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Mrisho M, Mwangoka G, Ali AM, Mkopi A, Mahende MK, Temu S, Msuya HM, Kazyoba PE, Abdallah G, Mihayo M, Juma O, Hamad A, Jongo S, Lweno O, Tumbo A, Mswata S, Kassim KR, Kishimba R, Haruna H, Kassa H, Kapologwe N, Rashid M, Abdulla S. Pilot deployment of a community health care worker in distributing and offering the COVID-19 AgRDT in Tanzania. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11679. [PMID: 38778088 PMCID: PMC11111661 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62379-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
A pilot implementation of the rapid diagnostic test program was performed to collect evidence of the feasibility, acceptability, and uptake of the COVID-19 AgRDT in Tanzania. We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study in the community to provide quantitative details of the pilot implementation of the antigen rapid diagnostic test (AgRDT) in Tanzania. This study was undertaken between March 2022 and September 2022. The pilot was implemented by distributing and offering test kits to people suspected of having COVID-19 in Dar es Salaam through community health workers. A total of 1039 participants consented to participate in the survey. All the participants reported having heard about the disease. The radio was the main source (93.2%) of information on COVID-19. With regard to prevention measures, approximately 930 (89.5%) of the respondents thought that COVID-19 could be prevented. Approximately 1035 (99.6%) participants reported that they were willing to have a COVID-19 AgRDT test and wait for 20 min for the results. With regard to the participants' opinions on the AgRDT device, the majority 907 (87.3%) felt comfortable with the test, and 1,029 (99.0%) were very likely to recommend the AgRDT test to their friends. The majority of participants 848 (83.1%) mentioned that they would be willing to pay for the test if it was not available for free. The results suggest overall good acceptance of the COVID-19 AgRDT test. It is evident that the use of trained community healthcare workers allows easy screening of all possible suspects and helps them receive early treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mwifadhi Mrisho
- Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), Kiko Avenue, Off Bagamoyo Road, Mikocheni, P O Box 78373, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
| | - Grace Mwangoka
- Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), Kiko Avenue, Off Bagamoyo Road, Mikocheni, P O Box 78373, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Ali M Ali
- Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), Kiko Avenue, Off Bagamoyo Road, Mikocheni, P O Box 78373, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Abdallah Mkopi
- Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), Kiko Avenue, Off Bagamoyo Road, Mikocheni, P O Box 78373, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Muhidin K Mahende
- Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), Kiko Avenue, Off Bagamoyo Road, Mikocheni, P O Box 78373, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Silas Temu
- Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), Kiko Avenue, Off Bagamoyo Road, Mikocheni, P O Box 78373, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Hajirani M Msuya
- Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), Kiko Avenue, Off Bagamoyo Road, Mikocheni, P O Box 78373, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Paul E Kazyoba
- National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), P O Box 9653, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Gumi Abdallah
- Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), Kiko Avenue, Off Bagamoyo Road, Mikocheni, P O Box 78373, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Michael Mihayo
- Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), Kiko Avenue, Off Bagamoyo Road, Mikocheni, P O Box 78373, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Omar Juma
- Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), Kiko Avenue, Off Bagamoyo Road, Mikocheni, P O Box 78373, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Ali Hamad
- Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), Kiko Avenue, Off Bagamoyo Road, Mikocheni, P O Box 78373, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Said Jongo
- Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), Kiko Avenue, Off Bagamoyo Road, Mikocheni, P O Box 78373, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Omar Lweno
- Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), Kiko Avenue, Off Bagamoyo Road, Mikocheni, P O Box 78373, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Anneth Tumbo
- Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), Kiko Avenue, Off Bagamoyo Road, Mikocheni, P O Box 78373, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Sarah Mswata
- Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), Kiko Avenue, Off Bagamoyo Road, Mikocheni, P O Box 78373, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Kamaka R Kassim
- Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), Kiko Avenue, Off Bagamoyo Road, Mikocheni, P O Box 78373, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | | | - Hussein Haruna
- Ministry of Health (MoH), P. O. Box 743, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Hellen Kassa
- FIND|Campus Biotech, Chemin des Mines 9, 1202, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ntuli Kapologwe
- Department of Health, Social Welfare and Nutrition Services, President's Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PORALG), P.O Box 1923, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Mohammed Rashid
- Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), Kiko Avenue, Off Bagamoyo Road, Mikocheni, P O Box 78373, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Salim Abdulla
- Ifakara Health Institute (IHI), Kiko Avenue, Off Bagamoyo Road, Mikocheni, P O Box 78373, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
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Sahu KS, Dubin JA, Majowicz SE, Liu S, Morita PP. Revealing the Mysteries of Population Mobility Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in Canada: Comparative Analysis With Internet of Things-Based Thermostat Data and Google Mobility Insights. JMIR Public Health Surveill 2024; 10:e46903. [PMID: 38506901 PMCID: PMC10993118 DOI: 10.2196/46903] [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] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated public health policies to limit human mobility and curb infection spread. Human mobility, which is often underestimated, plays a pivotal role in health outcomes, impacting both infectious and chronic diseases. Collecting precise mobility data is vital for understanding human behavior and informing public health strategies. Google's GPS-based location tracking, which is compiled in Google Mobility Reports, became the gold standard for monitoring outdoor mobility during the pandemic. However, indoor mobility remains underexplored. OBJECTIVE This study investigates in-home mobility data from ecobee's smart thermostats in Canada (February 2020 to February 2021) and compares it directly with Google's residential mobility data. By assessing the suitability of smart thermostat data, we aim to shed light on indoor mobility patterns, contributing valuable insights to public health research and strategies. METHODS Motion sensor data were acquired from the ecobee "Donate Your Data" initiative via Google's BigQuery cloud platform. Concurrently, residential mobility data were sourced from the Google Mobility Report. This study centered on 4 Canadian provinces-Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia-during the period from February 15, 2020, to February 14, 2021. Data processing, analysis, and visualization were conducted on the Microsoft Azure platform using Python (Python Software Foundation) and R programming languages (R Foundation for Statistical Computing). Our investigation involved assessing changes in mobility relative to the baseline in both data sets, with the strength of this relationship assessed using Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients. We scrutinized daily, weekly, and monthly variations in mobility patterns across the data sets and performed anomaly detection for further insights. RESULTS The results revealed noteworthy week-to-week and month-to-month shifts in population mobility within the chosen provinces, aligning with pandemic-driven policy adjustments. Notably, the ecobee data exhibited a robust correlation with Google's data set. Examination of Google's daily patterns detected more pronounced mobility fluctuations during weekdays, a trend not mirrored in the ecobee data. Anomaly detection successfully identified substantial mobility deviations coinciding with policy modifications and cultural events. CONCLUSIONS This study's findings illustrate the substantial influence of the Canadian stay-at-home and work-from-home policies on population mobility. This impact was discernible through both Google's out-of-house residential mobility data and ecobee's in-house smart thermostat data. As such, we deduce that smart thermostats represent a valid tool for facilitating intelligent monitoring of population mobility in response to policy-driven shifts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirti Sundar Sahu
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Joel A Dubin
- Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Shannon E Majowicz
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Sam Liu
- School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Plinio P Morita
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Research Institute of Aging, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
- Department of Systems Design Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
