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Sun G, Zhang L, Qiu Y, Jia Y, Wang Y, Xu H, Zhang A, Hao L, Zhu W, Ye C. Changes of influenza vaccination rate and associated influencing factors after the COVID-19 pandemic in Shanghai, China. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2024; 20:2287294. [PMID: 38299510 PMCID: PMC10841022 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2287294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The vaccination rate for seasonal influenza remains low in most regions of China. It is essential to understand the factors that associated with the low influenza vaccination rate in various populations after the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with residents in Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China. Respondents' vaccination condition during the 2021-2022 flu season and the reasons for receiving or not receiving influenza vaccine were investigated. Binary logistic regression was conducted to explore potential factors influencing vaccination uptake. 2,476 of 14,001 respondents received an influenza vaccine, with a total coverage of 17.68% (95% CI: 17.05%, 18.32%). Children had the highest vaccination coverage (35.68%; 95% CI: 34.02, 37.33), followed by adults (12.75%; 95% CI: 11.91%, 13.58%) and elderly individuals (11.70%, 95% CI: 10.78%, 12.62%). For children, lower household income was an significant promoting factor. For adults, factors significantly associated with vaccination were household income, sex, and education level. For elderly, factors significantly associated with vaccination were household income, education level, living state, and having underlying diseases. (P < .05)The main reason for vaccine hesitancy among children was worried about side effects (21.49%), for adults and elderly was self-rated good health (adults: 37.14%, elderly people: 30.66%). The overall influenza vaccination coverage rate in Shanghai, especially among elderly individuals, is lower than many developed countries. Appropriate strategies and programs targeting different populations need to be implemented to enhance influenza vaccine coverage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geyang Sun
- Acute infectious disease control and prevention Department, Shanghai Pudong New Area Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Acute infectious disease control and prevention Department, Shanghai Pudong New Area Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Ye Qiu
- Acute infectious disease control and prevention Department, Shanghai Pudong New Area Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Yilin Jia
- Acute infectious disease control and prevention Department, Shanghai Pudong New Area Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuanping Wang
- Acute infectious disease control and prevention Department, Shanghai Pudong New Area Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongmei Xu
- Acute infectious disease control and prevention Department, Shanghai Pudong New Area Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Anran Zhang
- Acute infectious disease control and prevention Department, Shanghai Pudong New Area Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Lipeng Hao
- Acute infectious disease control and prevention Department, Shanghai Pudong New Area Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Weiping Zhu
- Acute infectious disease control and prevention Department, Shanghai Pudong New Area Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
| | - Chuchu Ye
- Acute infectious disease control and prevention Department, Shanghai Pudong New Area Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China
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Vallin M, Tomson G, Kampmann B, Engebretsen E, Swartling Peterson S, Wanyenze RK, Ottersen OP. Life Science 2.0: reframing the life science sector for 'the benefit on mankind'. Glob Health Action 2024; 17:2330758. [PMID: 38577884 PMCID: PMC11000595 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2024.2330758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic put the life science sector to the test. Vaccines were developed at unprecedented speed, benefiting from decades of fundamental research and now honoured by a Nobel Prize. However, we saw that the fruits of science were inequitably distributed. Most low- and middle-income countries were left behind, deepening the inequalities that the Sustainable Development Goals were set to reduce. We argue that the life science sector must reinvent itself to be better and more equitably prepared for the next health crisis and to ensure fair access to health across current and future generations. Our recommendations include global governance, national strategies and the role of universities and corporations. Improved and more equitable health care should be centre stage for global health action and a core mission of a reframed Life Science sector - what we call Life Science 2.0.Paper ContextMain findings: During the COVID-19 pandemic the Life Science sector stepped up to the challenge, but vaccines and medicines were not equitably distributed.Added knowledge: Obstacles were identified that hindered global access to medical innovations.Global health impact for policy and action: Global and national governance, universities and the private sector should join forces to create a Life Science sector (Life Science 2.0) that affords equitable access to medical advances across geographical and generational boundaries and socio-economic strata.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Vallin
- Chemical Biology Consortium Sweden, SciLifeLab, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Göran Tomson
- Department of Learning, Informatics, Management, and Ethics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Beate Kampmann
- Charité Centre of Global Health, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Stefan Swartling Peterson
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Rhoda K. Wanyenze
- College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Ole Petter Ottersen
- Charité Centre of Global Health, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
- Sustainable Health Unit and Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Kabwama SN, Wanyenze RK, Razaz N, Ssenkusu JM, Alfvén T, Lindgren H. How interventions to maintain services during the COVID-19 pandemic strengthened systems for delivery of maternal and child health services: a case-study of Wakiso District, Uganda. Glob Health Action 2024; 17:2314345. [PMID: 38381458 PMCID: PMC10883101 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2024.2314345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Health systems are resilient if they absorb, adapt, and transform in response to shocks. Although absorptive and adaptive capacities have been demonstrated during the COVID-19 response, little has been documented about their transformability and strengthened service delivery systems. We aimed to describe improvements in maternal and child health service delivery as a result of investments during the COVID-19 response. METHODS This was a descriptive case study conducted in Wakiso District in central Uganda. It included 21 nurses and midwives as key informants and 32 mothers in three focus group discussions. Data were collected using an interview guide following the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety theoretical framework for service delivery. RESULTS Maternal and child health service delivery during the pandemic involved service provision without changes, service delivery with temporary changes and outcomes, and service delivery that resulted into sustained changes and outcomes. Temporary changes included patient schedule adjustments, community service delivery and negative outcomes such as increased workload and stigma against health workers. Sustained changes that strengthened service delivery included new infrastructure and supplies such as ambulances and equipment, new roles involving infection prevention and control, increased role of community health workers and outcomes such as improved workplace safety and teamwork. CONCLUSIONS In spite of the negative impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on health systems, it created the impetus to invest in system improvements. Investments such as new facility infrastructure and emergency medical services were leveraged to improve maternal and child health services delivery. The inter-departmental collaboration during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted into an improved intra-hospital environment for other service delivery. However, there is a need to evaluate lessons beyond health facilities and whether these learnings are deliberately integrated into service delivery. Future responses should also address the psychological and physical impacts suffered by health workers to maintain service delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Ndugwa Kabwama
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Rhoda K Wanyenze
- Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Neda Razaz
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - John M Ssenkusu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Tobias Alfvén
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Paediatric Public Health Department, Sachs' Children and Youth Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Helena Lindgren
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Health Promotion, Sophiahemmet University, Stockholm, Sweden
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Vicario CM, Mucciardi M, Faraone G, Lucifora C, Schade HM, Falzone A, Salehinejad MA, Craparo G, Nitsche MA. Individual predictors of vaccine hesitancy in the Italian post COVID-19 pandemic era. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2024; 20:2306677. [PMID: 38289323 PMCID: PMC10829816 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2024.2306677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
A wide range of survey studies have explored vaccination hesitancy/resistance during the COVID-19 pandemic and provided evidence that this can be explained by several individual variables from the ideological, clinical, and socio-affective domain. However, evidence about which individual variables predict vaccine hesitancy in the post-pandemic state of COVID-19 is meager. We administered a battery of questionnaires to a group of 120 Italian participants with high and low scores on the adult vaccine hesitancy scale (aVHS) to investigate the predictive role of ideological (i.e. political orientation), clinical (i.e. anxiety, interoceptive accuracy), and socio-affective (i.e. alexithymia, disgust sensitivity/propensity, empathy) variables on vaccine hesitancy/resistance. This study provides evidence that lower interoceptive awareness and cognitive empathy are predictors of a greater hesitancy to get vaccinated in the post-pandemic COVID-19 state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmelo M Vicario
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cognitive, Psicologiche, Pedagogiche e Degli Studi Culturali, Università di Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Massimo Mucciardi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cognitive, Psicologiche, Pedagogiche e Degli Studi Culturali, Università di Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Giulia Faraone
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cognitive, Psicologiche, Pedagogiche e Degli Studi Culturali, Università di Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Chiara Lucifora
- Dipartimento di Filosofia e Comunicazione, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Hannah M Schade
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Alessandra Falzone
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cognitive, Psicologiche, Pedagogiche e Degli Studi Culturali, Università di Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Mohammad A Salehinejad
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
- School of Cognitive Sciences, Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Giuseppe Craparo
- Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, Kore University of Enna, Cittadella Universitaria, Enna, Italy
| | - Michael A Nitsche
- Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany
- University Clinic of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy and University Clinic of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Protestant Hospital of Bethel Foundation, University Hospital OWL, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Bochum, Germany
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5
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Khan T, Rihan FA, Al-Mdallal QM. An epidemiological model for analysing pandemic trends of novel coronavirus transmission with optimal control. J Biol Dyn 2024; 18:2299001. [PMID: 38156669 DOI: 10.1080/17513758.2023.2299001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals play a significant role in the transmission dynamics of novel Coronaviruses. By considering the dynamical behaviour of symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals, this study examines the temporal dynamics and optimal control of Coronavirus disease propagation using an epidemiological model. Biologically and mathematically, the well-posed epidemic problem is examined, as well as the threshold quantity with parameter sensitivity. Model parameters are quantified and their relative impact on the disease is evaluated. Additionally, the steady states are investigated to determine the model's stability and bifurcation. Using the dynamics and parameters sensitivity, we then introduce optimal control strategies for the elimination of the disease. Using real disease data, numerical simulations and model validation are performed to support theoretical findings and show the effects of control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahir Khan
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, College of Science, UAE University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Fathalla A Rihan
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, College of Science, UAE University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Qasem M Al-Mdallal
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, College of Science, UAE University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
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Garcia Valencia OA, Thongprayoon C, Miao J, Bruminhent J, Craici IM, Cheungpasitporn W. Perspectives on AI-based recommendations for mask-wearing and COVID-19 vaccination for transplant recipients in the post-COVID-19 era. Ren Fail 2024; 46:2337291. [PMID: 38584142 PMCID: PMC11000603 DOI: 10.1080/0886022x.2024.2337291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing necessity for preventive measures such as mask-wearing and vaccination remains particularly critical for organ transplant recipients, a group highly susceptible to infections due to immunosuppressive therapy. Given that many individuals nowadays increasingly utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI), understanding AI perspectives is important. Thus, this study utilizes AI, specifically ChatGPT 4.0, to assess its perspectives in offering precise health recommendations for mask-wearing and COVID-19 vaccination tailored to this vulnerable population. Through a series of scenarios reflecting diverse environmental settings and health statuses in December 2023, we evaluated the AI's responses to gauge its precision, adaptability, and potential biases in advising high-risk patient groups. Our findings reveal that ChatGPT 4.0 consistently recommends mask-wearing in crowded and indoor environments for transplant recipients, underscoring their elevated risk. In contrast, for settings with fewer transmission risks, such as outdoor areas where social distancing is possible, the AI suggests that mask-wearing might be less imperative. Regarding vaccination guidance, the AI strongly advocates for the COVID-19 vaccine across most scenarios for kidney transplant recipients. However, it recommends a personalized consultation with healthcare providers in cases where patients express concerns about vaccine-related side effects, demonstrating an ability to adapt recommendations based on individual health considerations. While this study provides valuable insights into the current AI perspective on these important topics, it is crucial to note that the findings do not directly reflect or influence health policy. Nevertheless, given the increasing utilization of AI in various domains, understanding AI's viewpoints on such critical matters is essential for informed decision-making and future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar A Garcia Valencia
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Charat Thongprayoon
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Jing Miao
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Jackrapong Bruminhent
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Ramathibodi Excellence Center for Organ Transplantation, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Iasmina M Craici
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Wisit Cheungpasitporn
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
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Acuti Martellucci C, Giacomini G, Flacco ME, Manzoli L, Morettini M, Martellucci M, Rosati S, Bizzarri S, Palmer M, Pascucci L, Uncini M, Pasqualini F. Effectiveness of tailored talks between a cancer screening specialist and general practitioners to improve the uptake of colorectal cancer screening in Ancona (Italy) during the pandemic period. Eur J Gen Pract 2024; 30:2340672. [PMID: 38618885 PMCID: PMC11020593 DOI: 10.1080/13814788.2024.2340672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening uptake in many countries has been low and further impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. General Practitioners (GPs) are key facilitators, however research on their impact on organised CRC screening is still limited. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effectiveness of tailored talks with GPs to increase population uptake of the long-established CRC screening programme in Ancona province, Italy. METHODS In this prospective cohort study, one-to-one tailored talks were organised in January 2020 between the GPs of one county of the province (with GPs from other counties as controls) and the screening programme physician-in-chief to discuss the deployment and effectiveness of organised screening. Data was extracted from the National Healthcare System datasets and linear regression was used to assess the potential predictors of CRC screening uptake. RESULTS The mean CRC screening uptake remained stable from 39.9% in 2018-19 to 40.8% in 2020-21 in the 22 GPs of the intervention county, whereas it statistically significantly decreased from 38.7% to 34.7% in the 232 control GPs. In multivariate analyses, belonging to the intervention county was associated with an improved uptake compared to the control counties (+5.1%; 95% Confidence Intervals - CI: 2.0%; 8.1%). CONCLUSION Persons cared for by GPs who received a tailored talk with a cancer screening specialist avoided a drop in CRC screening adherence, which characterised all other Italian screening programmes during the COVID-19 emergency. If future randomised trials confirm the impact of tailored talks, they may be incorporated into existing strategies to improve population CRC screening uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Giusi Giacomini
- Oncologic Screening Unit, Ancona Healthcare Agency, Ancona, Italy
| | - Maria Elena Flacco
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Lamberto Manzoli
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Mosè Martellucci
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Sara Rosati
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, University of the Marche Region, Ancona, Italy
| | - Silvia Bizzarri
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, University of the Marche Region, Ancona, Italy
| | - Matthew Palmer
- The Daffodil Centre, University of Sydney, A Joint Venture with Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, Australia
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Lidia Pascucci
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, University of the Marche Region, Ancona, Italy
| | - Marco Uncini
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, University of the Marche Region, Ancona, Italy
