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Machado H, de Freitas C, Fiske A, Radhuber I, Silva S, Grimaldo-Rodríguez CO, Botrugno C, Kinner R, Marelli L. Performing publics of science in the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study in Austria, Bolivia, Germany, Italy, Mexico, and Portugal. PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE (BRISTOL, ENGLAND) 2024; 33:466-482. [PMID: 38305243 PMCID: PMC11056084 DOI: 10.1177/09636625231220219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Research about science and publics in the COVID-19 pandemic often focuses on public trust and on identifying and correcting public attitudes. Drawing on qualitative interviews with 209 residents in six countries-Austria, Bolivia, Germany, Italy, Mexico, and Portugal-this article uses the concept of performativity to explore how participants understand, and relate to science, in the COVID-19 context. By performativity, we mean the ways by which participants understand themselves as particular sorts of publics through identification with, and differentiation from, various other actors in matters that are perceived as controversies surrounding science: COVID-19 vaccination, media communication of science, and the interactions between governments and scientists. The criteria used to construct the similarities and differences among publics were heterogeneous and fluid, showing how epistemic beliefs about the nature of, and trust in, scientific knowledge are intermingled with social and cultural memberships embedded in specific contexts and across disparate places.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Machado
- Department of Sociology, Institute for Social Sciences, University of Minho, Portugal
| | - Cláudia de Freitas
- Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health, (ITR); EPIUnit - Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Portugal
| | - Amelia Fiske
- Institute of History and Ethics in Medicine, TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Germany
| | | | - Susana Silva
- Department of Sociology, Institute for Social Sciences, University of Minho, Portugal; Centre for Research in Anthropology (CRIA-UMinho), Portugal
| | | | - Carlo Botrugno
- Research Unit on Everyday Bioethics and Ethics of Science, Department of Legal Sciences, University of Florence, Italy; European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Italy
| | - Ralph Kinner
- Department of Development Studies, University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Luca Marelli
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Italy; Life Sciences & Society Lab, Centre for Sociological Research, KU Leuven, Belgium
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Aggrey-Bluwey L, Abekah-Nkrumah G. Determinants of vaccination decisions and lived experiences of Ghanaians with the COVID-19 pandemic; a qualitative study. Vaccine X 2024; 17:100463. [PMID: 38425414 PMCID: PMC10901909 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvacx.2024.100463] [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: 03/05/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Two years after the WHO declared a state of emergency as a result of the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus from Wuhan, China, the rate of new infections experienced intermittent flare-ups globally, with vaccinations still ongoing in countries such as Ghana. One year after the implementation of Ghana's COVID-19 vaccine deployment program, Ghanaians have had the opportunity to reflect on their vaccination decisions, albeit the initial vaccine hesitancy. Objectives The current paper examined the knowledge and lived experiences of Ghanaians during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the factors influencing their vaccination decisions, one year after COVID-19 vaccinations commenced in Ghana, with special focus on the social and geographical histories which influenced their vaccination decisions. Methodology A qualitative approach using a case study design was used to conduct in-depth interviews among 25 respondents who were 18 years and above, not pregnant, and willing to participate in the study, between 5th and 23rd September 2022. Data was collected in 5 hotspot areas in Ghana with the highest cumulative case counts. A semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data which was analyzed using a thematic approach. Findings Respondents demonstrated a good level of knowledge on COVID-19 and related vaccines. Fear, panic, and anxiety were some of the experiences lived by respondents during the pandemic. The factors influencing vaccination decisions included conspiracy theories about COVID-19 and related vaccines, subjective notions about the COVID-19 disease, and subjective notions about the vaccine. The type of community one lived in, taboos, and previous successful vaccination programs in the community were geographic factors that informed respondents' decision to vaccinate or not. Social circles, religion, opinion leaders, and media-based campaigns were the social factors that influenced respondents' decision to vaccinate or not.