- eHealth Innovation, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Naidoo M, Shephard W, Kambewe I, Mtshali N, Cope S, Rubio FA, Rasella D. Incorporating social vulnerability in infectious disease mathematical modelling: a scoping review. BMC Med 2024; 22:125. [PMID: 38500147 PMCID: PMC10949739 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03333-y] [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: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Highlighted by the rise of COVID-19, climate change, and conflict, socially vulnerable populations are least resilient to disaster. In infectious disease management, mathematical models are a commonly used tool. Researchers should include social vulnerability in models to strengthen their utility in reflecting real-world dynamics. We conducted a scoping review to evaluate how researchers have incorporated social vulnerability into infectious disease mathematical models. METHODS The methodology followed the Joanna Briggs Institute and updated Arksey and O'Malley frameworks, verified by the PRISMA-ScR checklist. PubMed, Clarivate Web of Science, Scopus, EBSCO Africa Wide Information, and Cochrane Library were systematically searched for peer-reviewed published articles. Screening and extracting data were done by two independent researchers. RESULTS Of 4075 results, 89 articles were identified. Two-thirds of articles used a compartmental model (n = 58, 65.2%), with a quarter using agent-based models (n = 24, 27.0%). Overall, routine indicators, namely age and sex, were among the most frequently used measures (n = 42, 12.3%; n = 22, 6.4%, respectively). Only one measure related to culture and social behaviour (0.3%). For compartmental models, researchers commonly constructed distinct models for each level of a social vulnerability measure and included new parameters or influenced standard parameters in model equations (n = 30, 51.7%). For all agent-based models, characteristics were assigned to hosts (n = 24, 100.0%), with most models including age, contact behaviour, and/or sex (n = 18, 75.0%; n = 14, 53.3%; n = 10, 41.7%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Given the importance of equitable and effective infectious disease management, there is potential to further the field. Our findings demonstrate that social vulnerability is not considered holistically. There is a focus on incorporating routine demographic indicators but important cultural and social behaviours that impact health outcomes are excluded. It is crucial to develop models that foreground social vulnerability to not only design more equitable interventions, but also to develop more effective infectious disease control and elimination strategies. Furthermore, this study revealed the lack of transparency around data sources, inconsistent reporting, lack of collaboration with local experts, and limited studies focused on modelling cultural indicators. These challenges are priorities for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Naidoo
- The Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, C/ del Rosselló, Barcelona, 171, 08036, Spain.
| | - Whitney Shephard
- The Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, C/ del Rosselló, Barcelona, 171, 08036, Spain
| | - Innocensia Kambewe
- The Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, C/ del Rosselló, Barcelona, 171, 08036, Spain
| | - Nokuthula Mtshali
- The Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, C/ del Rosselló, Barcelona, 171, 08036, Spain
| | - Sky Cope
- The Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, C/ del Rosselló, Barcelona, 171, 08036, Spain
| | - Felipe Alves Rubio
- The Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, C/ del Rosselló, Barcelona, 171, 08036, Spain
| | - Davide Rasella
- The Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, C/ del Rosselló, Barcelona, 171, 08036, Spain
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Hoseinzadeh E, Sharif-Nia H, Ashktorab T, Ebadi A. Development and psychometric evaluation of nurse's intention to care for patients with infectious disease scale: an exploratory sequential mixed method study. BMC Nurs 2024; 23:65. [PMID: 38267951 PMCID: PMC10807223 DOI: 10.1186/s12912-023-01669-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
AIMS Nurses who care for patients with infectious disease may experince significant stress and negative psychological reactions. The intention of nurses to care is a complex and multifaceted concept that is influenced by a range of factors. Therefore, this study was conducted to explain the concept of nurses' intention to care for patients with infectious disease and then develop a reliable and valid scale to measure this concept accurately in Iranian nurses. DESIGN This study is a cross-sectional study with a sequential-exploratory mixed-method approach from May 2022 to July 2023. The concept of nurses' intent to care for patients with infectious disease was explain using deductive content analysis, and item pools were generated. In the sconed step the samples were 455 nurses. Data was collected by an online form questionnaire using a convenience sampling technique. In this step to determine the psychometric properties of nurse's intention to care for patients with infectious disease scale (NICPS), face and content validity performed. Then construct validity was determined and confirmed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis followed by convergent and divergent