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Sekar H, Berg L, Sampson V, Yoong W. How I maximised my training during the COVID-19 pandemic. J OBSTET GYNAECOL 2024; 44:2295030. [PMID: 38146697 DOI: 10.1080/01443615.2023.2295030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic was declared in March 2020 and London maternity units were among the first in the United Kingdom to report maternal infection and vertical transmission. To manage resources, over half of all Obstetrics and Gynaecology trainees were redeployed to support front-line specialities such as Core Medicine and Accident and Emergency. The vignettes in this article illustrate how three trainees maximised their limited training opportunities in the face of exceptional disruption, lack of surgical training opportunities and workload pressures.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Sekar
- ST5 trainee, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal London Hospital, London, UK
| | - L Berg
- Clinical Research Fellow, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College Hospital, London, UK
| | - V Sampson
- Consultant, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, North Middlesex University Hospital, London, UK
| | - W Yoong
- Consultant, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, North Middlesex University Hospital, London, UK
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Moon TS. Earth: Extinguishing anthropogenic risks through harmonization. N Biotechnol 2024; 80:69-71. [PMID: 38367910 PMCID: PMC10939714 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2024.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Human diseases can kill one person at a time, but the COVID-19 pandemic showed massacres could be possible. The climate crisis could be even worse, potentially leading to a bigger number of deaths of the human species and all living systems on Earth. I urge us to change our human-focused mindset to solve many problems, including the climate crisis, which humans caused to the entire ecosystems due to our arrogance: humans own this world. In this perspective article, I propose four recommendations to address climate issues through paradigm change and safe and sustainable technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae Seok Moon
- Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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Wang S, Zhu Y, Jang JC, Jiang M, Yue D, Zhong L, Yuan Y, Zhang M, You Z. Modeling assessment of air pollution control measures and COVID-19 pandemic on air quality improvements over Greater Bay Area of China. Sci Total Environ 2024; 926:171951. [PMID: 38537836 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
A remarkable progress has been made toward the air quality improvements over the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) of China from 2017 to 2020. In this study, for the first time, the emission reductions of regional control measures together with the COVID-19 pandemic were considered simultaneously into the development of the GBA's emission inventories for the years of 2017 and 2020. Based on these collective emission inventories, the impacts of control measures, meteorological variations together with temporary COVID-19 lockdowns on the five major air quality index pollutants (SO2, NO2, PM2.5, PM10, and O3, excluding CO) were evaluated using the WRF-CMAQ and SMAT-CE model attainment assessment tool over the GBA region. Our results revealed that control measures in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region affected significantly the GBA, resulting in pollutant reductions ranging from 48 % to 64 %. In contrast, control measures in Hong Kong and Macao contributed to pollutant reductions up to 10 %. In PRD emission sectors, stationary combustion, on-road, industrial processes and dust sectors stand out as the primary contributors to overall air quality improvements. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic during period I (Jan 23-Feb 23) led to a reduction of NO2 concentration by 7.4 %, resulting in a negative contribution (disbenefit) for O3 with an increase by 2.4 %. Our findings highlight the significance of PRD control measures for the air quality improvements over the GBA, emphasizing the necessity of implementing more refined and feasible manageable joint prevention and control policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoyi Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control, College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yun Zhu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control, College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Ji-Cheng Jang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control, College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Ming Jiang
- Guangdong Ecological and Environmental Monitoring Center, Guangzhou 510308, China
| | - Dingli Yue
- Guangdong Ecological and Environmental Monitoring Center, Guangzhou 510308, China
| | - Liuju Zhong
- Guangdong Polytechnic of Environmental Protection Engineering, Foshan 528216, China
| | - Yingzhi Yuan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control, College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Mengmeng Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control, College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhiqiang You
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment and Pollution Control, College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou 510006, China
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Lee GYL, Lim RBT. Are self-test kits still relevant post COVID-19 pandemic? Qualitative study on working adults' perceptions. Infect Dis Health 2024; 29:73-80. [PMID: 38049368 DOI: 10.1016/j.idh.2023.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Other than self-isolation measures, self-testing is likely to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 and may become a valuable approach in future outbreaks of infectious diseases. This study delves into the perceptions and experiences of working adults who utilised COVID-19 self-test kits in Singapore during the post-pandemic period. METHODS Employing a qualitative descriptive design, in-depth interviews were conducted with 40 working adults from diverse occupations, with a median age of 35 years. Thematic analysis of transcribed interviews was carried out by two independent qualitative research-trained researchers. RESULTS Facilitators included personal motivations like safeguarding vulnerable individuals and the convenience of user-friendly self-test kits. Proximal environmental factors encompassed situations involving close contacts and large gatherings, while distal factors involved workplace regulations, public health campaigns, mass media influence, and trust in authorised kits. Nonetheless, barriers include discomfort, cost, uncertainty about proper technique, and evolving testing requirements. Positive test results prompted participants to notify contacts and self-isolate, whereas negative results encouraged a return to normalcy. Participants recommend sustained testing for new variants and vulnerable groups, though some view it as unnecessary due to pandemic normalisation. CONCLUSIONS Self-testing emerged as a social phenomenon influenced by societal obligations and relationships across multiple levels. Effective communication strategies may play a role in fostering trust and ensuring that working adults sustain the practice of self-testing; therefore, further research is needed to explore their potential impact. Such efforts could be valuable for maintaining vigilance and achieving effective disease control in the post-COVID-19 pandemic landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gladys Yu Lin Lee
- Health Sciences Authority, 11 Biopolis Way #11-01 Helios, Singapore 138667, Singapore City, Singapore; Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Tahir Foundation Building, 12 Science Drive 2, #10-01, Singapore 117549, Singapore City, Singapore.
| | - Raymond Boon Tar Lim
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Tahir Foundation Building, 12 Science Drive 2, #10-01, Singapore 117549, Singapore City, Singapore.
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12
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Alqarni Z, Rezgui Y, Petri I, Ghoroghi A. Viral infection transmission and indoor air quality: A systematic review. Sci Total Environ 2024; 923:171308. [PMID: 38432379 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Respiratory disease transmission in indoor environments presents persistent challenges for health authorities, as exemplified by the recent COVID-19 pandemic. This underscores the urgent necessity to investigate the dynamics of viral infection transmission within indoor environments. This systematic review delves into the methodologies of respiratory infection transmission in indoor settings and explores how the quality of indoor air (IAQ) can be controlled to alleviate this risk while considering the imperative of sustainability. Among the 2722 articles reviewed, 178 were retained based on their focus on respiratory viral infection transmission and IAQ. Fifty eight articles delved into SARS-CoV-2 transmission, 21 papers evaluated IAQ in contexts of other pandemics, 53 papers assessed IAQ during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, and 46 papers examined control strategies to mitigate infectious transmission. Furthermore, of the 46 papers investigating control strategies, only nine considered energy consumption. These findings highlight clear gaps in current research, such as analyzing indoor air and surface samples for specific indoor environments, oversight of indoor and outdoor parameters (e.g., temperature, relative humidity (RH), and building orientation), neglect of occupancy schedules, and the absence of considerations for energy consumption while enhancing IAQ. This study distinctly identifies the indoor environmental conditions conducive to the thriving of each respiratory virus, offering IAQ trade-offs to mitigate the risk of dominant viruses at any given time. This study argues that future research should involve digital twins in conjunction with machine learning (ML) techniques. This approach aims to enhance IAQ by analyzing the transmission patterns of various respiratory viruses while considering energy consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahi Alqarni
- School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 3AA, UK; School of Computer Science, King Khalid University, Abha 62529, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Yacine Rezgui
- School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 3AA, UK
| | - Ioan Petri
- School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 3AA, UK
| | - Ali Ghoroghi
- School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 3AA, UK
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13
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Round T, Sethuraman L, Ashworth M, Purushotham A. Transforming post pandemic cancer services. Br J Cancer 2024; 130:1233-1238. [PMID: 38491174 PMCID: PMC11014976 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-024-02596-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
This paper outlines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer services in the UK including screening, symptomatic diagnosis, treatment pathways and projections on clinical outcomes as a result of these care disruptions. A restoration of cancer services to pre-pandemic levels is not likely to mitigate this adverse impact, particularly with an ageing population and increased cancer burden. New cancer cases are projected to rise to over 500,000 per year by 2035, with over 4 million people living with and beyond cancer. This paper calls for a strategic transformation to prioritise effort on the basis of available datasets and evidence-in particular, to prioritise cancers where an earlier diagnosis is feasible and clinically useful with a focus on mortality benefit by preventing emergency presentations by harnessing data and analytics. This could be delivered by a focus on underperforming groups/areas to try and reduce inequity, linking near real-time datasets with clinical decision support systems at the primary and secondary care levels, promoting the use of novel technologies to improve patient uptake of services, screening and diagnosis, and finally, upskilling and cross-skilling healthcare workers to expand supply of diagnostic and screening services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Round
- School of Life Course and Population Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
| | | | - Mark Ashworth
- School of Life Course and Population Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Arnie Purushotham
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
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14
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Dasgupta T, Horgan G, Peterson L, Mistry HD, Balls E, Wilson M, Smith V, Boulding H, Sheen KS, Van Citters A, Nelson EC, Duncan EL, Dadelszen PV, Rayment-Jones H, Silverio SA, Magee LA. Women's experiences of maternity care in the United Kingdom during the COVID-19 pandemic: A follow-up systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis. Women Birth 2024; 37:101588. [PMID: 38431430 DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2024.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternity care services in the United Kingdom have undergone drastic changes due to pandemic-related restrictions. Prior research has shown maternity care during the pandemic was negatively experienced by women and led to poor physical and mental health outcomes in pregnancy. A synthesis is required of published research on women's experiences of maternity care during the latter half of the COVID-19 pandemic. AIM To update a previous systematic review of maternity care experiences during the pandemic to June 2021, exploring experiences of maternity care specifically within the United Kingdom and how they may have changed, in order to inform future maternity services. METHODS A systematic review of qualitative literature was conducted using comprehensive searches of five electronic databases and the Cochrane COVID Study Register, published between 1 June 2021 and 13 October 2022, and further updated to 30 September 2023. Thematic Synthesis was utilised for data synthesis. FINDINGS Of 21,860 records identified, 27 studies were identified for inclusion. Findings included 14 descriptive themes across the five core concepts: (1)Care-seeking and experience; (2)Virtual care; (3)Self-monitoring; (4)COVID-19 vaccination; (5)Ethical future of maternity care. DISCUSSION Our findings in the UK are consistent with those globally, and extend those of the previous systematic review, particularly about women's perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest the following are important to women for future maternity care: personalisation and inclusiveness; clear and evidence-based communication to facilitate informed decision-making; and achieving balance between social commitments and time spent settling into motherhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tisha Dasgupta
- Department of Women & Children's Health, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gillian Horgan
- Department of Women & Children's Health, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lili Peterson
- Department of Women & Children's Health, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hiten D Mistry
- Department of Women & Children's Health, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Emily Balls
- The RESILIENT Study Patient & Public Involvement & Engagement Advisory Group, United Kingdom
| | - Milly Wilson
- Department of Women & Children's Health, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Valerie Smith
- School of Nursing & Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Republic of Ireland; School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, College of Health and Agricultural Sciences, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Harriet Boulding
- The Policy Institute, Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kayleigh S Sheen
- Department of Social Sciences, College of Health, Science and Society, University of the West of England Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom; The RESILIENT Study Technical Advisory Group, United Kingdom
| | - Aricca Van Citters
- The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, NH, United States
| | - Eugene C Nelson
- The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, NH, United States
| | - Emma L Duncan
- Department of Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Peter von Dadelszen
- Department of Women & Children's Health, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hannah Rayment-Jones
- Department of Women & Children's Health, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sergio A Silverio
- Department of Women & Children's Health, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; School of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Laura A Magee
- Department of Women & Children's Health, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
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15
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Delius M, Kolben T, Nußbaum C, Bogner-Flatz V, Delius A, Hahn L, Buechel J, Hasbargen U, Flemmer AW, Mahner S, Hertlein L. Changes in the rate of preterm infants during the COVID-19 pandemic Lockdown Period-data from a large tertiary German University Center. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2024; 309:1925-1933. [PMID: 37231277 PMCID: PMC10212226 DOI: 10.1007/s00404-023-07048-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE After living with the COVID-19 pandemic for more than 2 years, the impact of lockdown measures on preterm birth rates is inconsistent according to data from different countries. In this study, rates of preterm-born infants during the time of COVID-19-related lockdowns were analyzed in a tertiary perinatal center at Munich University, Germany. METHODS We analyzed the number of preterm births, infants, and stillbirths before 37 weeks of gestation during the German COVID-19 lockdown period compared to the same time periods in the years 2018 and 2019 combined. Additionally, we expanded the analysis to Pre- and Post-Lockdown Periods in 2020 compared to the respective control periods in the years 2018 and 2019. RESULTS Our database shows a reduction in the rate of preterm infants during the COVID-19 lockdown period (18.6%) compared to the combined control periods in 2018 and 2019 (23.2%, p = 0.027). This was mainly based on a reduced rate of preterm multiples during the lockdown period (12.8% vs. 28.9%, p = 0.003) followed by a reversed effect showing a threefold rise in multiple births after the lockdown. In singletons, the rate of preterm births was not reduced during the lockdown. The rate of stillbirths was not affected by the lockdown measures as compared to the control period (0.9% vs. 0.7%, p = 0.750). CONCLUSION During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period, we found a reduced rate of preterm-born infants compared to a combined control period in the years 2018 and 2019 in our large tertiary University Center in Germany. Due to the predominant reduction in preterm multiples, we postulate that less physical activity might have led to the protective effect by lockdown measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Delius
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstraße 5, 80337, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Kolben
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstraße 5, 80337, Munich, Germany
| | - Claudia Nußbaum
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Von Hauner Children's Hospital, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | | | - Laura Hahn
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstraße 5, 80337, Munich, Germany
| | - Johanna Buechel
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstraße 5, 80337, Munich, Germany
| | - Uwe Hasbargen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstraße 5, 80337, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas W Flemmer
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Von Hauner Children's Hospital, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sven Mahner
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstraße 5, 80337, Munich, Germany
| | - Linda Hertlein
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Ziemssenstraße 5, 80337, Munich, Germany.
