Due to the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19), Wuhan was on lockdown for more than 60 days by the state government. This study investigated the perceptions and attitudes of the public on quarantine as a practical approach to halting the spread of COVID-19. An online survey was conducted via WeChat between 10 January 2020 and 10 March 2020 on the general population in Hubei province at the height of the COVID-19 outbreak. In total, 549 respondents participated in the survey. Results revealed that the public displayed significantly strong support towards quarantine throughout the outbreak period, apart from locking people up and using imprisonment legal sanctions against those who failed to comply with the stringent regulations. The support exerted by the public stemmed from the execution of authorised officers to protect the public interest and provision of psychosocial support for those affected. In situations where quarantine could not be imposed, public health policy-makers and government officials should implement an extensive system of psychosocial support to safeguard, instruct and inform frontline public health workers. The public should also be enlisted in an open conversation concerning the ethical utility of restrictive values during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Background The unanticipated coronavirus disease (COVID-19) had a negative effect on the quality of life (QoL) of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and made significant changes in their daily routine. Patients with SCI face additional health risks, especially mental, behavioral, and physical. Without regular physiotherapy sessions, patients' psychological and functional abilities can deteriorate, and complications can occur. There is little information available about the impact of COVID-19 on the quality of life of patients with SCI, and their access to rehabilitation services during the pandemic. Objective This study was designed to examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of life of patients with SCI and also their fear of COVID-19. The pandemic’s impact on the accessibility of rehabilitation services and attendance at physiotherapy sessions in one Chinese hospital were also documented. Design An observational study based on an online survey. Setting Outpatients clinic at the rehabilitation department of Wuhan's Tongji Hospital. Participants People who had been diagnosed with a spinal cord injury (SCI) and who were receiving regular medical monitoring as outpatients at the rehabilitation department were invited to participate in our study (n = 127). Intervention Not applicable. Outcome measures A 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) designed to measure participants' quality of life before and during the pandemic. Their fear of COVID-19 was quantified using the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S). Demographic and medical status information was extracted from their medical records. Their use of rehabilitation services and attendance at physical therapy sessions was also documented. Results Seventy-nine patients with SCI completed the SF-12 and FCV-19 scale. The mental and physical aspects of the participants’ quality of life declined significantly, during the epidemic compared to the pre-epidemic period. More than half of the participants have experienced fear of COVID-19 based on FCV-19S. Most received only irregular physical therapy during routine checkups. Worry about virus transmission was the most common cause cited for not attending regular physical therapy sessions. Conclusions The quality of life of these Chinese patients with SCI declined during the pandemic. Most of the participants were shown a high level of fear of COVID-19 and were classified as having an intense fear of COVID-19, in addition to the impact of the pandemic on their access to rehabilitation services and attendance at physical therapy sessions.

Background The Neurogenic Bladder Symptom Score—Short Form (NBSS‐SF) evaluates the impact of disease‐specific symptoms on the quality of life (QoL) in individuals with neurogenic bladder (NB). There is no data on the validity and reliability of the NBSS‐SF questionnaire in the Arabic language, so this study aimed at providing the translation, cultural adaptation, and validation of the Arabic NBSS‐SF in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods The original English language version of the NBSS‐SF was translated into Arabic according to the cultural and linguistic adaptation algorithm. People with SCI and MS completed the NBSS‐SF, demographic and clinical information, and Qualiveen QoL questionnaire. Responses were recorded twice within a 14‐day period. Psychometric properties such as content validity, construct validity, internal consistency, and test–retest reliability were tested. Internal consistency and test–retest reliability was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), respectively. Construct validity was assessed by comparing the NBSS‐SF with the Qualiveen questionnaire. Results Thirty‐nine patients with MS and 97 with SCI participated in the study. The internal consistency for the overall NBSS‐SF score (Cronbach's α of 0.82) and for each subdomain was variable (urinary incontinence 0.82; storage/voiding 0.73; consequences 0.53). ICC was 0.93 for the overall score and 0.96 for the urinary incontinence subdomain, 0.74 for storage/voiding, and 0.91 for consequences. The correlation analysis showed a significantly strong correlation between the QoL item of NBSS‐SF and the Qualiveen total score (r = 0.72, p < 0.000). There was a significant moderate positive correlation between the total scores on the Arabic version of the NBSS‐SF and the subdomains of the Qualiveen, including limitations (r = 0.51, p = 0.04), fears (r = 0.57, p = 0.04), feelings (r = 0.46, p = 0.01), and constraints (r = 0.59, p = 0.03). Conclusions Our results showed that the Arabic version of NBSS‐SF is a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction symptoms in the Arabic population suffering from SCI and MS.

Fear is a common emotional reaction to an impending threat like the pandemic caused by the COVID-19 virus. A fear of COVID-19 Scale has been developed to evaluate the severity of COVID-19-related fear. This study investigated the psychometric characteristics a Syrian Arabic version of the scale to give additional validation for the Arabic FCV-19S. The fear of COVID-19 Scale was translated and validated in Syrian context. The sample is comprised of 1637 Syrian individuals, who have participated in this online survey. The results were compared with their responses to the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale and the Satisfaction with Life scale. Cronbach’s alpha for the Syrian version of the fear of COVID-19 scale was determined to 0.84. The scale’s ratings showed a significant negative relationship with life satisfaction and a significant positive association with sub-scales of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the Syrian version of the fear of COVID-19 Scale has a unidimensional structure which fits the data well. The scale has useful psychometric characteristics and can be employed to evaluate the severity of fear of COVID-19 among Syrian populations.