Evaluating Training Need for Epidemic Control in Three Metropolitans: Implications for COVID-19 Preparedness in Vietnam

Beyond COVID-19: the impact of recent pandemics on medical students and their education: a scoping review

INTRODUCTION

Over the past two years, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has greatly altered medical student education as well as daily life. Medical schools across the world were disrupted and had to immediately adapt the educational experience to the online environment in order to continue the delivery of quality medical education. However, COVID-19 was not the only recent pandemic. This posed the question, were similar disruptions and adaptations also seen in recent past pandemics such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) that could have prepared medical educators for COVID-19? This scoping review investigated the educational and personal impact of recent pandemics on medical students.

METHODS

This review followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines for scoping reviews. Nine databases including PubMed, ERIC, and EMBASE were systematically searched using keywords and subject headings related to medical students and SARS, H1N1, MERS, Ebola, Zika, and COVID-19. Studies were limited to research studies published between 2000 and 2020 and in English. Based on exclusion and inclusion criteria, all studies were independently screened by two reviewers first by the title/abstract and then via full text. Data were extracted from the included studies and analyzed qualitatively using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 174 studies fit the criteria. Seven major themes emerged from those studies: educational adaptations and online modifications, knowledge and attitudes of students, mental wellness of students, student involvement and use of telehealth, student vaccination, physical wellness of students, and stigma.

CONCLUSION

This review provided insights into how medical students were affected by recent pandemics and their perceptions of pivoting to online education, mental health, and knowledge of the diseases. Additionally, this review showcases the various educational adaptations that emerged uniquely during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as telehealth services or video conferencing tools, that can be utilized in a post-pandemic environment.

Predictors of Self-Reported Compliance with COVID-19 Preventive Guidelines: A Quantile Regression Model

The research used an online, convenience cross-sectional sample of adults aged ≥18 years old recruited from Shahroud County, Northeast of Iran. We measured the contribution of multiple determinants for association with behavioral compliance, at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. The compliance score measured with this questionnaire can be within a range of 5 and 100. Compliance was bounded between 19 and 80 that has been distributed J-shape, so quantile logistic regression model has been fitted for that. Variables related to people's knowledge, including self-reported knowledge and following the news related to COVID-19, were the two main factors that accompanied behavioral compliance at all of its levels in the period of pandemic.

How do people get information for COVID‐19 according to age groups?

This study highlights how people get important information on COVID‐19 according to age groups by employing social network analysis for Twitter. First, people have different key players according to the age groups. For example, while universities and journals play a crucial role in the adults' networks, news media have a significant impact on the elderly's networks. Second, people have different characteristics of social network groups according to age. For example, people belong to small groups, and barely communicate with others across the groups in the teens' networks, whereas people in each group have strong communication networks with other groups in the elderly's networks. Third, this study shows that people utilise different domains to share COVID‐19 information according to age. For example, while twitter.com ranks first in the children, teens, and elderly's networks, cnn.com places first in the adults' networks.

People have different key players according to age

People have different characteristics of social network groups according to age

People utilise different domains to share COVID‐19 information according to age

Governments and policymakers should understand the characteristics of social networks for COVID‐19 according to age

Psychological differences in adults with and without a COVID-19 diagnosis

BACKGROUND

Substantial evidence is emerging regarding the broad societal and psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, but little is known about whether infected individuals are differently affected.

AIM

We evaluated psychological differences between individuals who do vs. do not report testing positive for COVID-19.

METHODS

An online survey was offered to adults (≥18 years) who were diagnosed with COVID-19 by a provider within a large integrated-delivery healthcare system, enrolled in COVID-19-related clinical trials at the healthcare system, or responded to targeted local distribution. Measures assessed included the 8-item Patient Health Questionnaire depression scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale, and Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale for DSM-5.

RESULTS

Of 487 respondents, 43% reported testing positive for COVID-19, including 11% requiring hospitalization. Overall rates of general anxiety disorder and posttraumatic stress were 34% and 16%, respectively, with no significant differences between groups. Prevalence of depression was higher among respondents reporting a positive COVID-19 test (52% vs. 31%). This difference persisted after controlling for respondent characteristics (odds ratio = 3.7, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

People who report testing positive for COVID-19, even those not requiring hospitalization, have increased risk for depression. Mental health care screening and services should be offered to individuals testing positive, facilitating early intervention.