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Sabesan V, Ogunfuwa F, Grunhut J, Sommerville S, Fomunung C, Elkhechen J, Fernandez C, Lavin A, Jackson GR. Telemedicine in orthopaedics during the COVID-19 pandemic: a comparative landscape. Int Orthop 2024; 48:1149-1155. [PMID: 38367059 DOI: 10.1007/s00264-024-06098-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive analysis on observed trends regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on telemedicine application in orthopaedics compared to other procedural, non-emergent specialties. METHODS This was a retrospective review of all telemedicine and in-person visits at a large single institution from January to December 2020. The number of patient visits, visit type, location, and provider specifics were collected. Comparisons were made between subspecialties (orthopaedic surgery, oncology, family medicine, rheumatology) for analyses. RESULTS All specialties included were not conducting virtual visits at the beginning of 2020. By April 2020, orthopaedic virtual visits spiked to an all-time high of 33.5% of all patient visits as compared to oncology at 25.5%, rheumatology at 92.9%, and family medicine at 94%. By the end of the study period, orthopaedic virtual visits decreased back down to 6.5% of patient visits compared to oncology at 7.0%, and family medicine (17.4%) and rheumatology (26.2%). Orthopaedic providers practicing greater than 20 years had the highest average virtual visit rates. CONCLUSION Although the COVID-19 pandemic has posed unique challenges for healthcare providers, there was a great advancement in the rollout and application of telemedicine. To mitigate the spread of infection from coronavirus and given the recent adjustments to reimbursement policies and HIPAA regulations, orthopaedics saw a dramatic expansion of telemedicine since April 2020. The pandemic may have served as a catalyst to adopt telehealth into clinical practice. However, telehealth saw a downtrend trend by December 2020, particularly in procedure-based fields like orthopaedics and oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vani Sabesan
- Palm Beach Shoulder Service HCA FL - Atlantis Orthopaedics, 900 Village Square Crossing Suite 170, Palm Beach, FL, USA.
- HCA JFK/University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program, Palm Beach, FL, USA.
- Levitetz Dept of Orthopedic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Florida, Weston, FL, USA.
| | - Feyikemi Ogunfuwa
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA
| | - Joel Grunhut
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA
| | - Shad Sommerville
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA
| | - Clyde Fomunung
- Palm Beach Shoulder Service HCA FL - Atlantis Orthopaedics, 900 Village Square Crossing Suite 170, Palm Beach, FL, USA
- HCA JFK/University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program, Palm Beach, FL, USA
| | - Justin Elkhechen
- Palm Beach Shoulder Service HCA FL - Atlantis Orthopaedics, 900 Village Square Crossing Suite 170, Palm Beach, FL, USA
- HCA JFK/University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program, Palm Beach, FL, USA
| | - Carlos Fernandez
- Palm Beach Shoulder Service HCA FL - Atlantis Orthopaedics, 900 Village Square Crossing Suite 170, Palm Beach, FL, USA
- HCA JFK/University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program, Palm Beach, FL, USA
| | - Alessia Lavin
- Palm Beach Shoulder Service HCA FL - Atlantis Orthopaedics, 900 Village Square Crossing Suite 170, Palm Beach, FL, USA
| | - Garrett R Jackson
- Palm Beach Shoulder Service HCA FL - Atlantis Orthopaedics, 900 Village Square Crossing Suite 170, Palm Beach, FL, USA
- HCA JFK/University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program, Palm Beach, FL, USA
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17
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Sprague BL, Nowak SA, Ahern TP, Herschorn SD, Kaufman PA, Odde C, Perry H, Sowden MM, Vacek PM, Weaver DL. Long-term Mammography Screening Trends and Predictors of Return to Screening after the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results from a Statewide Registry. Radiol Imaging Cancer 2024; 6:e230161. [PMID: 38578209 DOI: 10.1148/rycan.230161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Purpose To evaluate long-term trends in mammography screening rates and identify sociodemographic and breast cancer risk characteristics associated with return to screening after the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and Methods In this retrospective study, statewide screening mammography data of 222 384 female individuals aged 40 years or older (mean age, 58.8 years ± 11.7 [SD]) from the Vermont Breast Cancer Surveillance System were evaluated to generate descriptive statistics and Joinpoint models to characterize screening patterns during 2000-2022. Log-binomial regression models estimated associations of sociodemographic and risk characteristics with post-COVID-19 pandemic return to screening. Results The proportion of female individuals in Vermont aged 50-74 years with a screening mammogram obtained in the previous 2 years declined from a prepandemic level of 61.3% (95% CI: 61.1%, 61.6%) in 2019 to 56.0% (95% CI: 55.7%, 56.3%) in 2021 before rebounding to 60.7% (95% CI: 60.4%, 61.0%) in 2022. Screening adherence in 2022 remained substantially lower than that observed during the 2007-2010 apex of screening adherence (66.1%-67.0%). Joinpoint models estimated an annual percent change of -1.1% (95% CI: -1.5%, -0.8%) during 2010-2022. Among the cohort of 95 644 individuals screened during January 2018-March 2020, the probability of returning to screening during 2020-2022 varied by age (eg, risk ratio [RR] = 0.94 [95% CI: 0.93, 0.95] for age 40-44 vs age 60-64 years), race and ethnicity (RR = 0.84 [95% CI: 0.78, 0.90] for Black vs White individuals), education (RR = 0.84 [95% CI: 0.81, 0.86] for less than high school degree vs college degree), and by 5-year breast cancer risk (RR = 1.06 [95% CI: 1.04, 1.08] for very high vs average risk). Conclusion Despite a rebound to near prepandemic levels, Vermont mammography screening rates have steadily declined since 2010, with certain sociodemographic groups less likely to return to screening after the pandemic. Keywords: Mammography, Breast, Health Policy and Practice, Neoplasms-Primary, Epidemiology, Screening Supplemental material is available for this article. © RSNA, 2024.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian L Sprague
- From the Department of Surgery (B.L.S., T.P.A., M.M.S.), Department of Radiology (B.L.S., S.D.H., H.P.), University of Vermont Cancer Center (B.L.S., S.A.N., T.P.A., S.D.H., P.A.K., H.P., M.M.S., P.M.V., D.L.W.), Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (S.A.N., D.L.W.), Department of Medicine (P.A.K.), and Department of Biostatistics (P.M.V.), University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, 1 S Prospect St, UHC Bldg Rm 4425, Burlington, VT 05401; and Bachelor of Individualized Studies Program, College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn (C.O.)
| | - Sarah A Nowak
- From the Department of Surgery (B.L.S., T.P.A., M.M.S.), Department of Radiology (B.L.S., S.D.H., H.P.), University of Vermont Cancer Center (B.L.S., S.A.N., T.P.A., S.D.H., P.A.K., H.P., M.M.S., P.M.V., D.L.W.), Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (S.A.N., D.L.W.), Department of Medicine (P.A.K.), and Department of Biostatistics (P.M.V.), University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, 1 S Prospect St, UHC Bldg Rm 4425, Burlington, VT 05401; and Bachelor of Individualized Studies Program, College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn (C.O.)
| | - Thomas P Ahern
- From the Department of Surgery (B.L.S., T.P.A., M.M.S.), Department of Radiology (B.L.S., S.D.H., H.P.), University of Vermont Cancer Center (B.L.S., S.A.N., T.P.A., S.D.H., P.A.K., H.P., M.M.S., P.M.V., D.L.W.), Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (S.A.N., D.L.W.), Department of Medicine (P.A.K.), and Department of Biostatistics (P.M.V.), University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, 1 S Prospect St, UHC Bldg Rm 4425, Burlington, VT 05401; and Bachelor of Individualized Studies Program, College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn (C.O.)
| | - Sally D Herschorn
- From the Department of Surgery (B.L.S., T.P.A., M.M.S.), Department of Radiology (B.L.S., S.D.H., H.P.), University of Vermont Cancer Center (B.L.S., S.A.N., T.P.A., S.D.H., P.A.K., H.P., M.M.S., P.M.V., D.L.W.), Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (S.A.N., D.L.W.), Department of Medicine (P.A.K.), and Department of Biostatistics (P.M.V.), University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, 1 S Prospect St, UHC Bldg Rm 4425, Burlington, VT 05401; and Bachelor of Individualized Studies Program, College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn (C.O.)
| | - Peter A Kaufman
- From the Department of Surgery (B.L.S., T.P.A., M.M.S.), Department of Radiology (B.L.S., S.D.H., H.P.), University of Vermont Cancer Center (B.L.S., S.A.N., T.P.A., S.D.H., P.A.K., H.P., M.M.S., P.M.V., D.L.W.), Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (S.A.N., D.L.W.), Department of Medicine (P.A.K.), and Department of Biostatistics (P.M.V.), University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, 1 S Prospect St, UHC Bldg Rm 4425, Burlington, VT 05401; and Bachelor of Individualized Studies Program, College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn (C.O.)
