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Schaber K, Arambepola R, Schluth C, Labrique AB, Mehta SH, Solomon SS, Cummings DAT, Wesolowski A. Geography versus sociodemographics as predictors of changes in daily mobility across the USA during the COVID-19 pandemic: a two-stage regression analysis across 26 metropolitan areas. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e077153. [PMID: 38986558 PMCID: PMC11344868 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-077153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We investigated whether a zip code's location or demographics are most predictive of changes in daily mobility throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN We used a population-level study to examine the predictability of daily mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic using a two-stage regression approach, where generalised additive models (GAM) predicted mobility trends over time at a large spatial level, then the residuals were used to determine which factors (location, zip code-level features or number of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) in place) best predict the difference between a zip code's measured mobility and the average trend on a given date. SETTING We analyse zip code-level mobile phone records from 26 metropolitan areas in the USA on 15 March-31 September 2020, relative to October 2020. RESULTS While relative mobility had a general trend, a zip code's city-level location significantly helped to predict its daily mobility patterns. This effect was time-dependent, with a city's deviation from general mobility trends differing in both direction and magnitude throughout the course of 2020. The characteristics of a zip code further increased predictive power, with the densest zip codes closest to a city centre tended to have the largest decrease in mobility. However, the effect on mobility change varied by city and became less important over the course of the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS The location and characteristics of a zip code are important for determining changes in daily mobility patterns throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. These results can determine the efficacy of NPI implementation on multiple spatial scales and inform policy makers on whether certain NPIs should be implemented or lifted during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and when preparing for future public health emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Schaber
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Rohan Arambepola
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Catherine Schluth
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Alain B Labrique
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Shruti H Mehta
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sunil S Solomon
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Infectious Disease, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Derek A T Cummings
- Department of Biology and the Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Amy Wesolowski
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Moreland S, Zviedrite N, Ahmed F, Uzicanin A. COVID-19 prevention at institutions of higher education, United States, 2020-2021: implementation of nonpharmaceutical interventions. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:164. [PMID: 36694136 PMCID: PMC9872740 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15079-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In early 2020, following the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, institutions of higher education (IHEs) across the United States rapidly pivoted to online learning to reduce the risk of on-campus virus transmission. We explored IHEs' use of this and other nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) during the subsequent pandemic-affected academic year 2020-2021. METHODS From December 2020 to June 2021, we collected publicly available data from official webpages of 847 IHEs, including all public (n = 547) and a stratified random sample of private four-year institutions (n = 300). Abstracted data included NPIs deployed during the academic year such as changes to the calendar, learning environment, housing, common areas, and dining; COVID-19 testing; and facemask protocols. We performed weighted analysis to assess congruence with the October 29, 2020, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for IHEs. For IHEs offering ≥50% of courses in person, we used weighted multivariable linear regression to explore the association between IHE characteristics and the summated number of implemented NPIs. RESULTS Overall, 20% of IHEs implemented all CDC-recommended NPIs. The most frequently utilized NPI was learning environment changes (91%), practiced as one or more of the following modalities: distance or hybrid learning opportunities (98%), 6-ft spacing (60%), and reduced class sizes (51%). Additionally, 88% of IHEs specified facemask protocols, 78% physically changed common areas, and 67% offered COVID-19 testing. Among the 33% of IHEs offering ≥50% of courses in person, having < 1000 students was associated with having implemented fewer NPIs than IHEs with ≥1000 students. CONCLUSIONS Only 1 in 5 IHEs implemented all CDC recommendations, while a majority implemented a subset, most commonly changes to the classroom, facemask protocols, and COVID-19 testing. IHE enrollment size and location were associated with degree of NPI implementation. Additional research is needed to assess adherence to NPI implementation in IHE settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Moreland
- grid.416738.f0000 0001 2163 0069Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA ,grid.410547.30000 0001 1013 9784Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, 1299 Bethel Valley Rd, Oak Ridge, TN 37830 USA
| | - Nicole Zviedrite
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, USA.
