Background The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in profound mental health impacts among the general population worldwide. As many in-person mental health support services have been suspended or transitioned online to facilitate physical distancing, there have been numerous calls for the rapid expansion of asynchronous virtual mental health (AVMH) resources. These AVMH resources have great potential to provide support for people coping with negative mental health impacts associated with the pandemic; however, literature examining use prior to COVID-19 illustrates that the uptake of these resources is consistently low. Objective The aim of this paper is to examine the use of AVMH resources in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic among the general population and among a participant subgroup classified as experiencing an adverse mental health impact related to the pandemic. Methods Data from this study were drawn from the first wave of a large multiwave cross-sectional monitoring survey, distributed from May 14 to 29, 2020. Participants (N=3000) were adults living in Canada. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the sample, and bivariate cross-tabulations were used to examine the relationships between the use of AVMH resources and self-reported indicators of mental health that included a range of emotional and coping-related responses to the pandemic. Univariate and fully adjusted multivariate logistic regression models were used to examine associations between sociodemographic and health-related characteristics and use of AVMH resources in the subgroup of participants who reported experiencing one or more adverse mental health impacts identified in the set of self-reported mental health indicators. Results Among the total sample, 2.0% (n=59) of participants reported accessing AVMH resources in the prior 2 weeks to cope with stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the highest rates of use among individuals who reported self-harm (n=5, 10.4%) and those who reported coping “not well” with COVID-19–related stress (n=22, 5.5%). Within the subgroup of 1954 participants (65.1% of the total sample) who reported an adverse mental health impact related to COVID-19, 54 (2.8%) reported use of AVMH resources. Individuals were more likely to have used AVMH resources if they had reported receiving in-person mental health supports, were connecting virtually with a mental health worker or counselor, or belonged to a visible minority group. Conclusions Despite substantial government investment into AVMH resources, uptake is low among both the general population and individuals who may benefit from the use of these resources as a means of coping with the adverse mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Further research is needed to improve our understanding of the barriers to use.

Context:Patients diagnosed with a disease like cancer require not only physical control of disease but also they need psychological reassurance, social and spiritual support in coming to terms with their disease. Nurses working in the specialized cancer hospitals play a significant role in the care of terminally ill patients. They must be knowledgeable, skilled and sensitive to the needs of these patients and their families in order to provide active, holistic care.Aims:In this study, we attempted to assess the level of knowledge about palliative care among nurses working in the oncology department using a self administered structured questionnaire and also to assess the effectiveness of information booklet designed on various aspects of palliative care on their knowledge.Settings and Design:Indo American Cancer Hospital, Hyderabad, AP, India. The design adopted for this study was One Group pretest – posttest, pre - experimental design.Materials and Methods:Hundred nurses working in Indo American Cancer Hospital, Hyderabad, AP, India were selected by using the non probability purposive sampling technique. A structured self administered questionnaire was prepared and administered as a pretest. An information booklet was developed pertaining to the general concepts of palliative care, care components (physical, social, emotional and spiritual) and role of the nurse in palliative care and it was given to the participants. As a post test, the same questionnaire was re-administered after four days to the same study subjects. Pretest and post test knowledge scores were compared and the findings were analyzed statistically.Statistical analysis used:Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package for Social Science package.Results:The post test scores were significantly higher than the pretest knowledge scores, which indicate that the developed information booklet regarding palliative care was highly effective in enhancing the knowledge levels of the nurses.Conclusions:The information booklet was effective in enriching the knowledge of nurses on palliative care. Enhancing the nurse’s knowledge about palliative care will promote their understanding of the needs of the advanced stage patients and will enable them to provide quality care.

Aim:To increase awareness about this rare condition in order to aid early diagnosis and effective treatment which can eventually prevent complications and infertility issues in the future. Materials and methods:A case of a 10 year old pre-menarchal girl, who presented with this syndrome, was managed surgically. After this, a literature search was done and similar case reports were reviewed.