| | - Catherine Odde
- From the Department of Surgery (B.L.S., T.P.A., M.M.S.), Department of Radiology (B.L.S., S.D.H., H.P.), University of Vermont Cancer Center (B.L.S., S.A.N., T.P.A., S.D.H., P.A.K., H.P., M.M.S., P.M.V., D.L.W.), Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (S.A.N., D.L.W.), Department of Medicine (P.A.K.), and Department of Biostatistics (P.M.V.), University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, 1 S Prospect St, UHC Bldg Rm 4425, Burlington, VT 05401; and Bachelor of Individualized Studies Program, College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn (C.O.)
| | - Hannah Perry
- From the Department of Surgery (B.L.S., T.P.A., M.M.S.), Department of Radiology (B.L.S., S.D.H., H.P.), University of Vermont Cancer Center (B.L.S., S.A.N., T.P.A., S.D.H., P.A.K., H.P., M.M.S., P.M.V., D.L.W.), Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (S.A.N., D.L.W.), Department of Medicine (P.A.K.), and Department of Biostatistics (P.M.V.), University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, 1 S Prospect St, UHC Bldg Rm 4425, Burlington, VT 05401; and Bachelor of Individualized Studies Program, College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn (C.O.)
| | - Michelle M Sowden
- From the Department of Surgery (B.L.S., T.P.A., M.M.S.), Department of Radiology (B.L.S., S.D.H., H.P.), University of Vermont Cancer Center (B.L.S., S.A.N., T.P.A., S.D.H., P.A.K., H.P., M.M.S., P.M.V., D.L.W.), Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (S.A.N., D.L.W.), Department of Medicine (P.A.K.), and Department of Biostatistics (P.M.V.), University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, 1 S Prospect St, UHC Bldg Rm 4425, Burlington, VT 05401; and Bachelor of Individualized Studies Program, College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn (C.O.)
| | - Pamela M Vacek
- From the Department of Surgery (B.L.S., T.P.A., M.M.S.), Department of Radiology (B.L.S., S.D.H., H.P.), University of Vermont Cancer Center (B.L.S., S.A.N., T.P.A., S.D.H., P.A.K., H.P., M.M.S., P.M.V., D.L.W.), Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (S.A.N., D.L.W.), Department of Medicine (P.A.K.), and Department of Biostatistics (P.M.V.), University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, 1 S Prospect St, UHC Bldg Rm 4425, Burlington, VT 05401; and Bachelor of Individualized Studies Program, College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn (C.O.)
| | - Donald L Weaver
- From the Department of Surgery (B.L.S., T.P.A., M.M.S.), Department of Radiology (B.L.S., S.D.H., H.P.), University of Vermont Cancer Center (B.L.S., S.A.N., T.P.A., S.D.H., P.A.K., H.P., M.M.S., P.M.V., D.L.W.), Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (S.A.N., D.L.W.), Department of Medicine (P.A.K.), and Department of Biostatistics (P.M.V.), University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, 1 S Prospect St, UHC Bldg Rm 4425, Burlington, VT 05401; and Bachelor of Individualized Studies Program, College of Liberal Arts, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn (C.O.)
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Rethinking Data Collection Methods During the Pandemic: Development and Implementation of CATI for the All of Us Research Program. J Public Health Manag Pract 2024; 30:460. [PMID: 38603758 DOI: 10.1097/PHH.0000000000001950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
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19
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Trupiano N, Goldberg RH, Novice M, Mai J, Zhang H, Renati S, Castanedo-Tardan MP, Tejasvi T. Asynchronous direct to patient teledermatology visits (e-visits) during COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons for future teledermatology practice. J Am Acad Dermatol 2024; 90:1037-1039. [PMID: 38246561 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2023.12.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Madison Novice
- University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Jianheng Mai
- University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Haihan Zhang
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Sruthi Renati
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Ann Arbor Veteran Affairs, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Mari Paz Castanedo-Tardan
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Ann Arbor Veteran Affairs, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Trilokraj Tejasvi
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Ann Arbor Veteran Affairs, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
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20
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Doherty TM, Di Pasquale A, Finnegan G, Lele J, Philip RK. Sustaining the momentum for adult vaccination post-COVID-19 to leverage the global uptake of life-course immunisation: A scoping review and call to action. Int J Infect Dis 2024; 142:106963. [PMID: 38354849 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2024.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The COVID-19 pandemic changed the adult vaccination landscape, possibly permanently. This review attempts to quantitate the magnitude of those changes. METHODS PubMed was searched for studies on adult / life-course vaccination between 1 January 2020 until 8 November 2022. RESULTS Twenty-one articles were identified and observations summarised as positive developments/impediments to life-course immunisation, and areas needing policy and structural reform. Unprecedented funding, international co-operation and technical advances led to COVID-19 vaccines authorised in record time. Investments in infrastructure and an expanded healthcare workforce streamlined vaccine delivery to adults. Constant media coverage and targeted messaging have improved health literacy. Conversely, the speed of vaccine development was perceived as a safety risk, and an 'infodemic' of misinformation propagated through social media negatively influenced vaccine uptake. Vaccine access and affordability remains inequitable among older adults and minority groups. CONCLUSIONS The COVID pandemic led to an opportunity to permanently change policies, attitudes, and systems for vaccine delivery to adults to establish a global life-course approach to immunisation. This is a call for action to sustain the momentum triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing inequalities, improving health literacy and optimally using social media are critical to sustain adult vaccinations in post-COVID-19 era.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alberta Di Pasquale
- Takeda Pharmaceuticals International AG Singapore Branch, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Jayesh Lele
- Indian Medical Association, National Hospital Board of India, Mumbai, India
| | - Roy K Philip
- University Maternity Hospital Limerick, University of Limerick School of Medicine, Limerick, Ireland
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21
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Winkler ML, Paras ML, Wright SB, Shenoy ES. National survey of infectious disease fellowship program directors: A call for subspecialized training in infection prevention and control and healthcare epidemiology. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2024; 45:562-566. [PMID: 38173357 DOI: 10.1017/ice.2023.281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The importance of infection prevention and control and healthcare epidemiology (IPC/HE) in healthcare facilities was highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Infectious disease (ID) clinicians often hold leadership positions in IPC/HE teams; however, there is no standard for training or certification of ID physicians specializing in IPC/HE. We evaluated the current state of IPC/HE training in ID fellowship programs. DESIGN A national survey of ID fellowship program directors was conducted to assess current IPC/HE training components in programs and plans for expanded offerings. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS All ID fellowship program directors in the United States and Puerto Rico. METHODS Surveys were distributed using Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) to program directors in March 2023, with 2 reminder emails; the survey closed after 4 weeks. RESULTS Of 166 program directors, 54 (32.5%) responded to the survey. Among respondent programs, 49 (90.7%) of 54 programs reported didactic training in IPC/HE averaging 4.4 hours over the course of the fellowship. Also, 18 (33.3%) of 54 reported a dedicated IPC/HE training track. Furthermore, 23 programs (42.6%) reported barriers to expanding training. There was support (n = 47, 87.0%) for formal IPC/HE certification from a professional society within the standard fellowship. CONCLUSIONS Despite the COVID-19 pandemic highlighting the need for ID medical doctors with IPC/HE expertise, formal training in ID fellowship remains limited. Most program directors support formalization of IPC/HE training by a professional organization. Creation of standardized advanced curriculums for ID fellowship training in IPC/HE could be considered by the Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) to grow, retain, and enhance the IPC/HE physician workforce.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa L Winkler
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Molly L Paras
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sharon B Wright
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
- Infection Prevention, Beth Israel Lahey Health, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Erica S Shenoy
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Infection Control Unit and Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Infection Control, Mass General Brigham, Boston, Massachusetts
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22
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Bwire G, Chowdhury F, Khan AI, Wamala JF, Orach CG, Qadri F. Adapting existing tools to control and eliminate protracted epidemics and pandemics. Lancet Glob Health 2024; 12:e725-e726. [PMID: 38614621 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(24)00096-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Godfrey Bwire
- Division of Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; School of Public Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Fahima Chowdhury
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Ashraful Islam Khan
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | | | - Firdausi Qadri
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
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23
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Phillips Z, Mitsumoto J, Fisher H, Wilhite J, Hardowar K, Robertson V, Paige J, Shahroudi J, Albert S, Li J, Hanley K, Gillespie C, Altshuler L, Zabar S. Using Unannounced Standardized Patients to Assess Clinician Telehealth and Communication Skills at an Urban Student Health Center. J Adolesc Health 2024; 74:1033-1038. [PMID: 38430075 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2024.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE As the COVID-19 pandemic forced most colleges and universities to go online, student health centers rapidly shifted to telehealth platforms without frameworks for virtual care provision. An urban student health center implemented a needs assessment involving unannounced standardized patients (USPs) to evaluate the integration of a new telehealth workflow and clinicians' virtual communication skills. METHODS From April to May 2021, USPs conducted two video visits with 12 primary care and four women's health clinicians (N = 16 clinicians; 32 visits). Cases included (1) a 21-year-old female presenting for birth control with a positive Patient Health Questionaire-9 and (2) a 21-year-old male, who vapes regularly, with questions regarding safe sex with men. Clinicians were evaluated using a checklist completed by the USP immediately following the visit and a systematic chart review of the electronic health record. RESULTS USP feedback indicates most clinicians received high ratings for general communication skills but may benefit from educational intervention in several key telemedicine skills. Clinicians struggled with using nonverbal signals to enrich communication (47% well done), acknowledging emotions (34% well done), and using video for information gathering (34% well done). Low rates of standard screenings (e.g., 63% administered the PHQ-2, <50% asked about alcohol use) suggested protocols for in-person care were not easily incorporated into telehealth practices, and clinicians may benefit from enhanced care team support. Performance reports were shared with clinicians and leadership postvisit. DISCUSSION Results suggest project design and implementation is scalable and feasible for use at other institutions, offering a structured methodology that can improve general student health care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe Phillips
- Department of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York.
