Irish journal of medical science
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Limited data exists on the outcomes of COVID-19 patients presenting with altered mental status (AMS). Hence, we studied the characteristics and outcomes of hospitalized COVID-19 patients who presented with AMS at our hospital in rural southwest Georgia. ⋯ Patients with COVID-19 presenting with AMS are less likely to have typical COVID-19 symptoms, and AMS is an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality, need for ICU admission, and need for mechanical ventilation.
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Vaccine hesitancy is an important public health problem. ⋯ Vaccine hesitancy is an important public health problem, and it puts public health at risk, especially during the epidemic period we live in. Therefore, it is important to understand the psychological factors involved in vaccine hesitancy. It would be useful to look for ways to spread accurate information about the vaccine in a healthier way in this case.
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Observational Study
The impact of COVID-19 on acute urinary stone presentations: a single-centre experience.
The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a change in the numbers of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with non-COVID symptoms, resulting in delayed presentations of many medical and surgical conditions. ⋯ The COVID-19 pandemic did not result in fewer or sicker patients presenting with acute ureteric colic cases to the ED.
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Planning for end of life (EOL) care has become an important consideration for doctors and patients in the context of longer life expectancy in most high-income countries. Advance care plans (ACPs) allow individuals to make plans for future healthcare practices for when they no longer have the capacity to make such decisions. It has been suggested that general practitioners (GPs) have the ideal relationship with patients to facilitate this process. However, the uptake of ACPs still remains low, prompting the need to understand the views of GPs regarding ACPs. ⋯ In order to improve their implementation, workshops and courses should be developed to increase GPs' knowledge and confidence. Additionally, the healthcare system should be adapted, supporting GPs to facilitate these important discussions to take place.
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The global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic placed Irish Laboratory Medicine services under sustained and massive strain. Rapid reconfiguration was required to introduce new assays at high capacity for diagnosis and monitoring of COVID-19, while maintaining existing services. ⋯ This study confirms an agile and resilient response to the COVID-19 pandemic from Ireland's Laboratory Medicine services despite many economic and staffing challenges.