| | - Faruque Ahmed
- grid.416738.f0000 0001 2163 0069Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA
| | - Amra Uzicanin
- grid.416738.f0000 0001 2163 0069Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA
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Ahmed H, Cargill T, Bragazzi NL, Kong JD. Dataset of non-pharmaceutical interventions and community support measures across Canadian universities and colleges during COVID-19 in 2020. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1066654. [PMID: 36466459 PMCID: PMC9714475 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1066654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Haleema Ahmed
- Kong Research Group, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Africa-Canada Artificial Intelligence and Data Innovation Consortium, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Taylor Cargill
- Kong Research Group, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Africa-Canada Artificial Intelligence and Data Innovation Consortium, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nicola Luigi Bragazzi
- Laboratory for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Science, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jude Dzevela Kong
- Africa-Canada Artificial Intelligence and Data Innovation Consortium, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Kong Research Group, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Science, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Zhu X, Chu CKM, Lam YC. The Predictive Effects of Family and Individual Wellbeing on University Students' Online Learning During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Front Psychol 2022; 13:898171. [PMID: 35719490 PMCID: PMC9200981 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.898171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed university students' life routines, such as prolonged stay at home and learning online without prior preparation. Identifying factors influencing student online learning has become a great concern of educators and researchers. The present study aimed to investigate whether family wellbeing (i.e., family support and conflict) would significantly predict university students' online learning effectiveness indicated by engagement and gains. The mediational role of individual wellbeing such as life satisfaction and sleep difficulties was also tested. This study collected data from 511 undergraduate students (Mean age = 20.04 ± 1.79 years, 64.8% female students) via an online survey. Structural equation modeling analysis revealed positive effects of family support on students' learning engagement and gains through the mediational effects of life satisfaction and sleep difficulties. In contrast to our expectation, family conflict during the pandemic also positively predicted students' learning gains, which, however, was not mediated by individual wellbeing. The findings add value to the existing literature by delineating the inter-relationships between family wellbeing, individual wellbeing, and online learning effectiveness. The study also sheds light on the unique meaning of family conflict, which needs further clarification in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqin Zhu
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Cevasco KE, Roess AA, North HM, Zeitoun SA, Wofford RN, Matulis GA, Gregory AF, Hassan MH, Abdo AD, von Fricken ME. Survival analysis of factors affecting the timing of COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions by U.S. universities. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:1985. [PMID: 34727895 PMCID: PMC8562371 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-12035-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background During March of 2020 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced non-pharmaceutical intervention (NPI) guidance as the primary mitigation strategy against growing COVID-19 community spread due to the absence of a vaccine or effective treatment at that time. CDC guidance states that NPIs are most effective when instituted in an early, targeted, and layered fashion. NPIs are effective in slowing spread, and measures should be custom-tailored to each population. This study examines factors associated with implementation and timing of NPI interventions across large public and private U.S. universities at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods NPI decisions of interest include when U.S. universities canceled international travel, shifted to online learning, moved faculty/staff to remote work, limited campus housing, and closed campus for all non-essential personnel. Cox proportional hazard analyses of retrospective data were conducted to assess the time to NPI events. Hazard ratios were calculated for university governance, campus setting, religious affiliation, health infrastructure, faculty diversity, and student demographics. The methods control for variance inflation factors, COVID case prevalence, and time varying covariates of spring break and states’ state of emergency (SOE) orders. This study captures NPI decisions at 575 U.S. universities during spring of 2020 which affected the movement of seven million students and two million employees. Results Universities located in districts represented by Democratic party congressional members reported earlier NPI implementation than Republican (Cox proportional hazard ratio (HR) range 0.61–0.80). University religious affiliation was not associated with the timing any of the NPI decisions. Universities with more diverse faculty showed an association with earlier NPI implementation (HR range 0.65–0.76). The existence of university-affiliated health infrastructure was not associated with NPI timing. Conclusion University NPI implementation was largely driven by local COVID-19 epidemiology, culture and political concerns. The timing of university NPI decisions varied by regional politics, faculty demographics, university governance, campus setting, and foreign student prevalence adjusting for COVID-19 state case prevalence and spring break timing. Religious affiliation and presence of university health infrastructure were not associated with timing. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-12035-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin E Cevasco
- Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA
| | - Amira A Roess
- Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA
| | - Hayley M North
- Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA
| | - Sheryne A Zeitoun
- Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA
| | - Rachel N Wofford
- Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA
| | - Graham A Matulis
- Department of Biology, College of Science, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Abigail F Gregory
- Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA
| | - Maha H Hassan
- Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA
| | - Aya D Abdo
- Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA
| | - Michael E von Fricken
- Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA.