| | - Jun Mitsumoto
- New York University Student Health Center, New York, New York
| | - Harriet Fisher
- Department of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Jeffrey Wilhite
- Department of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Khemraj Hardowar
- Department of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | | | - Joquetta Paige
- New York University Student Health Center, New York, New York
| | - Julie Shahroudi
- New York University Student Health Center, New York, New York
| | - Sharon Albert
- New York University Student Health Center, New York, New York
| | - Jacky Li
- New York University Student Health Center, New York, New York
| | - Kathleen Hanley
- Department of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Colleen Gillespie
- Department of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Lisa Altshuler
- Department of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Sondra Zabar
- Department of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
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24
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Okubo Y, Uda K, Kaki M, Miyoshi S, Miyairi I. Infection prevention measures and its determinants in childcare facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic: A nationwide survey (2022-2023). J Infect Chemother 2024; 30:379-386. [PMID: 37952843 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiac.2023.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic presented an unprecedented challenge to societies, necessitating adaptations in infection prevention measures. While there is ample data on infection prevention practices in workplace and healthcare settings, comprehensive data specific to childcare facilities has been lacking. METHODS We conducted a nationwide web-based survey capturing responses from various childcare facilities (N = 549). This aimed to understand the adaptation in infection prevention measures between fiscal years 2022 and 2023, the status of events and activities, and the factors influencing decision-making related to infection prevention. RESULTS From 2022 to 2023, most childcare facilities reduced infection prevention practices like mandatory mask-wearing (46.9 %-7.5 %) and eating without conversing (56.5 %-7.4 %), whereas they continued high levels of hand sanitization and checking child's health condition before attendance. The frequency of events and activities (e.g., athletic meets, field trips) increased, with many being held without restrictions. Surprisingly, 62.8 % of facilities used items not recommended for infection prevention. The influence of local government guidelines (risk ratio, 0.69; 95%CI, 0.53-0.90) and the input from junior teachers (risk ratio, 0.85; 95%CI, 0.72-0.99) were associated with reduced risk of using inappropriate items. Furthermore, childcare facilities emphasized the need to collaborate with public health and medical professionals for more accurate and efficient decision-making during pandemics. CONCLUSIONS The survey provides insights into the evolving practices of Japanese childcare facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. It underscores the importance of refining information sources, enhancing decision-making processes, and fostering collaboration with the medical community for future pandemics and natural disasters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Okubo
- Department of Social Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Kazuhiro Uda
- Department of Pediatrics, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama, Japan
| | - Mimori Kaki
- Department of Social Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinobu Miyoshi
- Department of Social Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Isao Miyairi
- Department of Pediatrics, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Shizuoka, Japan; Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Tennessee, USA
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25
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Baciu AB, Martinez RM. Revisiting the IOM Reports and Envisioning a Promising Future for Public Health. Am J Public Health 2024; 114:495-500. [PMID: 38598765 PMCID: PMC11008293 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2024.307584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Two public health reports from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine published in 1988 and 2003 by the Institute of Medicine continue to resonate. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for a robust and adequately funded public health system that has political and public support as well as strong connections to health care and other sectors. However, a spate of recent assessments of the nation's public health infrastructure shows continuing gaps in funding, workforce, capacity, and other dimensions. There are reasons for optimism and opportunities for progress in public health in the third decade of the 21st century. There is great promise in cross-sector partnerships and in embracing the "public" in public health by building power with communities in health improvement efforts and in decision-making. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(5):495-500. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307584).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina B Baciu
- Alina B. Baciu and Rose Marie Martinez are with the Health and Medicine Division, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Washington, DC
| | - Rose Marie Martinez
- Alina B. Baciu and Rose Marie Martinez are with the Health and Medicine Division, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Washington, DC
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26
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Benson-Goldberg S, Geist L, Erickson K. Simplified COVID-19 guidance for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. J Appl Res Intellect Disabil 2024; 37:e13222. [PMID: 38494739 DOI: 10.1111/jar.13222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) created guidance documents that were too complex to be read and understood by the majority of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who often read at or below a third-grade reading level. This study explored the extent to which these adults could read and understand CDC documents simplified using Minimised Text Complexity Guidelines. METHOD This study involved 20 participants, 18-48 years of age. Participants read texts and responded to multiple-choice items and open-ended questions to gather information about how they interacted with and understood the texts. RESULTS The results provide initial evidence that the Minimised Text Complexity Guidelines resulted in texts that participants could read and understand. CONCLUSION Implications for increasing the accessibility of public health information so that it can be read and understood by adults with extremely low literacy skills are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Benson-Goldberg
- Center for Literacy and Disability Studies, Department of Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Lori Geist
- Center for Literacy and Disability Studies, Department of Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Karen Erickson
- Center for Literacy and Disability Studies, Department of Health Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
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27
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Calapkulu M, Sencar ME, Ozturk Unsal I, Sakiz D, Tekinyildiz M, Ozbek M, Cakal E. The effect of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on the management of differentiated thyroid cancer in Turkey: a single tertiary centre experience. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2024; 281:2587-2595. [PMID: 38347198 DOI: 10.1007/s00405-024-08496-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Many countries have implemented unprecedented health measures since the World Health Organisation declared the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a global pandemic. These measures have resulted in delays in the diagnosis of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). However, there is limited data on the impact of restrictions imposed during the pandemic on DTC management. Thus, the aim of this study is to analyse the clinicopathological and follow-up data of DTC patients diagnosed before and during the COVID-19 outbreak. METHODS This retrospective study included 191 DTC patients that were diagnosed between December 2018 and June 2021. The patients were divided into two groups: patients diagnosed before (December 2018 to February 2020) and during (March 2020 to June 2021) the COVID-19 pandemic. The clinicopathological and follow-up data between the two groups were compared. RESULTS Similar preoperative cytology results were obtained from the two groups. No difference with regard to tumour size, lymphovascular invasion and extrathyroidal invasion was observed between the two groups. While the American Thyroid Association risk stratification was similar between the two groups, radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy was applied less during the COVID-19 period. Although RAI therapy was administered at a lower rate during the COVID-19 period, the recurrence rates among patients after two years of follow-up were similar to those during the pre-COVID-19 period. CONCLUSION Although the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions during the pandemic period caused difficulties in the management of DTC patients, this did not negatively affect their prognosis. These findings can confirm the applicability of active surveillance in DTC patients and may help change the real-life treatment practices in selected low-risk DTC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murat Calapkulu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Health Sciences Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Sehit Omer Halisdemir Avenue, 06110, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Muhammed Erkam Sencar
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Health Sciences Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Sehit Omer Halisdemir Avenue, 06110, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ilknur Ozturk Unsal
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Health Sciences Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Sehit Omer Halisdemir Avenue, 06110, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Davut Sakiz
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Mardin Training and Research Hospital, Mardin, Turkey
| | - Merve Tekinyildiz
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Health Sciences Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Mustafa Ozbek
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Health Sciences Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Sehit Omer Halisdemir Avenue, 06110, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Erman Cakal
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Health Sciences Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Sehit Omer Halisdemir Avenue, 06110, Ankara, Turkey
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Pennisi F, Mastrangelo M, De Ponti E, Cuciniello R, Mandelli A, Vaia F, Signorelli C. The role of pharmacies in the implementation of vaccination cover- age in Italy. Insights from the preliminary data of the Lombardy Region. Ann Ig 2024; 36:363-369. [PMID: 38386026 DOI: 10.7416/ai.2024.2611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Introduction The administration of vaccines in pharmacies was not allowed in Italy until 2021. During the COVID-19 pandemic, legislative innovations were introduced that now allow qualified pharmacists to administer anti-flu and anti-COVID-19 vaccines after completing specific training. Methods The article provides an overview of legislation concerning vaccinations in Italian pharmacies, followed by a description of the vaccinations carried out by pharmacies participating in the regional vaccination campaign from 2021 to 2023. The study relies on data extracted from the Lombardy Region's database on vaccine administration in pharmacies. Furthermore, innovative vaccination practices from the Marche Region were also taken into consideration. Study Design Observational Study. Results Lombardy became the Italian pioneer region in extensively incorporating pharmacy-based vaccinations, starting in 2021. This initiative reached its zenith with 46% of anti-COVID vaccines and 17% of flu vaccines administered within the first six weeks of the autumn 2023 campaign. Pharmacies played a crucial role in meeting the targets outlined in the Italian National Vaccine Prevention Plan for 2023-25. As part of an experimental program, the Marche Region has further expanded pharmacy-based vaccinations, now including anti-zoster and anti-pneumococcus vaccines for the 2023-24 campaign. Conclusions The promising outcomes observed in Lombardy and the ongoing experimental efforts in the Marche are encouraging steps toward achieving vaccination coverage targets, albeit still falling below the objectives set by the National Vaccination Plan for 2023-25. The widespread presence of pharmacies throughout the territory makes them well-suited as support structures for vaccination campaigns, especially in reaching the adult, the elderly, and the vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavia Pennisi
- Faculty of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Mastrangelo
- Faculty of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Emanuele De Ponti
- Faculty of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Rita Cuciniello
- Faculty of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Mandelli
- FOFI, Federation of the Orders of Italian Pharmacists, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Vaia
- General Director of Prevention at the Ministry of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Signorelli
- Faculty of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
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Myroniuk TW, Kohler HP, Mwapasa V, Mwera J, Kohler IV. Surprising Gendered Age Differences in Rural Malawians' Early COVID-19 Pandemic Prevention Efforts. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2024; 79:gbae031. [PMID: 38457433 PMCID: PMC11000306 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbae031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We assess how age, the presence of mature adults aged 45+ years, and recent deaths in rural households are associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) preventative actions and the likelihood of getting vaccinated against the virus in Malawi during early stages of the pandemic. METHODS We draw upon data from 2,187 rural Malawians who participated in a 2020 COVID-19 Phone Survey. We estimate the log odds of engaging in "low-cost" and "high-cost" COVID-19 preventative actions based on age, gender, household composition, and recent household deaths. Low-cost prevention efforts were washing hands with soap and water frequently, avoiding close contact with people when going out, and avoiding shaking hands. High-cost actions included staying at home and decreasing time spent close to people not living in their household. We also estimate the chances of acquiring the COVID-19 vaccine in early stages of its availability. RESULTS Mature women (45+ years) in general and younger men (<45 years)-living with at least one mature adult in the household-were less likely than others to comply with low-cost actions. Mature men were more likely than younger men (<45 years) to take on high-cost actions. To some extent, individuals who experienced a recent family death were more likely to engage in high-cost COVID-19 preventative actions as well as getting vaccinated. DISCUSSION Gendered age differences in preventing the transmission of COVID-19 offer hints of larger social norms affecting protective efforts. The analyses also inform future COVID-19 public health outreach efforts in Malawi and other rural SSA contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler W Myroniuk
- Department of Public Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Hans-Peter Kohler
- Population Aging Research Center (PARC), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Victor Mwapasa
- Department of Community and Environmental Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | | | - Iliana V Kohler
- Population Studies Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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30
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Orfield C, Loosier PS, Wagner S, Sabin ER, Fiscus M, Matulewicz H, Vohra D, Staatz C, Taylor MM, Caruso EC, DeLuca N, Moonan PK, Oeltmann JE, Thorpe P. Design and Modification of COVID-19 Case Investigation and Contact Tracing Interview Scripts Used by Health Departments Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Public Health Manag Pract 2024; 30:336-345. [PMID: 38603742 DOI: 10.1097/phh.0000000000001875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We sought to (1) document how health departments (HDs) developed COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing (CI/CT) interview scripts and the topics covered, and (2) understand how and why HDs modified those scripts. DESIGN Qualitative analysis of CI/CT interview scripts and in-depth key informant interviews with public health officials in 14 HDs. Collected scripts represent 3 distinct points (initial, the majority of which were time stamped May 2020; interim, spanning from September 2020 to August 2021; and current, as of April 2022). SETTING Fourteen state, local, and tribal health jurisdictions and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). PARTICIPANTS Thirty-six public health officials involved in leading CI/CT from 14 state, local, and tribal health jurisdictions (6 states, 3 cities, 4 counties, and 1 tribal area). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Interview script elements included in CI/CT interview scripts over time. RESULTS Many COVID-19 CI/CT scripts were developed by modifying questions from scripts used for other communicable diseases. Early in the pandemic, scripts included guidance on isolation/quarantine and discussed symptoms of COVID-19. As the pandemic evolved, the length of scripts increased substantially, with significant additions on contact elicitation, vaccinations, isolation/quarantine recommendations, and testing. Drivers of script changes included changes in our understanding of how the virus spreads, risk factors and symptoms, new treatments, new variants, vaccine development, and adjustments to CDC's official isolation and quarantine guidance. CONCLUSIONS Our findings offer suggestions about components to include in future CI/CT efforts, including educating members of the public about the disease and its symptoms, offering mitigation guidance, and providing sufficient support and resources to help people act on that guidance. Assessing the correlation between script length and number of completed interviews or other quality and performance measures could be an area for future study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara Orfield
- Author Affiliations: Mathematica, Princeton, New Jersey (Mss Orfield, Wagner, Sabin, Matulewicz, and Staatz and Dr Vohra); Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia (Drs Loosier, Taylor, DeLuca, Moonan, Oeltmann, and Thorpe and Ms Caruso); and National Academy for State Health Policy, Washington, District of Columbia (Dr Fiscus)
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Bai Y, Ning K. How does severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) achieve immune evasion?: A narrative review. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e37780. [PMID: 38640329 PMCID: PMC11030025 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000037780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 caused by the novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly contagious disease known for its significant lung damage. Although the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our daily lives has been limited, the virus has not vanished entirely and continues to undergo mutations. This calls for a concentrated focus on the matter of SARS-CoV-2 immune evasion. Drawing on observations of immune escape mechanisms in other viruses, some scholars have proposed that liquid-liquid phase separation might play a crucial role in SARS-CoV-2's ability to evade the immune system. Within the structure of SARS-CoV-2, the nucleocapsid protein plays a pivotal role in RNA replication and transcription. Concurrently, this protein can engage in phase separation with RNA. A thorough examination of the phase separation related to the nucleocapsid protein may unveil the mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 accomplishes immune evasion. Moreover, this analysis may provide valuable insights for future development of innovative antiviral drugs or vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yahu Bai
- Department of Respiratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Shandong Institute of Anesthesia and Respiratory Critical Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Kang Ning
- Department of Respiratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Shandong Institute of Anesthesia and Respiratory Critical Medicine, Jinan, China
- Department of Respiratory, Occupational Diseases Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Shandong Province Hospital of Occupational Diseases, Jinan, China
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Hill-Batorski L, Bowen R, Bielefeldt-Ohmann H, Moser MJ, Matejka SM, Marshall D, Kawaoka Y, Neumann G, Bilsel P. Mucosal immunization with dual influenza/COVID-19 single-replication virus vector protects hamsters from SARS-CoV-2 challenge. Vaccine 2024; 42:2770-2780. [PMID: 38508930 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.03.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for mucosal vaccines as breakthrough infections, short-lived immune responses and emergence of new variants have challenged the efficacy provided by the first generation of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 viruses. M2SR SARS-CoV-2, an M2-deleted single-replication influenza virus vector modified to encode the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain, was evaluated following intranasal delivery in a hamster challenge model for protection against Wuhan SARS-CoV-2. An adjuvanted inactivated SARS-CoV-2 whole virus vaccine administered intramuscularly was also evaluated. The intranasal M2SR SARS-CoV-2 was more effective than the intramuscular adjuvanted inactivated whole virus vaccine in providing protection against SARS-CoV-2 challenge. M2SR SARS-CoV-2 elicited neutralizing serum antibodies against Wuhan and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 viruses in addition to cross-reactive mucosal antibodies. Furthermore, M2SR SARS-CoV-2 generated serum HAI and mucosal antibody responses against influenza similar to an H3N2 M2SR influenza vaccine. The intranasal dual influenza/COVID M2SR SARS-CoV-2 vaccine has the potential to provide protection against both influenza and COVID.