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Wang T, Yang Q, Gao Y, Zhang R, Zhou C, Kong W, Zhang G, Chen X, Pu H, Shang L. Computed Tomography Manifestations in Patients with Rifampin Primary Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in an Infectious Disease Hospital in the Yi Autonomous Prefecture, China. Int J Gen Med 2023; 16:5109-5118. [PMID: 37954652 PMCID: PMC10637220 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s428962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose This study aimed to investigate clinical features and computed tomography (CT) manifestations of rifampicin primary drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture. Patients and Methods A total of 100 inpatients with confirmed primary rifampicin-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis were recruited from January 2020 to December 2022 at an infectious disease hospital located in the Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture. Additionally, 100 inpatients with confirmed drug-susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis during the same period were matched to the rifampicin-resistant group based on gender, age, and ethnicity. The clinical characteristics of the two groups were recorded separately. Furthermore, the CT manifestations in these patients were independently analyzed by three radiologists. Results The results showed that comorbid diabetes mellitus was more prevalent in the drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) group than in the drug-susceptible tuberculosis (DS-TB) group (9% vs 0%, p=0.0032). In terms of imaging presentation, DR-TB patients exhibited a higher frequency of calcifications (55% vs 35.00%, p=0.0068), greater median number of cavities (5 vs 2, p=0.0027), and larger maximum cavity diameter (52.08±25.55 mm vs 42.72±17.48 mm, p=0.0097). Additionally, bilateral involvement was more common in DR-TB patients at the site of the lesion (89% vs 76%, p=0.0246), with a higher prevalence in the right middle (82% vs 68%, p=0.0332), right lower (82% vs 68%, p=0.0332), left upper (91% vs 77%, p=0.0113), and left lower lobes (92% vs 66%, p<0.0001). Conversely, the involvement of only one lobe was less frequent in patients with DR-TB than in those with DS-TB (4% vs 13%, p=0.0398), whereas the involvement of all five lobes was more common (68% vs 51%, p=0.0209). Conclusion Patients with DR-TB exhibit a higher prevalence of severe imaging manifestations, highlighting the importance of CT in the early detection and diagnosis of DR-TB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Wang
- Department of Radiology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Radiology, The First People’s Hospital of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Xichang, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qianwen Yang
- School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yan Gao
- Department of Radiology, The First People’s Hospital of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Xichang, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Rongping Zhang
- Department of Radiology, The First People’s Hospital of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Xichang, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chaoxin Zhou
- Department of Radiology, The First People’s Hospital of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Xichang, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Weifang Kong
- Department of Radiology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Guojin Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinyue Chen
- CT Collaboration, Siemens-Healthineers, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hong Pu
- Department of Radiology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lan Shang
- Department of Radiology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
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Zhang SX, Chen XX, Zheng Y, Cai BH, Shi W, Ru M, Li H, Zhang DD, Tian Y, Chen YL. Reduced SARS-CoV-2 infection risk is associated with the use of Seven-Flavor Herb Tea: A multi-center observational study in Shanghai, China. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE 2023:S2095-4964(23)00047-X. [PMID: 37380565 DOI: 10.1016/j.joim.2023.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Omicron, a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant, is responsible for numerous infections in China. This study investigates the association between the use of Seven-Flavor Herb Tea (SFHT) and the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection to develop precise and differentiated strategies for control of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS This case-control study was conducted at shelter hospitals and quarantine hotels in China. A total of 5348 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients were enrolled between April 1 and May 31, 2022, while 2190 uninfected individuals served as healthy controls. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data on demographics, underlying diseases, vaccination status, and use of SFHT. Patients were propensity-score-matched using 1:1 nearest-neighbor matching of the logit of the propensity score. Subsequently, a conditional logistic regression model was used for data analysis. RESULTS Overall, 7538 eligible subjects were recruited, with an average age of [45.54 ± 16.94] years. The age of COVID-19 patients was significantly higher than that of uninfected individuals ([48.25 ± 17.48] years vs [38.92 ± 13.41] years; t = 22.437, P < 0.001). A total of 2190 COVID-19 cases were matched with uninfected individuals at a 1:1 ratio. The use of SFHT (odds ratio = 0.753, 95% confidence interval: 0.692, 0.820) was associated with a lower risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to untreated individuals. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that taking SFHT reduces the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This is a useful study in the larger picture of COVID-19 management, but data from large-sample multi-center, randomized clinical trial are warranted to confirm the finding. Please cite this article as: Zhang SX, Chen XX, Zheng Y, Cai BH, Shi W, Ru M, Li H, Zhang DD, Tian Y, Chen YL. Reduced SARS-CoV-2 infection risk is associated with the use of Seven-Flavor Herb Tea: a multi-center observational study in Shanghai, China. J Integr Med. 2023; Epub ahead of print.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun-Xian Zhang
- Clinical Research Center, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xiao-Xu Chen
- Medical Affairs Department, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yong Zheng
- Medical Affairs Department of Minhang District Health Committee, Shanghai 201199, China
| | - Bing-Hua Cai
- Medical Affairs Department of Fengxian District Health Committee, Shanghai 201499, China
| | - Wei Shi
- Medical Affairs Department of Jinshan District Health Committee, Shanghai 200540, China
| | - Ming Ru
- Medical Affairs Department of Xuhui District Health Committee, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Hui Li
- Medical Affairs Department of Changning District Health Committee, Shanghai 200050, China
| | - Dan-Dan Zhang
- Medical Affairs Department, Jinshan TCM-Integrated Hospital, Shanghai 201501, China
| | - Yu Tian
- Medical Affairs Department, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Yue-Lai Chen
- Sleep Medicine Center, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China.
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