Supplementary Material for: Insight into the Attitudes and Experiences of Adults with Non-Communicable Diseases a Year into the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Malta Experience

Introduction: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have been a global epidemic long before the advent of COVID-19. Understandably, with the onset of COVID-19, health priorities shifted. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of COVID-19 through attitudes and experiences on the health and well-being of the Malta adult population suffering from NCDs, a year into COVID-19. Methods: An anonymous survey was distributed online between February 1 and 26, 2021 using Google Forms®. This assessed the impact of COVID-19 on medical care, intention to take a COVID-19 vaccine, and whether COVID-19 was acquired. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed. Results: Out of the 1,034 participants, 34.82% (95% CI, 31.97–37.77; n = 360) reported to suffer from NCDs (single NCD, n = 276; 2 NCDs, n = 56; 3 NCDs, n = 28) with 6.94% (95% CI, 4.71–10.09) of these reported acquiring COVID-19. Since COVID-19, the NCD population visited the general practitioners less (47%) than those without NCDs (32%) (p ≤ 0.001). With a consensus of concern and fear, “I rather skip check-ups than risk getting COVID-19 in waiting room or clinic.” Postponement and cancellations of medical appointments were reported: “had to do blood tests privately as health centre was not doing them” and “delayed treatment and still awaiting further appointments that were postponed more than once.” The majority intended to take COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusions: It is clear that individuals with NCDs have experienced a general negative effect on their medical care. It’s recommended that a dual action strategy is embraced to ensure that both NCDs and COVID-19 are treated simultaneously, leaving no one behind.

引言：早在新冠疫情出现之前，非传染性疾病（non-communicable diseases, NCDs）就已成为全球性公共卫生问题。新冠疫情暴发后，民众的健康优先级随之发生转变，此亦在情理之中。本研究旨在新冠疫情暴发一年后，通过态度与经历探究新冠疫情对马耳他成年非传染性疾病患者的健康与福祉的影响。
方法：2021年2月1日至26日期间，通过Google Forms®在线发放匿名调查问卷。该问卷评估了新冠疫情对医疗服务的影响、新冠疫苗接种意愿以及是否曾感染新冠病毒。研究采用定量与定性分析方法。
结果：在1034名受访者中，34.82%（95%置信区间：31.97–37.77；n=360）自述患有非传染性疾病，其中仅患1种非传染性疾病者276例，患2种者56例，患3种者28例；在该非传染性疾病患者群体中，6.94%（95%置信区间：4.71–10.09）自述曾感染新冠病毒。新冠疫情暴发后，非传染性疾病患者的全科医生就诊率（47%）低于非患者群体（32%），差异具有统计学意义（p ≤ 0.001）。在普遍的担忧与恐惧情绪下，有受访者表示："与其在候诊室或诊所冒感染新冠的风险，我宁愿不去体检"。另有受访者自述存在医疗预约被推迟或取消的情况："因卫生中心不再提供血液检测服务，我只能自费前往私立机构完成检测"，以及"治疗被延误，至今仍在等待多次被推迟的后续预约"。绝大多数受访者表示愿意接种新冠疫苗。
结论：研究结果清晰表明，非传染性疾病患者的医疗服务整体受到负面影响。本研究建议采用双轨行动策略，同步兼顾非传染性疾病防控与新冠疫情防控，确保不落一人。