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White A, Iverson G, Wright L, Fallon JT, Briley KP, Yin C, Huang W, Humphrey C. Wastewater based epidemiology as a surveillance tool during the current COVID-19 pandemic on a college campus (East Carolina University) and its accuracy in predicting SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in dormitories. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0289906. [PMID: 38635813 PMCID: PMC11025953 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 outbreak led governmental officials to close many businesses and schools, including colleges and universities. Thus, the ability to resume normal campus operation required adoption of safety measures to monitor and respond to COVID-19. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of wastewater-based epidemiology as a surveillance method in monitoring COVID-19 on a college campus. The use of wastewater monitoring as part of a surveillance program to control COVID-19 outbreaks at East Carolina University was evaluated. During the Spring and Fall 2021 semesters, wastewater samples (N = 830) were collected every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from the sewer pipes exiting the dormitories on campus. Samples were analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 and viral quantification was determined using qRT-PCR. During the Spring 2021 semester, there was a significant difference in SARS-CoV-2 virus copies in wastewater when comparing dorms with the highest number student cases of COVID-19 and those with the lowest number of student cases, (p = 0.002). Additionally, during the Fall 2021 semester it was observed that when weekly virus concentrations exceeded 20 copies per ml, there were new confirmed COVID-19 cases 85% of the time during the following week. Increases in wastewater viral concentration spurred COVID-19 swab testing for students residing in dormitories, aiding university officials in effectively applying COVID testing policies. This study showed wastewater-based epidemiology can be a cost-effective surveillance tool to guide other surveilling methods (e.g., contact tracing, nasal/salvia testing, etc.) to identify and isolate afflicted individuals to reduce the spread of pathogens and potential outbreaks within a community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avian White
- Environmental Health Sciences Program, Department of Health Education and Promotion, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States of America
| | - Guy Iverson
- Environmental Health Sciences Program, Department of Health Education and Promotion, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States of America
| | - LaNika Wright
- Executive Director Student Health Services, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States of America
- Associate Vice Chancellor of Health and Wellbeing, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States of America
| | - John T. Fallon
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States of America
| | - Kimberly P. Briley
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States of America
| | - Changhong Yin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States of America
| | - Weihua Huang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States of America
| | - Charles Humphrey
- Environmental Health Sciences Program, Department of Health Education and Promotion, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States of America
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Razafindrakoto M, Roubaud F, Castilho MR, Pero V, Saboia J. Investigating the 'Bolsonaro effect' on the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic: An empirical analysis of observational data in Brazil. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0288894. [PMID: 38635577 PMCID: PMC11025779 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Brazil counts among the countries the hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. A great deal has been said about the negative role played by President Bolsonaro's denialism, but relatively few studies have attempted to measure precisely what impact it actually had on the pandemic. Our paper conducts econometric estimates based on observational data at municipal level to quantitatively assess the 'Bolsonaro effect' over time from March 2020 to December 2022. To our knowledge, this paper presents the most comprehensive investigation of Bolsonaro's influence in the spread of the pandemic from two angles: considering Covid-19 mortality and two key transmission mitigation channels (social distancing and vaccination); and exploring the full pandemic cycle (2020-2022) and its dynamics over time. Controlling for a rich set of relevant variables, our results find a strong and persistent 'Bolsonaro effect' on the death rate: municipalities that were more pro-Bolsonaro recorded significantly more fatalities. Furthermore, evidence suggests that the president's attitude and decisions negatively influenced the population's behaviour. Firstly, pro-Bolsonaro municipalities presented a lower level of compliance with social distancing measures. Secondly, vaccination was relatively less widespread in places more in favour of the former president. Finally, our analysis points to longer-lasting and damaging repercussions. Regression results are consistent with the hypothesis that the 'Bolsonaro effect' impacted not only on Covid-19 vaccination, but has affected vaccination campaigns in general thereby jeopardizing the historical success of the National Immunization Program in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mireille Razafindrakoto
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, LEDa-DIAL Research Unit, IRD, Université Paris-Dauphine, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - François Roubaud
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, LEDa-DIAL Research Unit, IRD, Université Paris-Dauphine, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Marta Reis Castilho
- Institute of Economics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Valeria Pero
- Institute of Economics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - João Saboia
- Institute of Economics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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da Costa Miranda AL, da Paixão ART, Pedroso AO, do Espírito Santo Lima L, Parente AT, Botelho EP, Polaro SHI, de Oliveira E Silva AC, Reis RK, Ferreira GRON. Demographic, social, and clinical aspects associated with access to COVID-19 health care in Pará province, Brazilian Amazon. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8776. [PMID: 38627601 PMCID: PMC11021420 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-59461-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Internal social disparities in the Brazilian Amazon became more evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this work was to examine the demographic, social and clinical factors associated with access to COVID-19 health care in Pará Province in the Brazilian Amazon. This was an observational, cross-sectional, analytical study using a quantitative method through an online survey conducted from May to August 2023. People were eligible to participate if they were current residents of Pará, 18-years-old or older, with self-reported diagnoses of COVID-19 through rapid or laboratory tests. Participants completed an electronic survey was developed using Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) software-The adapted questionnaire "COVID-19 Global Clinical Platform: Case Report Form for Post-COVID Condition". Questions focused on access to COVID-19 treatment, demographic characteristics, COVID-19 vaccine and clinical characteristics. Respondent-driven sampling was applied to recruit participants. Multiple logistic regression was utilized to identify the associated factors. Overall, a total of 638 participants were included. The average age was 31.1 years. Access to COVID-19 health care was 68.65% (438/638). The participants most likely to access health care were those with moderate or severe COVID-19 (p = 0.000; OR: 19.8) and females (p = 0.001; OR: 1.99). Moreover, participants who used homemade tea or herbal medicines were less likely to receive health care for COVID-19 in health services (p = 0.002; OR: 0.54). Ensuring access to healthcare is important in a pandemic scenario.
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Grants
- 12/2021 support from Emergency selection IV No. 12/2021 of the Postgraduate Development Program - Impacts of the Pandemic belonging to the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)
- 12/2021 support from Emergency selection IV No. 12/2021 of the Postgraduate Development Program - Impacts of the Pandemic belonging to the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)
- 12/2021 support from Emergency selection IV No. 12/2021 of the Postgraduate Development Program - Impacts of the Pandemic belonging to the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)
- 12/2021 support from Emergency selection IV No. 12/2021 of the Postgraduate Development Program - Impacts of the Pandemic belonging to the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)
- 12/2021 support from Emergency selection IV No. 12/2021 of the Postgraduate Development Program - Impacts of the Pandemic belonging to the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)
- 12/2021 support from Emergency selection IV No. 12/2021 of the Postgraduate Development Program - Impacts of the Pandemic belonging to the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)
- 12/2021 support from Emergency selection IV No. 12/2021 of the Postgraduate Development Program - Impacts of the Pandemic belonging to the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)
- PAPQ/UFPA 2024 Pós- graduação of the Federal University of Para, Support Program for qualified production -2024 (PAPQ-2024, in Portuguese)
- PAPQ/UFPA 2024 Pós- graduação of the Federal University of Para, Support Program for qualified production -2024 (PAPQ-2024, in Portuguese)
- PAPQ/UFPA 2024 Pós- graduação of the Federal University of Para, Support Program for qualified production -2024 (PAPQ-2024, in Portuguese)
- PAPQ/UFPA 2024 Pós- graduação of the Federal University of Para, Support Program for qualified production -2024 (PAPQ-2024, in Portuguese)
- PAPQ/UFPA 2024 Pós- graduação of the Federal University of Para, Support Program for qualified production -2024 (PAPQ-2024, in Portuguese)
- PAPQ/UFPA 2024 Pós- graduação of the Federal University of Para, Support Program for qualified production -2024 (PAPQ-2024, in Portuguese)
- support from Emergency selection IV No. 12/2021 of the Postgraduate Development Program – Impacts of the Pandemic belonging to the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Andrey Oeiras Pedroso
- Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, 14040-092, Brasil
| | | | | | - Eliã Pinheiro Botelho
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Enfermagem, Universidade Federal Do Pará, Belém, 66075-110, Brasil
| | | | | | - Renata Karina Reis
- Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, 14040-092, Brasil
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Rasmussen AL, Gronvall G, Lowen AC, Goodrum F. Reply to Ebright et al., "Implementing governmental oversight of enhanced potential pandemic pathogen research". J Virol 2024; 98:e0025624. [PMID: 38477587 PMCID: PMC11019956 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00256-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Angela L. Rasmussen
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | - Gigi Gronvall
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Anice C. Lowen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Felicia Goodrum
- Department of Immunobiology, BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
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Ebright RH, MacIntyre R, Dudley JP, Butler CD, Goffinet A, Hammond E, Harris ED, Kakeya H, Lambrinidou Y, Leitenberg M, Newman SA, Nickels BE, Rahalkar MC, Ridley MW, Salzberg SL, Seshadri H, Theißen G, VanDongen AM, Washburne A. Implementing governmental oversight of enhanced potential pandemic pathogen research. J Virol 2024; 98:e0023724. [PMID: 38477586 PMCID: PMC11019947 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00237-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Richard H. Ebright
- Department of Chemistry and Waksman Institute of Microbiology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Raina MacIntyre
- Biosecurity Program, Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Joseph P. Dudley
- Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
| | - Colin D. Butler
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | | | | | - Elisa D. Harris
- ex Director for Nonproliferation and Export Controls, US National Security Council, Washington DC, USA
| | - Hideki Kakeya
- Institute of Systems and Information Engineering, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yanna Lambrinidou
- Department of Science, Technology, and Society, Virginia Tech, Falls Church, Virginia, USA
| | - Milton Leitenberg
- Center for International and Security Studies, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Stuart A. Newman
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA
| | - Bryce E. Nickels
- Department of Molecular Biology and Waksman Institute of Microbiology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | | | - Matt W. Ridley
- ex Science and Technology Select Committee, UK House of Lords, Newcastle, United Kingdom
| | - Steven L. Salzberg
- Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, and Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Harish Seshadri
- Department of Mathematics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Günter Theißen
- Matthias Schleiden Institute of Genetics, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Antonius M. VanDongen
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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Irouschek A, Schmidt J, Birkholz T, Sirbu H, Moritz A. Video double-lumen tube for one lung ventilation: implementation and experience in 343 cases of routine clinical use during the first 20 months of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. J Cardiothorac Surg 2024; 19:218. [PMID: 38627789 PMCID: PMC11020909 DOI: 10.1186/s13019-024-02663-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Double-lumen tubes (DLTs) are the preferred device for lung isolation. Conventional DLTs (cDLT) need a bronchoscopic position control. Visualisation of correct DLT positioning could be facilitated by the use of a video double-lumen tube (vDLT). During the SARS-CoV-2-pandemic, avoiding aerosol-generation was suggesting using this device. In a large retrospective series, we report both general and pandemic related experiences with the device. METHODS All anesthesia records from patients aged 18 years or older undergoing surgery from April 1st, 2020 to December 31st, 2021 in the department of thoracic surgery requiring intraoperative lung isolation were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS During the investigation period 343 left-sided vDLTs (77.4%) and 100 left-sided cDLTs (22.6%) were used for one lung ventilation. In the vDLT group bronchoscopy could be reduced by 85.4% related to the cDLT group. Additional bronchoscopy to reach or maintain correct position was needed in 11% of the cases. Other bronchoscopy indications occured in 3.6% of the cases. With cDLT, in 1% bronchoscopy for other indications than conforming position was observed. CONCLUSIONS The Ambu® VivaSight™ vDLT is an efficient, easy-to-use and safe airway device for the generation of one lung ventilation in patients undergoing thoracic surgery. The vDLT implementation was achieved easily with full interchangeability to the left-sided cDLT. Using the vDLT can reduce the need for aerosol-generating bronchoscopic interventions by 85.4%. Continuous video view to the carina enabling position monitoring of the DLT without need for bronchoscopy might be beneficial for both employee's and patient's safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Irouschek
- Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Faculty of Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
- Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Krankenhausstr. 12, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.
