.4-51.7) &lt;.001 In-home care 18.1 (1.7-46.6) 17.4 (1.2-46.2) 19.2 (2.4-47.2) 0.03 In-home virtual care 2.2 (0.0-4.8) 1.8 (0.0-3.8) 3.9 (0.7-7.0) &lt;.0001

General practitioner referrals to a child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS): pre and post COVID-19 pandemic.

To compare the characteristics of GP referrals to CAMHS prior to and over the entire pandemic. All accepted referrals to a Dublin-based CAMHS between January 1, 2019, and June 30, 2023, were examined. Referral letters were anonymised in batches, and information was extracted directly onto a designated proforma. Before the pandemic (January 2019-February 2020), an average of 17.8 referrals were accepted per month, while during and after the pandemic (March 2020-June 2023), this rose to 18.7 accepted referrals per month. Increases were observed in the clinic's prioritisation of cases during the pandemic period (54.8% v. 41%, p < .001).Referrals post COVID-19 were older (13.1-13.64 years, p = .010) with a higher proportion of females (50.2% v. 62.1%, p < .001). Internalising disorders increased during the pandemic (68.7% v. 78.7%, p = .001), with self-harm referrals also being notably more frequent (18.5% v. 36.3%, p < .001). Referrals for anxiety (43.0% v. 78.2%, p = .004) and eating disorders (0% v.. 6.2%, p < .001) increased significantly. Referrals for psychosis (8.4% v. 4.8%, p = .032) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (26.5% v. 18.7%, p = .008) decreased after the onset of the pandemic. Notable increases in referrals for anxiety, depression, self-harm, and eating disorders underscore the impact of the pandemic on youth mental health. Understanding these shifts is crucial for CAMHS to adapt resources and interventions effectively. Clinicians must remain vigilant in assessing and addressing the evolving mental health needs of youths in the post-COVID era, ensuring timely and appropriate interventions, and resources to mitigate long-term consequences.

The post COVID era in mental health systems: Better together

The post COVID era in mental health systems: Better together