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Perra N. Non-pharmaceutical interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic: A review. PHYSICS REPORTS 2021; 913:1-52. [PMID: 33612922 PMCID: PMC7881715 DOI: 10.1016/j.physrep.2021.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 224] [Impact Index Per Article: 74.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Infectious diseases and human behavior are intertwined. On one side, our movements and interactions are the engines of transmission. On the other, the unfolding of viruses might induce changes to our daily activities. While intuitive, our understanding of such feedback loop is still limited. Before COVID-19 the literature on the subject was mainly theoretical and largely missed validation. The main issue was the lack of empirical data capturing behavioral change induced by diseases. Things have dramatically changed in 2020. Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) have been the key weapon against the SARS-CoV-2 virus and affected virtually any societal process. Travel bans, events cancellation, social distancing, curfews, and lockdowns have become unfortunately very familiar. The scale of the emergency, the ease of survey as well as crowdsourcing deployment guaranteed by the latest technology, several Data for Good programs developed by tech giants, major mobile phone providers, and other companies have allowed unprecedented access to data describing behavioral changes induced by the pandemic. Here, I review some of the vast literature written on the subject of NPIs during the COVID-19 pandemic. In doing so, I analyze 348 articles written by more than 2518 authors in the first 12 months of the emergency. While the large majority of the sample was obtained by querying PubMed, it includes also a hand-curated list. Considering the focus, and methodology I have classified the sample into seven main categories: epidemic models, surveys, comments/perspectives, papers aiming to quantify the effects of NPIs, reviews, articles using data proxies to measure NPIs, and publicly available datasets describing NPIs. I summarize the methodology, data used, findings of the articles in each category and provide an outlook highlighting future challenges as well as opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Perra
- Networks and Urban Systems Centre, University of Greenwich, London, UK
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Quiroz Flores A, Liza F, Quteineh H, Czarnecka B. Variation in the timing of Covid-19 communication across universities in the UK. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0246391. [PMID: 33592014 PMCID: PMC7886223 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
During the Covid-19 pandemic, universities in the UK used social media to raise awareness and provide guidance and advice about the disease to students and staff. We explain why some universities used social media to communicate with stakeholders sooner than others. To do so, we identified the date of the first Covid-19 related tweet posted by each university in the country and used survival models to estimate the effect of university-specific characteristics on the timing of these messages. In order to confirm our results, we supplemented our analysis with a study of the introduction of coronavirus-related university webpages. We find that universities with large numbers of students are more likely to use social media and the web to speak about the pandemic sooner than institutions with fewer students. Universities with large financial resources are also more likely to tweet sooner, but they do not introduce Covid-19 webpages faster than other universities. We also find evidence of a strong process of emulation, whereby universities are more likely to post a coronavirus-related tweet or webpage if other universities have already done so.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Quiroz Flores
- Business and Local Government Data Research Centre, University of Essex, Colchester, Essex, United Kingdom
- Department of Government, University of Essex, Colchester, Essex, United Kingdom
- Institute for Analytics and Data Science, University of Essex, Colchester, Essex, United Kingdom
| | - Farhana Liza
- Business and Local Government Data Research Centre, University of Essex, Colchester, Essex, United Kingdom
| | - Husam Quteineh
- Business and Local Government Data Research Centre, University of Essex, Colchester, Essex, United Kingdom
| | - Barbara Czarnecka
- Division of Management, Marketing and People, Business School, London South Bank University, London, United Kingdom
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