| | - Joachim Schmidt
- Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Faculty of Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Torsten Birkholz
- Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Faculty of Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Horia Sirbu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, Faculty of Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Andreas Moritz
- Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Faculty of Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Holdsworth LM, Siden R, Wong BO, Verano M, Lessios AS, Tabor HK, Schapira L, Aslakson R. "Like not having an arm": a qualitative study of the impact of visitor restrictions on cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Support Care Cancer 2024; 32:288. [PMID: 38622350 PMCID: PMC11018646 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-024-08473-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Visitor restriction policies to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among patients and clinicians were widespread during the pandemic, resulting in the exclusion of caregivers at key points of cancer care and treatment decision-making. The aim of this study was to explore how visitor restrictions impacted cancer treatment decision-making and care from patient and physician perspectives. METHODS Sixty-seven interviews, including 48 cancer patients and 19 cancer and palliative care physicians from four academic cancer centers in the USA between August 2020 and July 2021. RESULTS Visitor restrictions that prevented caregivers from participating in clinic appointments and perioperative hospital care created challenges in cancer care that spanned three domains: practical, social, and informational. We identified eight themes that characterized challenges within the three domains across all three groups, and that these challenges had negative emotional and psychological consequences for both groups. Physicians perceived that patients' negative experiences due to lack of support through the physical presence of caregivers may have worsened patient outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrate the tripartite structure of the therapeutic relationship in cancer care with caregivers providing critical support in the decision-making and care process to both patients and physicians. Caregiver absences led to practical, psychosocial, and informational burdens on both groups, and likely increased the risk of burnout among physicians. Our findings suggest that the quality of cancer care can be enhanced by engaging caregivers and promoting their physical presence during clinical encounters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Holdsworth
- Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
| | - Rachel Siden
- Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Bonnie O Wong
- Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mae Verano
- Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Anna Sophia Lessios
- Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Holly K Tabor
- Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | | | - Rebecca Aslakson
- Department of Anesthesiology, Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
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40
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Rangel DF, Costa LL, Ribeiro VV, De-la-Torre GE, Castro ÍB. Protective personal equipment on coastal environments: Identifying key drivers at a global scale. J Hazard Mater 2024; 468:133839. [PMID: 38402681 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
The contamination of coastal ecosystems by personal protective equipment (PPE) emerged as a significant concern immediately following the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). Hence, numerous studies have assessed PPE occurrence on beaches worldwide. However, no predictors on PPE contamination was so far pointed out. The present study investigated social and landscape drivers affecting the PPE density in coastal environments worldwide using a meta-analysis approach. Spatial variables such as urban modification levels, coastal vegetation coverage, population density (HPD), distance from rivers (DNR), and poverty degree (GGRDI) were derived from global satellite data. These variables, along with the time elapsed after WHO declared the pandemic, were included in generalized additive models as potential predictors of PPE density. HPD consistently emerged as the most influential predictor of PPE density (p < 0.00001), exhibiting a positive effect. Despite the presence of complex non-linear relationships, our findings indicate higher PPE density in areas with intermediate GGRDI levels, indicative of emerging economies. Additionally, elevated PPE density was observed in areas located further away from rivers (p < 0.001), and after the initial months of the pandemic. Despite the uncertainties associated with the varied sampling methods employed by the studies comprising our database, this study offers a solid baseline for tackling the global problem of PPE contamination on beachesguiding monitoring assessments in future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Leonardo Lopes Costa
- Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Instituto Solar Brasil de Desenvolvimento Saúde e Pesquisa - ISOBRAS, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Gabriel E De-la-Torre
- Grupo de Investigación de Biodiversidad, Medio Ambiente y Sociedad, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, Lima, Peru
| | - Ítalo Braga Castro
- Instituto do Mar, Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP, Santos, SP, Brazil.
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41
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Park S, Nguyen AM. Determinants and effectiveness of annual wellness visits among Medicare beneficiaries in 2020. Fam Pract 2024; 41:203-206. [PMID: 37972381 DOI: 10.1093/fampra/cmad108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Annual wellness visits (AWVs) have the potential to improve general health and well-being, but little is known about the role of AWVs during the COVID-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVE We examined the determinants and effectiveness of having an AWV among Medicare beneficiaries in 2020. METHODS We employed a cross-sectional study design using data from the 2020 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey. Our outcomes included AWV utilization, preventive care utilization, health status, and care satisfaction. To examine the determinants for having an AWV, we performed a linear regression model and explored the associations with other individual-level variables (demographic, socioeconomic, and health characteristics). To examine the effectiveness of having an AWV, we performed a linear regression model on each outcome measure while adjusting for individual-level variables. RESULTS We found that there were several determinants of having an AWV. The four most notable determinants were having a usual source of care, enrolling in Medicare Advantage, being non-Hispanic Black, and being Hispanic. We also found that having an AWV was associated with increases in preventive care use (COVID vaccine, flu shot, pneumonia shot, and blood pressure measurement), but was limited in improving health status and care satisfaction. CONCLUSION Our finding raises critical concerns about inequitable access to health care services for disease prevention and health promotion during the pandemic. Furthermore, the effectiveness of AWVs was mostly in increased preventive care use, suggesting a limited role in meeting the wellness needs of a diverse population of older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sungchul Park
- Department of Health Policy and Management, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- BK21 FOUR R&E Center for Learning Health Systems, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ann M Nguyen
- Center for State Health Policy, Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, United States
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Fox F, Hayes J, Whelan B, Casey D, Connolly M. Key Factors Impacting a Medical Ventilator Supply Chain During the COVID- 19 Pandemic: Lessons for Pandemic Preparedness. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2024; 18:e65. [PMID: 38606429 DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2024.55] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Future pandemics may cause more severe respiratory illness in younger age groups than COVID-19, requiring many more mechanical ventilators. This publication synthesizes the experiences of diverse contributors to Medtronic's mechanical ventilator supply chain during the pandemic, serving as a record of what worked and what didn't, while identifying key factors affecting production ramp-up in this healthcare crisis. METHOD In-depth, one-on-one interviews (n = 17) were held with key Medtronic personnel and suppliers. Template analysis was used, and interview content was analyzed for signals, initiatives, actions, and outcomes, as well as influencing forces. RESULTS Key findings revealed many factors limiting ventilator production ramp-up. Supply chain strengths and weaknesses were identified. Political factors played a role in allocating ventilators and also supported production. Commercial considerations were not priority, but economic awareness was essential to support suppliers. Workers were motivated and flexible. Component shortages, space, production processes, and logistics were challenges. Legally based pressures were reported e.g., import and export restrictions. CONCLUSION Crisis response alone is not enough; preparation is essential. Coordinated international strategies are more effective than individual country responses. Supply chain resilience based on visibility and flexibility is key. This research can help public health planners and the medical device industry prepare for future healthcare crises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Fox
- University of Galway, Global Health, School of Health Sciences, Galway, Ireland
| | - Jessica Hayes
- University of Galway, Global Health, School of Health Sciences, Galway, Ireland
| | - Barbara Whelan
- University of Galway, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Galway, Ireland
| | - Dympna Casey
- University of Galway, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Galway, Ireland
| | - Máire Connolly
- University of Galway, Global Health, School of Health Sciences, Galway, Ireland
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de Grooth HJ, Parienti JJ. Surrogate Endpoints in Pandemic Preparedness. J Infect Dis 2024; 229:1244-1245. [PMID: 38323636 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiae052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Harm-Jan de Grooth
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jean-Jacques Parienti
- Department of Clinical Research and Biostatistics, Caen University Hospital and Caen Normandy University
- Inserm U1311 DYNAMICURE, Caen Normandy University, Caen, France
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44
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Sharma P, Khokhar A, Mittal S. Perceptions regarding second wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic among Indian adults: A cross-sectional study. Am J Disaster Med 2024; 19:15-24. [PMID: 38597643 DOI: 10.5055/ajdm.0470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS A massive surge in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases and deaths occurred in India during March-April 2021, and this was considered as second wave of the pandemic in the country. This study was conducted to find out the perceptions about second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic among Indian adults. METHODS An online-survey-based cross-sectional study was conducted over 3 weeks from April 21, 2021 to May 11, 2021. Information regarding sociodemographic profile, perceptions about COVID-19 during second wave, perceptions and practices related to COVID-19 vaccination, COVID-19 appropriate behavior, and government's response to the pandemic was collected. Descriptive analysis was performed. RESULTS A total of 408 study participants were included. Mean age of the study participants was 29.2 ± 10.4 years. Around 92.6 percent (378) of respondents agreed that COVID-19 in 2021 is different from 2020. Perceived reasons for increased severity and cases were change in virus characteristics; social, religious, and political gatherings; and complacent behavior by people. Three-fourth (311, 76.2 percent) of the study participants agreed that vaccines have a positive role against COVID-19. Majority of the study participants (329, 80.6 percent) concurred that lockdown restrictions help in control of the pandemic. About 60.3 percent (246) of respondents had less trust on government post this pandemic compared to pre-COVID-19 times. CONCLUSION The public perception about reasons for second wave in India acknowledges both human and virus factors and highlights the importance of shared responsibility between citizens and government for controlling the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Sharma
- Department of Community Medicine, North DMC Medical College & Hindu Rao Hospital, Delhi, India. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1346-3453
| | - Anita Khokhar
- Department of Community Medicine, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Shubham Mittal
- Department of Cardiology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India
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Ranjbar M, Mousavi SM, Madadizadeh F, Dargani NH, Iraji S, Angell B, Assefa Y. Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on utilization of essential health services in Iran evidence from an interrupted time series analysis. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1006. [PMID: 38605406 PMCID: PMC11008029 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18537-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 disrupted the provision of essential health services in numerous countries, potentially leading to outbreaks of deadly diseases. This study aims to investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the utilization of essential health services in Iran. METHODS An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted using interrupted time series (ITS) analysis. Data about five indicators, including 'childhood vaccination, infant care, hypertension screening, diabetes screening, and breast cancer screening,' were obtained from the electronic health record System in two-time intervals: 15 months before (November 2018 to January 2020) and 15 months after (January 2020 to May 2021) the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The data were analyzed by utilizing ITS. In addition, a Poisson model was employed due to the usage of count data. The Durbin-Watson (DW) test was used to identify the presence of lag-1 autocorrelation in the time series data. All statistical analysis was performed using R 4.3.1 software, considering a 5% significance level. RESULTS The ITS analysis showed that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected the utilization of all essential health services (P < 0.0001). The utilization of hypertension screening (RR = 0.51, p < 0.001), diabetes screening (RR = 0.884, p < 0.001), breast cancer screening (RR = 0.435, p < 0.001), childhood vaccination (IRR = 0.947, p < 0.001), and infant care (RR = 1.666, p < 0.001), exhibited a significant decrease in the short term following the pandemic (P < 0.0001). However, the long-term trend for all service utilization, except breast cancer screening (IRR = 0.952, p < 0.001), demonstrated a significant increase. CONCLUSIONS The COVID-19 pandemic affected utilization of essential health care in Iran. It is imperative to utilize this evidence to develop policies that will be translated into targeted planning and implementation to sustain provision and utilization of essential health services during public health emergencies. It is also vital to raise awareness and public knowledge regarding the consequences of interruptions in essential health services. In addition, it is important to identify the supply- and demand-side factors contributing to these disruptions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Ranjbar
- Department of Health Management and Economics, Health Policy & Management Research Center, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Seyed Masood Mousavi
- Department of Health Management and Economics, Health Policy & Management Research Center, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Farzan Madadizadeh
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Center for Healthcare Data Modeling, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Nahid Hosseini Dargani
- Department of Health Management and Economics, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
| | - Samaneh Iraji
- Yazd Health District, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Blake Angell
- Centre for Health Systems Science, the George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Yibeltal Assefa