validity respectively. Finally, scale reliability including stability and internal consistency were evaluated. RESULTS The finding showed that NICPS with seventeen items were classified into three factors namely "Social support" with seven items, "Spiritual motivation" with six items and "Job satisfaction" with four items. These three factors explained 56.14% of the total variance. The fit indices showed that the model has a fit and acceptable (TLI, CFI, IFI > 0.9; PNFI, PCFI > 0.5, REMSEA > 0.049, CMIN/DF = 2.477). Reliability revealed acceptable internal consistency and stability (> 0.7). CONCLUSION The finding showed that NICPS has three factors in Iranian nurses. Nursing managers can use these results to provide training and support intervention for nurses in order to increase their intention to care for this patient. Also, the NICPS is a reliable and valid for evaluating this concept in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esmaeil Hoseinzadeh
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Sharif-Nia
- Psychosomatic Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Department of Nursing, Amol Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Tahereh Ashktorab
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Ebadi
- Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Life Style Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- Nursing Faculty, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Marques FRDM, Laranjeira C, Carreira L, Gallo AM, Baccon WC, Paiano M, Baldissera VDA, Salci MA. Illness Experiences of Brazilian People Who Were Hospitalized Due to COVID-19 and Faced Long COVID Repercussions in Their Daily Life: A Constructivist Grounded Theory Study. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 14:14. [PMID: 38247666 PMCID: PMC10813415 DOI: 10.3390/bs14010014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Long COVID is a multisystem condition that has multiple consequences for the physical, mental, and social health of COVID-19 survivors. The impact of the long COVID condition remains unclear, particularly among middle-aged and older adults, who are at greater risk than younger people of persisting symptoms associated with COVID-19. Therefore, we aimed to understand the experiences of middle-aged and older people who had been hospitalized for COVID-19 and the repercussions of long-term COVID symptoms in their daily lives. A qualitative study was carried out, adopting the framework of the constructivist grounded theory (CGT) proposed by Kathy Charmaz. Fifty-six middle-aged and older adult participants from the southern region of Brazil were recruited. Data were gathered from semi-structured telephone interviews. Concomitantly a comparative analysis was performed to identify categories and codes using the MaxQDA® software (version 2022). Three subcategories were identified: (1) experiencing COVID-19 in the acute phase; (2) oscillating between 'good days' and 'bad days' in long COVID; and (3) (re)constructing identity. These concepts interact with each other and converge upon the central category of this study: recasting oneself to the uniqueness of the illness experience of long COVID. Our findings provided insights related to the disruption in the lives of long COVID-19 sufferers who still live with persistent symptoms of the disease, including physical, social, family, emotional and spiritual repercussions. Likewise, this study may aid in developing friendly and welcoming social environments, lowering stigma and prejudice towards patients with long COVID, and fostering prompt and suitable policy support and mental health care for these individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francielle Renata Danielli Martins Marques
- Departamento de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Av. Colombo, 5790—Campus Universitário, Maringá 87020-900, PR, Brazil; (F.R.D.M.M.); (L.C.); (A.M.G.); (W.C.B.); (M.P.); (V.D.A.B.); (M.A.S.)
| | - Carlos Laranjeira
- School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic University of Leiria, Campus 2, Morro do Lena, Alto do Vieiro, Apartado 4137, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal
- Centre for Innovative Care and Health Technology (ciTechCare), Polytechnic University of Leiria, Rua de Santo André-66-68, Campus 5, 2410-541 Leiria, Portugal
- Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), University of Évora, 7000-801 Évora, Portugal
| | - Lígia Carreira
- Departamento de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Av. Colombo, 5790—Campus Universitário, Maringá 87020-900, PR, Brazil; (F.R.D.M.M.); (L.C.); (A.M.G.); (W.C.B.); (M.P.); (V.D.A.B.); (M.A.S.)
| | - Adriana Martins Gallo
- Departamento de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Av. Colombo, 5790—Campus Universitário, Maringá 87020-900, PR, Brazil; (F.R.D.M.M.); (L.C.); (A.M.G.); (W.C.B.); (M.P.); (V.D.A.B.); (M.A.S.)
| | - Wanessa Cristina Baccon
- Departamento de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Av. Colombo, 5790—Campus Universitário, Maringá 87020-900, PR, Brazil; (F.R.D.M.M.); (L.C.); (A.M.G.); (W.C.B.); (M.P.); (V.D.A.B.); (M.A.S.)