The Comparison of China and Iran Response to COVD-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learn for Health Policy

Currently, despite the change in the course of diseases, attention to infectious diseases and their integration has decreased. The prevalence of remerging infectious diseases has led to the need for appropriate preparation programs. There are still problems in controlling infectious diseases with the outbreak of coronavirus. The outbreak of the disease affected many countries in a short period. Therefore, by examining the actions of the two countries, it is possible to gain appropriate experiences in dealing with infectious diseases. This study was conducted using a gray literature review to examine all applied actions for the response to COVID-19 epidemics and their impacts on the prevalence of this disease in China and Iran. Examination of the documents shows that disease prevention is the most critical action, and we have witnessed a decrease in the number of patients with this disease by the introduction of prevention policies. The implementation problems of quarantine programs were meeting the basic needs of the people and continuing to implement this program. The issue of education was also one of the leading problems.

Knowledge, practice and psychological symptoms among medical laboratory staff during COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal: An online based survey

Introduction

Despite several attempts to control COVID-19, there was a continuous rise in the number of cases, and this has left questions unanswered on the availability of health resources in Nepal. Here, we tried to assess the level of knowledge, practice and psychological symptoms among medical laboratory staff.

Methods

An online survey was conducted in February 2021. A total of 301 completely filled responses were used to assess knowledge, practice and psychological distress. R-language software was used for data analysis and p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Of the total 301 respondents, 180 (59.8%) were male and 121 (40.2%) were female. The average score of knowledge obtained in this study was 32.4 ± 5.7 on a 56-point scale. Knowledge level was significantly different among age-groups (p-value – 0.034). The average practice score obtained was 2.25 ± 0.91 on a 4-point scale. More than one psychological distress symptom was observed in nearly half (41.5%) of the participants.

Conclusion

We conclude that medical laboratory staff in Nepal has satisfactory levels of knowledge and practice and, larger number of them has psychological distress. The study recommends further improvement in an effective information flow system, regular training, social security and psychological support.

Investigation of Health Science Students' Knowledge Regarding Healthy Lifestyle Promotion During the Spread of COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Health sciences students as future health care providers, can play a valuable role in protecting societies against the spread of COVID-19 through health promotion and lifestyle modification education. Therefore, proper education of these students is essential. Objective: This study sought to assess and measure the change of knowledge of health sciences students regarding healthy lifestyle promotion strategies during the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, after participation in different types of online and social media educational programs. Methods: In order to serve the purpose of the study, a methodological research design was first used to ensure the validation of the developed scale; the COVID-19 Healthy Lifestyle Promotion Scale (COVID-19 HLPS). The study utilized a four-arm randomized control research design in which the participants were randomly assigned into one of four groups, (1) control group (placebo intervention), (2) brochure group, who received brochures relevant to healthy lifestyle promotion, (3) Instagram group, who received similar information but through Instagram posts, and (4) online interactive educational workshop group, who also received similar information through an online interactive educational workshop. Results: In total, 155 participants participated in the online and social media intervention programs. There was a significant improvement in the intervention groups in the total knowledge subscale of the healthy promotion strategies compared with the control group (p < 0.001). Overall, the workshop group was the most effective group (effect size = 1.54) followed by the Instagram group (effect size = 0.99) and then the brochure group (effect size = 0.91). Conclusions: In order to meet the challenges posed by this pandemic, the use of such online and social media interventions is essential and may be the key for health promotion during this pandemic. Health science students, as future health care professionals, can play a fundamental role during the COVID-19 pandemic in disseminating knowledge relevant to healthy lifestyle to their families and communities thus promoting healthy living and behavioral changes. We propose the development of research initiatives at both national and international levels targeting changes within health science curricula that can meet potential challenges of future pandemics, leading to advancement of health care services globally.

Preventive behaviours and family inequalities during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study in China

BACKGROUND

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is an international public health threat, and people's participation in disease-related preventive behaviours is the key to controlling infectious diseases. This study aimed to assess the differences in adopting preventive behaviours among populations to explore potential individual and household factors and inequalities within families.

METHODS

This online survey was conducted in April 2020. The directional stratified convenient sampling method was used to select 4704 participants from eight provinces in eastern, central, and western China. The questionnaire included demographic information, household variables, and five target prevention behaviours. The chi-squared test, binary multilevel model, and Mantel-Haenszel hierarchical analysis were used for data analysis in the study.