- School of Public Health, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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Millest A, Saeed S, Symons C, Carter H. Effect of face-covering use on adherence to other COVID-19 protective behaviours: A systematic review. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0284629. [PMID: 38603671 PMCID: PMC11008824 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns were raised that face covering use may elicit risk compensation; a false sense of security resulting in reduced adherence to other protective behaviours such as physical distancing. This systematic review aimed to investigate the effect of face covering use on adherence to other COVID-19 related protective behaviours. Medline, Embase, PsychInfo, EmCare, medRxiv preprints, Research Square and WHO COVID-19 Research Database were searched for all primary research studies published from 1st January 2020 to 17th May 2022 that investigated the effect of face covering use on adherence to other protective behaviours in public settings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Papers were selected and screened in accordance with the PRISMA framework. Backwards and forwards citation searches of included papers were also conducted on 16th September 2022, with eligible papers published between 1st January 2020 and that date being included. A quality appraisal including risk of bias was assessed using the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Quality Criteria Checklist. This review is registered on PROSPERO, number CRD42022331961. 47 papers were included, with quality ranging from low to high. These papers investigated the effects of face covering use and face covering policies on adherence to six categories of behaviour: physical distancing; mobility; face-touching; hand hygiene; close contacts; and generalised protective behaviour. Results reveal no consistent evidence for or against risk compensation, with findings varying according to behaviour and across study types, and therefore confident conclusions cannot be made. Any policy decisions related to face coverings must consider the inconsistencies and caveats in this evidence base.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Millest
- Behavioural Science and Insights Unit, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sidra Saeed
- Behavioural Science and Insights Unit, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - Charles Symons
- Behavioural Science and Insights Unit, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - Holly Carter
- Behavioural Science and Insights Unit, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
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Stureborg R, Nichols J, Dhingra B, Yang J, Orenstein W, Bednarczyk RA, Vasudevan L. Development and validation of VaxConcerns: A taxonomy of vaccine concerns and misinformation with Crowdsource-Viability. Vaccine 2024; 42:2672-2679. [PMID: 38521676 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.02.081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
We present VaxConcerns, a taxonomy for vaccine concerns and misinformation. VaxConcerns is an easy-to-teach taxonomy of concerns and misinformation commonly found among online anti-vaccination media and is evaluated to produce high-quality data annotations among crowdsource workers, opening the potential adoption of the framework far beyond just academic or medical communities. The taxonomy shows high agreement among experts and outperforms existing taxonomies for vaccine concerns and misinformation when presented to non-expert users. Our proof-of-concept study on the changes in anti-vaccination content during the COVID-19 pandemic indicate impactful future use cases, such as longitudinal studies of the shift in vaccine concerns over time.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Bhuwan Dhingra
- Department of Computer Science, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Computer Science, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Walter Orenstein
- Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Robert A Bednarczyk
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Lavanya Vasudevan
- Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, USA
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Constantin AM, Noertjojo K, Sommer I, Pizarro AB, Persad E, Durao S, Nussbaumer-Streit B, McElvenny DM, Rhodes S, Martin C, Sampson O, Jørgensen KJ, Bruschettini M. Workplace interventions to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection outside of healthcare settings. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2024; 4:CD015112. [PMID: 38597249 PMCID: PMC11005086 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd015112.pub3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although many people infected with SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) experience no or mild symptoms, some individuals can develop severe illness and may die, particularly older people and those with underlying medical problems. Providing evidence-based interventions to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection has become more urgent with the potential psychological toll imposed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Controlling exposures to occupational hazards is the fundamental method of protecting workers. When it comes to the transmission of viruses, workplaces should first consider control measures that can potentially have the most significant impact. According to the hierarchy of controls, one should first consider elimination (and substitution), then engineering controls, administrative controls, and lastly, personal protective equipment. This is the first update of a Cochrane review published 6 May 2022, with one new study added. OBJECTIVES To assess the benefits and harms of interventions in non-healthcare-related workplaces aimed at reducing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to other interventions or no intervention. SEARCH METHODS We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science Core Collections, Cochrane COVID-19 Study Register, World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 Global literature on coronavirus disease, ClinicalTrials.gov, the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and medRxiv to 13 April 2023. SELECTION CRITERIA We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomised studies of interventions. We included adult workers, both those who come into close contact with clients or customers (e.g. public-facing employees, such as cashiers or taxi drivers), and those who do not, but who could be infected by coworkers. We excluded studies involving healthcare workers. We included any intervention to prevent or reduce workers' exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in the workplace, defining categories of intervention according to the hierarchy of hazard controls (i.e. elimination; engineering controls; administrative controls; personal protective equipment). DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We used standard Cochrane methods. Our primary outcomes were incidence rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection (or other respiratory viruses), SARS-CoV-2-related mortality, adverse events, and absenteeism from work. Our secondary outcomes were all-cause mortality, quality of life, hospitalisation, and uptake, acceptability, or adherence to strategies. We used the Cochrane RoB 2 tool to assess risk of bias, and GRADE methods to evaluate the certainty of evidence for each outcome. MAIN RESULTS We identified 2 studies including a total of 16,014 participants. Elimination-of-exposure interventions We included one study examining an intervention that focused on elimination of hazards, which was an open-label, cluster-randomised, non-inferiority trial, conducted in England in 2021. The study compared standard 10-day self-isolation after contact with an infected person to a new strategy of daily rapid antigen testing and staying at work if the test is negative (test-based attendance). The trialists hypothesised that this would lead to a similar rate of infections, but lower COVID-related absence. Staff (N = 11,798) working at 76 schools were assigned to standard isolation, and staff (N = 12,229) working at 86 schools were assigned to the test-based attendance strategy. The results between test-based attendance and standard 10-day self-isolation were inconclusive for the rate of symptomatic polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive SARS-CoV-2 infection (rate ratio (RR) 1.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.74 to 2.21; 1 study; very low-certainty evidence). The results between test-based attendance and standard 10-day self-isolation were inconclusive for the rate of any PCR-positive SARS-CoV-2 infection (RR 1.35, 95% CI 0.82 to 2.21; 1 study; very low-certainty evidence). COVID-related absenteeism rates were 3704 absence days in 566,502 days-at-risk (6.5 per 1000 working days) in the control group and 2932 per 539,805 days-at-risk (5.4 per 1000 working days) in the intervention group (RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.55 to 1.25). We downgraded the certainty of the evidence to low due to imprecision. Uptake of the intervention was 71% in the intervention group, but not reported for the control intervention. The trial did not measure our other outcomes of SARS-CoV-2-related mortality, adverse events, all-cause mortality, quality of life, or hospitalisation. We found seven ongoing studies using elimination-of-hazard strategies, six RCTs and one non-randomised trial. Administrative control interventions We found one ongoing RCT that aims to evaluate the efficacy of the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine in preventing COVID-19 infection and reducing disease severity. Combinations of eligible interventions We included one non-randomised study examining a combination of elimination of hazards, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment. The study was conducted in two large retail companies in Italy in 2020. The study compared a safety operating protocol, measurement of body temperature and oxygen saturation upon entry, and a SARS-CoV-2 test strategy with a minimum activity protocol. Both groups received protective equipment. All employees working at the companies during the study period were included: 1987 in the intervention company and 1798 in the control company. The study did not report an outcome of interest for this systematic review. Other intervention categories We did not find any studies in this category. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS We are uncertain whether a test-based attendance policy affects rates of PCR-positive SARS-CoV-2 infection (any infection; symptomatic infection) compared to standard 10-day self-isolation amongst school and college staff. A test-based attendance policy may result in little to no difference in absenteeism rates compared to standard 10-day self-isolation. The non-randomised study included in our updated search did not report any outcome of interest for this Cochrane review. As a large part of the population is exposed in the case of a pandemic, an apparently small relative effect that would not be worthwhile from the individual perspective may still affect many people, and thus become an important absolute effect from the enterprise or societal perspective. The included RCT did not report on any of our other primary outcomes (i.e. SARS-CoV-2-related mortality and adverse events). We identified no completed studies on any other interventions specified in this review; however, eight eligible studies are ongoing. More controlled studies are needed on testing and isolation strategies, and working from home, as these have important implications for work organisations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandru Marian Constantin
- Department of Internal Medicine Clinical Hospital Colentina, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Carol Davila", Bucharest, Romania
- Cochrane Austria, Department for Evidence-based Medicine and Evaluation, Danube University Krems, Krems, Austria
| | | | - Isolde Sommer
- Cochrane Austria, Department for Evidence-based Medicine and Evaluation, University for Continuing Education Krems, Krems, Austria
| | | | - Emma Persad
- Cochrane Austria, Department for Evidence-based Medicine and Evaluation, University for Continuing Education Krems, Krems, Austria
- Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Solange Durao
- Cochrane South Africa, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Barbara Nussbaumer-Streit
- Cochrane Austria, Department for Evidence-based Medicine and Evaluation, University for Continuing Education Krems, Krems, Austria
| | - Damien M McElvenny
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sarah Rhodes
- Division of Population Health, Health Services Research and Primary Care, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | | | | | - Karsten Juhl Jørgensen
- Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine Odense (CEBMO) and Cochrane Denmark, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Matteo Bruschettini
- Cochrane Sweden, Department of Research and Education, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
- Paediatrics, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
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Agbebi AYA. Dealing with a Pandemic When You're the Only ID Doctor in Town. Clin Infect Dis 2024; 78:818-821. [PMID: 37791965 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciad593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Abayomi Yomi A Agbebi
- SSM-Saint Louis University Hospital, SLUCare Academic Pavilion, St.Louis, Missouri, USA
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Midzi N, Mutsaka-Makuvaza MJ, Charimari LS, Mangwiro P, Manengureni T, Mugadza G. Factors affecting hand hygiene practice during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Zimbabwean population: a qualitative study. BMC Infect Dis 2024; 24:385. [PMID: 38594631 PMCID: PMC11003113 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-09277-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Practicing hand hygiene is recommended as one of the key preventive measures for reducing the transmission of COVID-19 and other infectious agents. However, it is often not practiced frequently enough or correctly by the public. We aimed to identify barriers to and facilitators of hand hygiene in the Zimbabwean population during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS A qualitative study was conducted with a purposive sample of health workers, village health workers, church leaders, traditional healers, teachers, youth leaders and the general population selected from ten districts across the country from September to October 2022. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 3 key informant interviews per site. In addition, one homogenous focus group discussion was also conducted per site using a focus group discussion guide. The data were recorded on audiotapes, transcribed verbatim, and translated into English. All the analyses were performed manually using thematic analysis. RESULTS Two themes were identified as facilitators of hand hygiene. These include individual factors (knowledge of hand hygiene practices and how they are performed) and access-related factors (access to hand washing infrastructure, soap, and sanitizers). Among the barriers to hand hygiene, four themes were identified: individual factors (knowledge gaps in proper hand washing, lack of conviction about hand hygiene, and habitual behaviour), access-related factors (lack of access to hand washing infrastructure, soap, and sanitizers), safety concerns (concern about the side effects of sanitizers), and sociocultural and religious factors (social customs, cultural beliefs, values, and religious practices). CONCLUSION During public health emergencies, there is a need for people to access uninterrupted, on-premises water supplies to promote compliance with hand hygiene. The provision of clean water and hand washing facilities is critical for vulnerable communities to afford them the opportunity to improve quality of life and facilitate resilience in the event of future pandemics. Community engagement is important for identifying vulnerability factors to provide appropriate mitigatory measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Midzi
- National Institute of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Child Care, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Masceline Jenipher Mutsaka-Makuvaza
- National Institute of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Child Care, Harare, Zimbabwe.
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Rwanda, Butare, Rwanda.
| | | | | | - Tonderai Manengureni
- National Institute of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Child Care, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Gladys Mugadza
- University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences, Harare, Zimbabwe
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