Adapting Lessons From SARS for the COVID-19 Pandemic-Perspectives From Radiology Nursing in Singapore

Experiences of Radiology Personnel About the COVID-19 Crisis: A Qualitative Content Analysis

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all health care systems. During these critical times, radiology personnel and nurses have been heavily involved in the diagnosis and management of patients with COVID-19.

Purpose

This study investigates the experiences of radiology personnel about the COVID-19 crisis.

Methods

This qualitative content analysis was conducted on seven radiology personnel. In-depth semistructured interviews were used to collect data. Purposive sampling was carried out to select the participants.

Findings

The data analysis led to the emergence of six categories, including psychological-emotional reactions, knowledge-related challenges, humaneness, workplace conditions, hopefulness, and support.

Conclusion

Learning from the experiences of radiology personnel and nurses during the COVID-19 crisis can help better manage any subsequent health crises.

One Year on: An Overview of Singapore's Response to COVID-19-What We Did, How We Fared, How We Can Move Forward

Background—One year has passed since the first COVID-19 case in Singapore. This scoping review commemorates Singaporean researchers that have expanded the knowledge on this novel virus. We aim to provide an overview of healthcare-related articles published in peer-reviewed journals, authored by the Singapore research community about COVID-19 during the first year of the pandemic. Methods—This was reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) protocol. It included healthcare-related articles about COVID-19 published between 23 January 2020 and 22 January 2021 with a Singapore-affiliated author. MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, and local journals were searched. The articles were screened independently by two reviewers. Results—The review included 504 articles. Most of the articles narrated the changes to hospital practice (210), while articles on COVID-19 pathology (94) formed most of the non-narrative papers. Publications on public health (61) and the indirect impacts to clinical outcomes (45) were other major themes explored by the research community. The remaining articles detailed the psychological impact of the pandemic (35), adaptations of medical education (30), and narratives of events (14). Conclusion—Amidst a resurgence of community cases involving variant COVID-19 strains, the resources from the research community will provide valuable guidance to navigate these uncertain times.

Examining effective communication in nursing practice during COVID-19: A large-scale qualitative study

Aim

The aim of this study was to conduct a primary examination of the qualitative communication experiences of nurses during the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic in the United States.

Background

Ambiguity in ever‐evolving knowledge on how to provide care during COVID‐19. Remaining safe has created a sense of urgency, which has in turn created the need for organizations to quickly alter their operational plans and protocols to support measures that increase capacity and establish a culture of safe care and clear communication. However, no known study has described communication in nursing practice during COVID‐19.

Methods

Utilizing qualitative descriptive methodology, semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 100 nurse participants from May to September 2020 and recorded for thematic analysis. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative studies (COREQ), a 32‐item checklist, were used to ensure detailed and comprehensive reporting of this qualitative study protocol.

Findings

Study participants shared descriptions of how effective communication positively impacted patient care and nursing practice experiences during the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic. The thematic network analyses identified the importance of effective communication across three levels: (1) organizational leadership, (2) unit leadership and (3) nurse‐to‐nurse communication. Within this structure, three organizing themes, essential to effective communication, were described including (a) presence, (b) education and (c) emotional support.

Conclusion

Examining existing crisis communication policies and procedures across healthcare organizations is imperative to maintain highly relevant, innovative, and data‐driven policies and strategies that are fundamental to preserving quality patient care and supporting optimal nursing practice.

Implications for Nursing Policy and Health Policy

Effective communication is critical to support nurses through extended periods of crisis. COVID‐19 represents a unique contemporary challenge to the nursing workforce given the high stress and prolonged strain it has created for both human and healthcare supply resources. There is value in nurses’ presence at local, unit level and organizational leadership levels to convey critical information that directly informs leadership decision‐making during unprecedented emergencies such as the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Challenges and optimization strategies in medical imaging service delivery during COVID-19

In coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), medical imaging plays an essential role in the diagnosis, management and disease progression surveillance. Chest radiography and computed tomography are commonly used imaging techniques globally during this pandemic. As the pandemic continues to unfold, many healthcare systems worldwide struggle to balance the heavy strain due to overwhelming demand for healthcare resources. Changes are required across the entire healthcare system and medical imaging departments are no exception. The COVID-19 pandemic had a devastating impact on medical imaging practices. It is now time to pay further attention to the profound challenges of COVID-19 on medical imaging services and develop effective strategies to get ahead of the crisis. Additionally, preparation for operations and survival in the post-pandemic future are necessary considerations. This review aims to comprehensively examine the challenges and optimization of delivering medical imaging services in relation to the current COVID-19 global pandemic, including the role of medical imaging during these challenging times and potential future directions post-COVID-19.

Risk to Radiology Staff for Occupational COVID-19 Infection in a High-Risk and a Low-Risk Region in Germany: Lessons from the "First Wave"

PURPOSE

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increasing overload of the medical system. Healthcare workers (HCW) in radiology departments are exposed to a high infection risk similar to HCWs in the ICU or dedicated COVID wards. The goal of our paper is to evaluate the prevalence of IgG antibody against SARS-CoV-2 among radiology HCWs in two different hospitals and regions in Germany with a low and high COVID-19 prevalence and to compare it to the prevalence in other clinical personnel. Additionally, we assessed the number of radiological procedures performed in patients with a positive PCR test (C+) followed by a short review of the risk for nosocomial infections of radiology HCWs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

During the first COVID-19 wave between March and July 2020, we evaluated a region with one of the highest COVID-19 rates (776-1570/100 000) in Germany (Hospital A). Additionally, we assessed Hospital B in a region with a low prevalence (65/100 000). We tested the serum prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies among the whole staff with a subgroup analysis for radiology in both hospitals. We calculated the total number of different radiological procedures performed in C+ patients.

RESULTS

In Hospital A 594 PCR-proven C+ patients were treated resulting in 2723 radiological procedures. 24 % (n = 6) of the radiology technicians and 13.35 (n = 2) of radiologists had a positive IgG test. The rates were similar to positive rates in HCWs in COVID-19 wards and ICUs within the hospital. The most frequently performed procedures in C+ patients were chest X-rays (3.17/patient) and CT examinations (1.15/patient). In Hospital B 50 C+ patients were treated, resulting in 64 radiological procedures. None of the HCWs tested IgG positive. The most frequently performed examinations were also chest X-rays (1.04/patient) and CT (0.2/patient).

CONCLUSION

HCWs in radiology have a high occupational infection risk similar to that of HCWs in ICUs and dedicated COVID wards.

KEY POINTS

· The risk of acquiring COVID-19 increases with the amount of contact with infected individuals.. · The occupational risk of a SARS-CoV-2 infection for radiology staff is similar to that of nurses and physicians in COVID wards.. · Hygiene concepts and medical resources have to be adapted for further COVID outbreaks.. · Reporting of an occupational disease can be considered in the case of seropositive staff..

CITATION FORMAT

· Finkenzeller T, Lenhart S, Reinwald M et al. Risk to Radiology Staff for Occupational COVID-19 Infection in a High-Risk and a Low-Risk Region in Germany: Lessons from the "First Wave". Fortschr Röntgenstr 2021; 193: 537 - 543.