Background: Numerous healthcare services have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide. Specialized healthcare services were postponed or canceled, potentially compromising regular services for hemato-oncology patients. The current study aimed to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to hemato-oncology services in Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the socio-demographic characteristics of patients admitted to two large tertiary centers rendering hemato-oncology services, the City Clinical Hospital 7 (H7) and the Kazakh Institute of Oncology and Radiology (KazIOR). All data were retrieved for the period spanning from 1 March 2019 to 28 February 2022. The retrieved variables included age, gender, type of residence, hospitalization rate, treatment outcomes (discharged/deceased), bed days, diagnoses according to International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) (acute leukemia and hematopoietic depression, lymphoproliferative diseases, and myeloproliferative diseases), and referral sources (ambulance, another hospital, consultative and diagnostic assistance, primary healthcare, self-referral, and referrals from hematologists’ offices). Results: In the 2019–2022 period, 6763 hemato-oncology hospitalizations were registered: 3583 in H7 and 3180 in KazIOR. The mean age at hospitalization was 55.04 (SD = 16.07) for females and 51.2 (SD = 16.7) for males. The proportion of hospitalized urban and rural patients differed significantly: 6191 (92%) and 571 (8,4%), respectively (χ² = 13.8, p = 0.001). In the 2020–2021 period, fewer patients were discharged (n = 2047) compared to 2019–2020 (n = 2387) and 2021–2022 (n = 2081) (χ² = 20.09, p = 0.003). However, the proportion of deaths in the 2020–2021 period (3.5%) was higher than in the 2019–2020 (3.2%) and 2021–2022 periods (2.6%) (χ² = 20.09, p = 0.003). A total of 403 (19%) hospital admissions were carried out by ambulance (emergency cases) in the 2020–2021 period, 368 (14.8%) in 2019–2020, and 394 (18.3%) in 2021–2022 (χ² = 2231, p < 0.001). The number of patients transferred from other hospitals to H7 and KazIOR increased by 12.4% in the 2020–2021 period. Conclusions: Our findings indicate a negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to hemato-oncology services, leading to increased mortality. Further studies are warranted to explore factors underlying the trends in hospitalizations and mortality of hemato-oncology patients during healthcare crises.

Introduction. The outbreak of a new, previously unknown infection caused by a strain of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has become one of the challenges for public health in general and made its own adjustments to the lifestyle and private life of people dictated by coronavirus restrictions. At the same time, the population of the country had to adapt their behavior, including the decision to vaccinate, based on a large amount of information from various sources. The aim. Study the level of public confidence in various sources of information about COVID-19 in Kazakhstan in order to improve subsequent information campaigns. Materials and methods. Study design - cross-sectional, quota sampling, taking into account the distribution of gender, age, territory and type of residence in the general population of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Descriptive statistical analyses were applied. The relationship between source of information and social-demographic variables (age, sex, and vaccination status) was tested using t-test. Statistical significance was set at p=0.05. Results. The level of trust in most sources of information is rather low. The most trusted category is “consultations with healthcare professionals” (mean on a scale of 1 to 5 - 3.04, 95% confidence interval: 2.97 - 3.11). A low level of trust had such sources of information as “information from celebrities and influential people” - 2.08 (2.02-2.15), as well as “information from social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Telegram, WhatsApp, Instagram” - 2.29 (2.23-2.36). Conclusion. The results of previous study showed that the effectiveness of communication in social networks involving famous people has its limitations. At the same time, the lack of trust that is common to almost all sources of information can undermine the efforts of public health professionals to communicate key messages to different population groups. During conducting information campaigns, it is necessary to look for ways to increase the trusting of important sources of information, as well as to segment the target audience depending on the trusting of them. Введение: Вспышка новой ранее неизвестной инфекции, вызванной одним из штаммов коронавируса SARS-CoV-2, стала одним из вызовов для общественного здравоохранения в целом и внесла свои коррективы в уклад и частную жизнь людей, продиктованных коронавирусными ограничениями. При этом населению страны пришлось адаптировать свое поведение, включая принятие решения о вакцинации, на основе большого объема информации из различных источников. Цель исследования: изучить уровень доверия населения к различным источникам информации о COVID-19 в Казахстане для улучшения последующих информационных кампаний. Материалы и методы: Дизайн исследования – поперечный, выборка квотная, с учетом распределения пола, возраста, территории и типа проживания в генеральной совокупности Республики Казахстан. Инструментом сбора данных являлся адаптированный опросник с валидизированными шкалами на русском и казахском языках. Были применены методы описательнойя статистики. T-test использовался для расчета p-значений и 95% доверительного интервала для связи между источником информации и половозрастными, поселенческими особенностями населения, а также статуса вакцинации и отношения к ним. Статистическая значимость была установлена на значении p=0,05. Результаты: Уровень доверия к большинству источников информации довольно низок. Наибольшим доверием пользуется категория “консультации с медицинскими работниками” (среднее значение по шкале от 1 до 5 - 3,04, 95% доверительный интервал: 2,97 - 3,11). Низкий уровень доверия имели такие источники информации как “информация от знаменитостей и влиятельных лиц” - 2,08 (2,02-2,15), а также “информация из социальных сетей, таких как, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Telegram, WhatsApp, Instagram” - 2,29 (2,23-2,36). Выводы: Результаты исследования показали, что эффективность коммуникации в социальных сетях с участием известных лиц имеют свои ограничения. При этом, недостаточный уровень доверия, характерный практически для всех источников информации, может подорвать усилия специалистов общественного здравоохранения по донесению ключевой информации различным группам населения. При проведении информационных...