| | - Marcelle Paiano
- Departamento de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Av. Colombo, 5790—Campus Universitário, Maringá 87020-900, PR, Brazil; (F.R.D.M.M.); (L.C.); (A.M.G.); (W.C.B.); (M.P.); (V.D.A.B.); (M.A.S.)
| | - Vanessa Denardi Antoniassi Baldissera
- Departamento de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Av. Colombo, 5790—Campus Universitário, Maringá 87020-900, PR, Brazil; (F.R.D.M.M.); (L.C.); (A.M.G.); (W.C.B.); (M.P.); (V.D.A.B.); (M.A.S.)
| | - Maria Aparecida Salci
- Departamento de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Av. Colombo, 5790—Campus Universitário, Maringá 87020-900, PR, Brazil; (F.R.D.M.M.); (L.C.); (A.M.G.); (W.C.B.); (M.P.); (V.D.A.B.); (M.A.S.)
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Tsagkarliotis I, Rachaniotis NP. A holistic approach in epidemics. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1263293. [PMID: 38026383 PMCID: PMC10679669 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1263293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
This paper explores the concept of a holistic approach in preventing and responding to epidemics. Epidemics are defined as the occurrence of an illness or health-related event exceeding normal expectations within a specific community or region. Holism emphasizes viewing systems as a whole rather than a collection of parts. In the context of epidemics, a holistic approach considers not only medical interventions but also social, economic, psychological and environmental factors that influence disease transmission and management. The impact of climate change on epidemic response, the understanding of the significance of animal health and agriculture, the consideration of art, culture and societal factors, the exploration of the use of technology and innovation, the addressing of limitations in resources and the provision of enhanced support for the mental and emotional well-being of individuals and affected communities, are parts of this holistic approach. By integrating them, innovative practices as well as cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary techniques can be employed. Such an approach has the potential to enhance epidemic prevention and response strategies, ultimately contributing to positive public health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Tsagkarliotis
- Department of Industrial Management and Technology, University of Piraeus, Piraeus, Greece
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Gentry Z, Zhao L, Faust RA, David RE, Norton J, Xagoraraki I. Wastewater surveillance beyond COVID-19: a ranking system for communicable disease testing in the tri-county Detroit area, Michigan, USA. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1178515. [PMID: 37333521 PMCID: PMC10272568 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1178515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, wastewater surveillance has been utilized to monitor the disease in the United States through routine national, statewide, and regional monitoring projects. A significant canon of evidence was produced showing that wastewater surveillance is a credible and effective tool for disease monitoring. Hence, the application of wastewater surveillance can extend beyond monitoring SARS-CoV-2 to encompass a diverse range of emerging diseases. This article proposed a ranking system for prioritizing reportable communicable diseases (CDs) in the Tri-County Detroit Area (TCDA), Michigan, for future wastewater surveillance applications at the Great Lakes Water Authority's Water Reclamation Plant (GLWA's WRP). Methods The comprehensive CD wastewater surveillance ranking system (CDWSRank) was developed based on 6 binary and 6 quantitative parameters. The final ranking scores of CDs were computed by summing the multiplication products of weighting factors for each parameter, and then were sorted based on decreasing priority. Disease incidence data from 2014 to 2021 were collected for the TCDA. Disease incidence trends in the TCDA were endowed with higher weights, prioritizing the TCDA over the state of Michigan. Results Disparities in incidences of CDs were identified between the TCDA and state of Michigan, indicating epidemiological differences. Among 96 ranked CDs, some top ranked CDs did not present relatively high incidences but were prioritized, suggesting that such CDs require significant attention by wastewater surveillance practitioners, despite their relatively low incidences in the geographic area of interest. Appropriate wastewater sample concentration methods are summarized for the application of wastewater surveillance as per viral, bacterial, parasitic, and fungal pathogens. Discussion The CDWSRank system is one of the first of its kind to provide an empirical approach to prioritize CDs for wastewater surveillance, specifically in geographies served by centralized wastewater collection in the area of interest. The CDWSRank system provides a methodological tool and critical information that can help public health officials and policymakers allocate resources. It can be used to prioritize disease surveillance efforts and ensure that public health interventions are targeted at the most potentially urgent threats. The CDWSRank system can be easily adopted to geographical locations beyond the TCDA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Gentry
