Aim: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the anxiety and depression status of prostate cancer (PCa) patients whose planned operations in the urology clinic of our hospital, which is serving as a pandemic hospital in Turkey have been postponed due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Methods: This survey study was conducted at urology clinic of Ankara City Hospital between March 1 and June 1, 2020 and included 24 male patients who agreed to answer the questionnaires (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory [STAI] I and II and Beck Depression Inventory [BDI]). Demographical and clinical data (age, time since diagnosis, total serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels, risk groups according to the D’Amico classification system, smoking, alcohol habitus, major surgical history, and comorbidities) of the patients were collected from hospital software. Results: The mean STAI-I score of the patients (46.7 ± 1.4 [44–49]) was significantly higher than their STAI-II score (41.7 ± 2.4 [39–47]) (p < 0.001). The negative correlation between the decrease in age and STAI-I score was found to be statistically significant (r = 0.439, p < 0.05). The mean BDI score of the patients was 4.3 ± 3.2 (0–13), which was compatible with mild depression. There was no statistically significant difference between the time elapsed from diagnosis, PSA levels, smoking and alcohol habitus, major surgical history and comorbidity status, and STAI-I, STAI-II, and BDI scores (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Prostate cancer patients with postponed operations should be guided properly in order to manage their anxiety status especially young patients.

Aim In this study, we aimed to evaluate the anxiety and depression status of prostate cancer (PCa) patients whose planned operations in the urology clinic of our hospital, which is serving as a pandemic hospital in Turkey have been postponed because of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Methods This survey study was conducted at urology clinic of Ankara City Hospital between March 1 and June 1, 2020, and included 24 male patients who agreed to answer the questionnaires (State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory [STAI] I and II and Beck Depression Inventory [BDI]). Demographical and clinical data (age, time since diagnosis, total serum prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) levels, risk groups according to the D'Amico classification system, smoking, alcohol habitus, major surgical history and comorbidities) of the patients were collected from hospital software. Results The mean STAI‐I score of the patients (46.7 ± 1.4 [44‐49]) was significantly higher than their STAI‐II score (41.7 ± 2.4 [39‐47]) ( P < .001). The negative correlation between the decrease in age and STAI‐I score was found to be statistically significant ( r = 0.439, P < .05). The mean BDI score of the patients was 4.3 ± 3.2 (0‐13), which was compatible with mild depression. There was no statistically significant difference among the time elapsed from diagnosis, PSA levels, smoking and alcohol habitus, major surgical history and comorbidity status and STAI‐I, STAI‐II and BDI scores ( P > .05). Conclusion Prostate cancer patients with postponed operations should be guided properly in order to manage their anxiety status especially young patients.

The study aimed to investigate the best‐performing of three risk calculators (RCs) for the Turkish population in predicting cancer‐free status and high‐risk prostate cancer (PCa) in patients undergoing transrectal ultrasound‐guided prostate biopsy. The electronic medical records of 527 patients who underwent prostate biopsy for the first time due to PSA of 0.3–50 ng/dl and/or cancer suspicion at digital rectal examination (DRE) between January 2017 and December 2020 were retrieved retrospectively. The predictive power of the RCs in the biopsy and the surgical cohort was calculated by two urologists using European Randomised Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) RC, the North American Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial‐RC (PCPT‐RC), and the Prostate Biopsy Collaborative Group (PBCG)‐RC. All three RCs were successful in predicting PCa and high‐risk disease at ROC analysis (p < 0.0001). Of these three nomograms, PBCG‐RC outperformed PCPT‐RC 2.0 and ERSPC‐RH in predicting benign pathology outcomes at biopsy. A better performance of PBCG‐RC was also observed in terms of prediction of high‐risk disease at biopsy. Using any of the available RCs prior to biopsy is of greater assistance to prostate‐specific antigen and DRE than examination alone. The study results show that PBCG‐RC performed before biopsy has a higher predictive power than the other two RCs.

Background A novel infection, COVID-19, emerged in China and soon became a global pandemic. Pandemic conditions have resulted in stress in the workplace and led to anxiety among healthcare workers (HCWs), having negative impacts on different aspects of their lives, including their sexual function. Aim To evaluate the changes in the anxiety status of HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of anxiety on their sexual functions. Methods This is a longitudinal study based on an online survey conducted from April 2020 to February 2021 in hospitals designated as pandemic healthcare centers. An online survey link was sent to HCWs that provided consent for participation in the study. The anxiety status of the participants was assessed using the State Anxiety Inventory, and sexual function was evaluated using the International Index of Erectile Function–15 for men and Female Sexual Function Index for women. Outcomes Scores obtained at the beginning of the pandemic were compared with those obtained at six months into the pandemic to determine the changes in the anxiety levels and sexual functions of the HCWs. Results A total of 399 HCWs participated in the survey, and the median age was 32 (20–60) years. Compared to the beginning of the pandemic, there was a significant increase in the State Anxiety Inventory score of the female and male HCWs at the sixth month of the pandemic. Among the women, the mean total Female Sexual Function Index score was 23.55 ± 8.69 at the beginning of the pandemic and 21.42±8.91 at the sixth month, and there was a significant decrease in all parameters except pain. Among the men, the International Index of Erectile Function–15 total score was 62.75 ± 12.51 at the beginning of the pandemic and 55.1 ± 12.87 at the sixth month, indicating a significant decrease in all parameters. Clinical implications Considering that the pandemic will continue for a long time, more psychological support should be provided, and interventions should be made to protect the mental health of HCWs. Strengths & Limitations The strength of the study is that it had a fairly high number of participants across several institutions. However, being conducted in one country and the sample not being randomly selected and being based on voluntariness can be considered as limitations. Conclusion Our results show that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in the anxiety levels of both female and male HCWs, and this situation has negatively affected their sexual functions.