Lower respiratory tract infection is one of the major prevailing respiratory illnesses in children. The aim of the study is to assess the effectiveness of massage therapy on respiratory status among toddlers with lower respiratory tract infection. A sample of 60 toddlers were conveniently assigned to study and control group, in study group routine care and massage therapy was performed for three days in morning and evening then posttest was conducted end of each day whereas control group receives routine care. The result shows that massage therapy was significantly effective in improving lung functions.

Squamous cell carcinoma arising in mature cystic teratoma of the ovary is rarely diagnosed preoperatively. They are usually large tumours, occurring in the perimenopausal age group. They often present as an incidental pathological finding. This case has been presented as it is a rare finding in a middle aged woman who was found to have a dermoid cyst during evaluation of an ovarian mass.

BackgroundCognition is the mental process of acquiring knowledge, understanding senses and synchronizing all the electrical activity that is constantly received and generated through the eye. Purpose of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of yogic visual concentration (Trataka) on cognitive performance and anxiety among adolescents studying in selected schools at Chennai.MethodologyThis study was designed to assess cognitive performance and anxiety among students using quantitative approach. True Experimental study design was used for this study. Pretest assessment of cognitive performance and anxiety was done by standardized tools (Stroop color word test, Hamilton anxiety scale) for Experimental and Control groups. Intervention of yogic visual concentration (Trataka) was experimented in one group. Control group were kept on routine activities. Post test assessment of cognitive performance and anxiety by standardized tools was performed on experimental and control groups. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The 0.05 level of significance was used.ResultsA significant difference in the mean difference of color word score, color score, word score and inference score between the study and control groups at the level of p<0.0001 was observed. Results indicate an association in the cognitive performance (word) with background variables such as, gender, father’s occupation in the study group during the post test and no association in the control group. There were no associations between anxiety cognitive performance (color and word) and demographic variables in both groups.ConclusionThe study concluded that there is a greater effect on Yogic visual concentration (Trataka) on cognitive performance and anxiety among adolescent students, therefore the study proved the hypothesis.

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BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in profound mental health impacts among the general population worldwide. As many in-person mental health support services have been suspended or transitioned online to facilitate physical distancing, there have been numerous calls for the rapid expansion of asynchronous virtual mental health (AVMH) resources. These AVMH resources have great potential to provide support for people coping with negative mental health impacts associated with the pandemic; however, literature examining use prior to COVID-19 illustrates that the uptake of these resources is consistently low. OBJECTIVE The aim of this paper is to examine the use of AVMH resources in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic among the general population and among a participant subgroup classified as experiencing an adverse mental health impact related to the pandemic. METHODS Data from this study were drawn from the first wave of a large multiwave cross-sectional monitoring survey, distributed from May 14 to 29, 2020. Participants (N=3000) were adults living in Canada. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the sample, and bivariate cross-tabulations were used to examine the relationships between the use of AVMH resources and self-reported indicators of mental health that included a range of emotional and coping-related responses to the pandemic. Univariate and fully adjusted multivariate logistic regression models were used to examine associations between sociodemographic and health-related characteristics and use of AVMH resources in the subgroup of participants who reported experiencing one or more adverse mental health impacts identified in the set of self-reported mental health indicators. RESULTS Among the total sample, 2.0% (n=59) of participants reported accessing AVMH resources in the prior 2 weeks to cope with stress related to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the highest rates of use among individuals who reported self-harm (n=5, 10.4%) and those who reported coping “not well” with COVID-19–related stress (n=22, 5.5%). Within the subgroup of 1954 participants (65.1% of the total sample) who reported an adverse mental health impact related to COVID-19, 54 (2.8%) reported use of AVMH resources. Individuals were more likely to have used AVMH resources if they had reported receiving in-person mental health supports, were connecting virtually with a mental health worker or counselor, or belonged to a visible minority group. CONCLUSIONS Despite substantial government investment into AVMH resources, uptake is low among both the general population and individuals who may benefit from the use of these resources as a means of coping with the adverse mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Further research is needed to improve our understanding of the barriers to use.