1
|
Tuncer-Göktuna P, Fontes BA, Çokçalışkan C, Asar E, Karakaya M. Implementing an Organizational Culture of Biosafety and Biosecurity in the ŞAP Institute. Health Secur 2024; 22:271-280. [PMID: 38815143 DOI: 10.1089/hs.2023.0044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
An organizational culture of biosafety and biosecurity is critical for effective management of transboundary animal diseases. One essential aspect of this work is keeping important pathogens studied in veterinary laboratories under control. Türkiye is among the countries that are both endemic and disease-free for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus, and it has a unique institute dedicated to FMD diagnosis, control, and vaccine production. To build an organizational safety culture within this institute and strengthen awareness of the importance of safe and secure handling of FMD, 4 staff members previously trained in biorisk management developed and provided trainings to all institute staff. The institute's 173 personnel were divided into 3 groups by job description based on direct or indirect work with FMD virus. All 3 groups received training that addressed biosecurity, biosafety, biorisk awareness, and insider threat; the trainings varied in length by group. Three-quarters (n=130, 75%) of all institute staff completed their training and were asked to complete knowledge surveys using a Likert scale survey before and after their training. A majority (n=104, 80%) of those participants completed both the pretraining and posttraining surveys. All 3 training groups' posttraining surveys showed improved awareness above baseline scores, and all 3 groups scores reached the targeted threshold goal. Group 2 demonstrated a realization that some of the knowledge and habits they had acquired through experience were incorrect. Scores for several individual questions decreased at posttraining, and these results will need further evaluation. The overall training results prompted the institute to provide periodic updates to employees to sustain the organizational safety culture. With this study, the institute now has a dedicated group of biorisk management representatives. This work serves as a wake-up call for established institutions that rely on staff experience to foster an organizational culture of biosafety and biosecurity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pelin Tuncer-Göktuna
- Pelin Tuncer-Göktuna, PhD, is an Associate Professor, Viral Vaccines Production Lab and Sheep and Goat Poxvirus National Reference Lab, Pendik Veterinary Control Institute, Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Benjamin A Fontes
- Benjamin A. Fontes, is a Senior Associate Director and Biosafety Officer, Environmental Health Safety, Yale University, New Haven, CT
| | - Can Çokçalışkan
- Can Çokçalışkan, PhD, is Researcher, at the ŞAP (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) Institute, Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Erdoğan Asar
- Erdoğan Asar, PhD is an Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Informatics, Division of Basic Medical Sciences, Gulhane Faculty of Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Mehmet Karakaya
- Mehmet Karakaya, is Researcher, at the ŞAP (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) Institute, Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ankara, Türkiye
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Malik S, Taweh FM, Freeman M, Dogba JB, Gwesa GO, Tokpah M, Gbondin PP, Kohar TH, Hena JY, MaCauley JA, Pierson A, Rayfield MA, Peruski LF, Albetkova A, Balish A. Strengthening laboratory biosafety in Liberia during the COVID-19 pandemic: Experience from the Global Laboratory Leadership Programme. One Health 2022; 15:100442. [PMID: 36249991 PMCID: PMC9549752 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2022.100442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Global Laboratory Leadership Programme (GLLP) has biosafety and biosecurity as one of its core competencies and advocates for a One Health approach involving all relevant sectors across the human-animal-environment interface to empower national laboratory systems and strengthen health security. Decentralization of SARS-CoV-2 testing in Liberia coupled with an increase in the number of COVID-19 infections among laboratory professionals raised biosafety concerns. In response, a set of trainings on laboratory biosafety was launched for lab personnel across the country under the framework of the GLLP. The goal was to deliver a comprehensive package for laboratory biosafety in the context of SARS-CoV-2 through active learning. Methods Three one-day workshops were conducted between September and October 2020, training personnel from human, animal and environmental laboratories through a One Health approach. Concepts critical to laboratory biosafety were delivered in an interactive engagement format to ensure effective learning and retention of concepts. Pre- and post-training assessments were performed, and a paired t-test was used to assess knowledge gain. Results Of the 67 participants, 64 were from the human health sector, one from veterinary sector and two from environmental health sector. The average pre-test score was 41%. The main gaps identified were failure to acknowledge surgical antisepsis as a form of hand hygiene and recognition of PPE as the best risk control measure. The average post-test score was 75.5%. The mean difference of pre-test and post-test scores was statistically significant (p-value <0.001). Participants indicated satisfaction with the workshop content, mode of delivery and trainers' proficiency. Conclusions The workshops were impactful as evidenced by significant improvement (34.5%) in the post-test scores and positive participant feedback. Repeated refresher trainings are vital to addressing the gaps, ensuring compliance, and promoting biosafety culture. GLLP's approach to cultivating multisectoral national laboratory leaders ready to take responsibility and ownership for capacity building provides a sustainable solution for attaining strong national laboratory systems better prepared for health emergencies and pandemics like COVID-19.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shruti Malik
- Integrated Quality Laboratory Services, 207 Rue Francis de Pressense, 69100 Villeurbanne, France,Corresponding author.
| | - Fahn M. Taweh
- National Public Health Institute of Liberia, Congo Town Back Road, Monrovia, Liberia
| | - Maxwell Freeman
- National Public Health Institute of Liberia, Congo Town Back Road, Monrovia, Liberia
| | - John B. Dogba
- National Public Health Institute of Liberia, Congo Town Back Road, Monrovia, Liberia
| | - Grace O. Gwesa
- National Public Health Institute of Liberia, Congo Town Back Road, Monrovia, Liberia
| | - Melvin Tokpah
- National Standards Laboratory of Liberia, Lynch Street, Monrovia, Liberia
| | | | - T. Henry Kohar
- Ministry of Health, Congo Town, Tubman Blvd, Monrovia, Liberia
| | - John Y. Hena
- Leon Quist Ledlum Central Veterinary Laboratory, Ministry of Agriculture, Gardnesville, Monrovia, Liberia
| | - Jane A. MaCauley
- National Public Health Institute of Liberia, Congo Town Back Road, Monrovia, Liberia
| | - Antoine Pierson
- Integrated Quality Laboratory Services, 207 Rue Francis de Pressense, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Mark A. Rayfield
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Leonard F. Peruski
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Adilya Albetkova
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Amanda Balish
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Raising Awareness of Smartphone Overuse among University Students: A Persuasive Systems Approach. INFORMATICS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/informatics9010015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Smartphone overuse can lead to a series of physical, mental and social disturbances. This problem is more prevalent among young adults as compared to other demographic groups. Additionally, university students are already undergoing high cognitive loads and stress conditions; therefore, they are more susceptible to smartphone addiction and its derived problems. In this paper, we present a novel approach where a conversational mobile agent uses persuasive messages exploring the reflective mind to raise users’ awareness of their usage and consequently induce reduction behaviors. We conducted a four-week study with 16 university students undergoing stressful conditions—a global lockdown during their semester—and evaluated the impact of the agent on smartphone usage reduction and the perceived usefulness of such an approach. Results show the efficacy of self-tracking in the behavior change process: 81% of the users reduced their usage time, and all of them mentioned that having a conversational agent alerting them about their usage was useful. Before this experiment, only 68% of them considered such an approach could be useful. In conclusion, users deemed it essential to have an engaging conversational agent on their smartphones, in terms of helping them become more aware of usage times.
Collapse
|
4
|
Muneer S, Kayani HA, Ali K, Asif E, Zohra RR, Kabir F. Laboratory biosafety and biosecurity related education in Pakistan: Engaging students through the Socratic method of learning. JOURNAL OF BIOSAFETY AND BIOSECURITY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jobb.2021.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
|