Background: Trust has proven to be a key element in all stages of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and a decisive element in the success of the worldwide vaccination campaign. Aim: The aim of this research is to study the level of public trust in various sources of information regarding COVID-19 in Kazakhstan and its association with COVID-19 vaccine uptake and socio-demographic characteristicsin order to improve future information campaigns. Methods: Study design - cross-sectional, probabilistic sampling, taking into account the distribution of gender, age, territory, and type of residence in the general population of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The data collection tool was an adapted questionnaire with validated scales in Russian and Kazakh. Results: The level of trust in most sources of information is rather low. The most trusted category is “consultations with medical professionals”, which corresponds to an average level of trust with a mean score of 3.02 (95% CI: 2.94-3.09). The lowest level of trust was noted for “information from celebrities and social media influencers” - 2.12 (95% CI: 2.05-2.19). Conclusion: Constant dialog between trusted healthcare professionals and the community can be an effective strategy to promote healthcare campaigns, including promoting adherence and compliance with preventive regulations and guidance as well as vaccination uptake. Findings are important for understanding the necessary channels of health communication. Введение: Доверие оказалось ключевым элементом на всех этапах борьбы с пандемией COVID-19 и решающим элементом успеха всемирной кампании вакцинации. Цель. Целью данного исследования является изучение уровня общественного доверия к различным источникам информации о COVID-19 в Казахстане и его связи с вакцинацией против COVID-19 и социально-демографическими характеристиками для улучшения будущих информационных кампаний. Методы: Дизайн исследования – поперечный, вероятностная выборка с учетом распределения по полу, возрасту, территории и типу проживания в общей популяции РК. Инструментом сбора данных была адаптированная анкета с валидированными шкалами на русском и казахском языках. Результаты: Уровень доверия к большинству источников информации достаточно низкий. Наибольшим доверием пользуется категория «консультации с медицинскими работниками», что соответствует среднему уровню доверия со средним баллом 3,02 (95% ДИ: 2,94-3,09). Самый низкий уровень доверия отмечен к «информации от знаменитостей и влиятельных лиц в социальных сетях» — 2,12 (95% ДИ: 2,05–2,19). Выводы: Постоянный диалог между доверенными медицинскими работниками и обществом может быть эффективной стратегией для продвижения кампаний в области здравоохранения, включая поощрение соблюдения профилактических мер и руководств, а также вакцинации. Полученные данные важны для понимания необходимых каналов коммуникации в сфере здравоохранения. Кіріспе: Сенім COVID-19 пандемиясымен күрестің барлық кезеңдеріндегі негізгі элемент және дүниежүзілік екпе алу науқанының сәттілігінің маңызды элементі екенін дәлелдеді. Зерттеу мақсаты: Бұл зерттеудің мақсаты – болашақ ақпараттық науқандарды жақсарту үшін Қазақстандағы COVID-19 туралы әртүрлі ақпарат көздеріне халықтың сенім деңгейін және оның COVID-19-ға қарсы екпе алу және әлеуметтік-демографиялық сипаттамаларымен байланысын зерттеу. Зерттеу материалдар мен әдістері: Зерттеудің дизайны - көлденең қималық, ықтималдық іріктеу, Қазақстан Республикасының жалпы халқының жынысы, жасы, аумағы мен тұрғылықты жерінің түрі бойынша бөлінуін ескерілген. Деректерді жинау құралы орыс және қазақ тілдеріндегі валидацияланған және бейімделген сауалнама болып табылады. Нәтижелері: Ақпарат көздерінің көпшілігіне деген сенім деңгейі өте төмен. Ең сенімді санат – «Денсаулық сақтау мамандарымен консультациялар», ол 3,02 орташа баллмен сенімділіктің орташа деңгейіне сәйкес келеді (95% CI: 2,94-3,09). Ең төменгі сенім деңгейі «атақты адамдар мен...