RESULTS

Approximately 71.2% of the participants had appropriate outdoor prevention, and 32.9% of the participants had indoor protection in place. Sharing behaviours (P < 0.001) and education level (P < 0.001) were positively associated with adopting preventive measures. The inhibiting effect of household crowding and stimulating effect of high household income on preventive behaviours were determined in this study. Household size was negatively associated with living area (β = -0.057, P < 0.05) and living style (β = -0.077, P < 0.05). Household income was positively associated with age (β = 0.023, P < 0.05), and relationship with friends (β = 0.053, P < 0.05). Vulnerable groups, such as older adults or women, are more likely to have inadequate preventive behaviours. Older adults (OR = 1.53, 95% CI 1.09-2.15), women (OR = 1.37, 95% CI 1.15-1.64), and those with more than 2 suspected symptoms (OR = 1.85, 95% CI 1.07-3.19) were more likely to be affected by the inhibiting effect of household crowding, while the stimulating effect of high household income was limited in these groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Inequalities in COVID-19 prevention behaviours exist between families and inadequate adoption of prevention by vulnerable groups are noteworthy. This study expands the research perspective by emphasizing the role of household factors in preventive behaviours and by focusing on family inequalities. The government should use traditional media as a platform to enhance residents' public health knowledge. Targeted additional wage subsidies, investments in affordable housing, financial support for multigenerational households, and temporary relocation policies may deserve more attention. Communities could play a critical role in COVID-19 prevention.

Public psychological distance and spatial distribution characteristics during the COVID-19 pandemic: a Chinese context

The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health emergency, which continues to have a significant impact on the functioning of society and the public’s daily life. From the perspective of psychological distance (PD), this study used descriptive, differential, and spatial autocorrelation analysis methods to explore the cognitive distance, emotional distance, expected distance and behavioral distance of the Chinese public in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. An analysis of 4042 valid sample data found that: (1) The event emotional distance and subject emotional distance were both furthest from the event and subject psychological distance dimensions, and anger about the event was the strongest. (2) The government was the most appealing subject in the process of pandemic prevention and control, but at the same time, the public’s sense of closeness to the government was also lower than that of the other three subjects, e.g., medical institutions. (3) Different pandemic regions showed significant differences in PD. Mean scores of PD in each risk region were as follows: High-risk regions > medium-risk regions > low-risk regions. (4) From a global perspective, no spatial autocorrelation was found in PD. However, from a local perspective, high-value regions (provinces with distant PD) are mainly concentrated in the southern regions (Guizhou, Guangxi, Hainan, Jiangxi), and low-value regions (provinces with close PD) are mainly concentrated in North China (Shanxi, Hebei, Beijing). Combined with the relevant conclusions, this paper put forward policy recommendations.

Risk Perception and Behavioral Response to COVID-19: A Survey of University Students and Staff in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region

This study explores the risk perceptions and behavioral responses of university academics and students toward the COVID-19 pandemic. All universities in Iraqi Kurdistan were invited to take part in a self-administered online survey; 976 individuals ultimately completed it. The survey included eight main questions about personal risk perception and behavioral response to COVID-19 based on a five- or nine-point ordinal scale. A high percentage of the respondents perceived it as highly unlikely they were at risk of getting infection (26.9%), serious illness (29.7%), and death (41.7%). The percentage of the respondents who applied protective measures frequently or always was high for most protective behavior types, except for wearing masks, wearing gloves, and avoiding touching the face. There was a significant (P < .001) weak positive correlation between risk perception and protective behaviors. The respondents followed protective behavior measures reasonably, but the frequency of undertaking some important protective behaviors was relatively low.

Evaluation of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on clinical characteristics and psychological status in internet consultation respondents

COVID-19 is a sudden, infectious disease that can be life-threatening and may cause people to feel panic and anxiety. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and psychological status of a specific population using an internet consultation platform during the outbreak of COVID-19. The questionnaire survey included questions regarding basic information (e.g. area, sex, age, occupation, and education level), clinical characteristics, and cognitive and psychological status concerning COVID-19 from January 31, 2020 to March 31, 2020. There were 277 patients (43.49%) with three or more symptoms, 121 (12.11%) with a clinical questionnaire score ≥8, and 6.81% who lived in Hubei in the previous 14 days. Of the respondents, 4.9% had contact fever or were confirmed to have COVID-19 in the previous 14 days. The respondents were mostly aware that COVID-19 can be transmitted from person to person and via the respiratory tract, but awareness of general susceptibility and specific symptoms of COVID-19 was low. Multivariate analysis showed that urban residents, clerk/students and higher education groups were well aware of COVID-19. Regarding mental health, the anxiety score of the respondents was 7.12 ± 2.32, and the proportion of anxiety was 54.15%. Younger women were more likely to have anxiety when they experienced positive symptoms. Individuals with a Hubei residence history and those who had contact with an individual with a fever or were confirmed patients in the previous 14 days were more likely to have moderate or severe anxiety. The COVID-19-related knowledge of the respondents was generally good but still could have been improved. Their psychological status was also affected by the pandemic. The internet consultation platform played a positive role in spreading pandemic-related information, providing medical help and psychological counseling, and strengthening early warning to the potential high-risk population.