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Liang Zhao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | | | - Randy E. David
- Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - John Norton
- Great Lakes Water Authority, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Irene Xagoraraki
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
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Șimon S, Fărcașiu MA, Dragomir GM. Cultural Perspectives, Feelings and Coping Behaviors during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of Romanian Students. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:12445. [PMID: 36231745 PMCID: PMC9566601 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Socio-cultural patterns and communication styles differ from culture to culture. As such, the way in which people deal with a crisis situation is also culture-dependent. The COVID-19 pandemic has pointed, once more, to the cultural diversity of the world through a variety of reactions to the measures imposed by the global spread of the deadly virus. The present research aims at identifying the feelings, coping behaviors and communication patterns of the younger Romanian generation during the COVID-19 pandemic and at explaining them from a cultural standpoint, in an effort to raise awareness of the cultural (un)predictability of human reactions to certain external stimuli. The survey conducted online on 409 students at Politehnica University of Timișoara (Romania) revealed that most of students' socio-cultural behavior could have been anticipated by the Romanian authorities when they decided a certain pandemic action plan, and that the few unexpected results indicate the versatility of a culture that is still changing under the Western European influence caused by the fact that Romania has adhered to European Union principles for more than fifteen years.
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Card KG. Collectivism, individualism and COVID-19 prevention: a cross sectional study of personality, culture and behavior among Canadians. Health Psychol Behav Med 2022; 10:415-438. [PMID: 35528715 PMCID: PMC9067981 DOI: 10.1080/21642850.2022.2069571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Collectivism has been identified as a protective factor against COVID-19 – perhaps due to increased conformity with social norms regarding prevention behaviors. Other studies have also found that individualism can inspire uptake of preventative behaviors as a means of personal protection. It is possible that these cultural orientations may promote different patterns of prevention (e.g. mask wearing vs. social distancing). Furthermore, existing studies examining the role of individualism and collectivism during the COVID-19 pandemic have frequently failed to account for other psychological processes, including differences in personality, which could help provide a better understanding of the psychological process underlying prevention behavior. Methods Participants were recruited using social media advertisements. The Cultural Orientations Scale measured individualism–collectivism and hierarchism-egalitarianism. The Ten Item Personality Inventory measured the five factor model of personality. Multivariable models, dominance analyses and structural equation mediation tests were used to identify the most important predictors of COVID-19 prevention behavior (i.e. mask-wearing, hand-washing, reducing social interactions, physical distancing, staying at home and social bubbling), controlling for demographic and situational factors. Results Among 774 participants, most (i.e. 60–80%) reported uptake of COVID-19 prevention behaviors. Higher vertical (hierarchical) collectivism was associated with staying at home and higher horizontal (egalitarian) individualism was associated with mask-wearing and reducing social interactions. Neither Vertical Collectivism nor Horizontal Collectivism were significantly associated with any of the prevention behaviors when controlling for personality traits and confounding variables. Agreeableness was identified as a key mediator of the correlation between these cultural orientations on general uptake of COVID-19 prevention behaviors. Conclusions Cultural orientations (e.g. collectivism-individualism, hierarchism-egalitarianism) and personality traits (e.g. Agreeableness) are salient correlates of COVID-19 prevention behaviors and therefore should be accounted for in the development, design and delivery of health promotion messages aiming to increase uptake of these behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiffer G. Card
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, Canada
- The GenWell Project Society, Toronto, Ont., Canada
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Sharan P. Covid-19 Through a Cultural Looking Glass. THE NATIONAL MEDICAL JOURNAL OF INDIA 2021; 34:193-196. [PMID: 35112537 DOI: 10.25259/nmji_846_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Pratap Sharan
- Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
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