The influence of educational vendor programs on welfare recipients and its impact on long-term employment

The devastating effects of the Novel Coronavirus and the impact that stay-at-home orders and mask mandates have placed on businesses have caused countries to plummet into economic recession. State quarantine measures and the fear of contracting the virus have led to structural change, resulting in more people enlisting on welfare rolls. The significance of this issue is the continual problem of helping individuals on welfare secure and maintain long-term employment. The purpose of this study was to understand clearly where the problem lies that contributes to the inability of large volumes of welfare recipients to maintain long-term employment. This study provided insight into why substantial amounts of recipients are inhibited in securing long-term employment after completing welfare educational programs. The major contribution of this work is filling the gaps in the literature by illuminating new revelations to understand why individuals completing welfare programs are unsuccessful in maintaining long-term employment. Utilizing a narrative inquiry research design of six participants from two northern New Jersey career technical schools, the researcher examined four welfare vendor instructors and two educational administrators on their varied experiences and classroom methodologies. From the rich text data given by each instructor, the researcher was able to gain insights from the coded responses of each respondent. The researcher utilized artifacts (i.e., syllabi, job requirements, lesson plans, record of training, and the student handbook) to identify trends in institutional practices. Finally, a thematic analysis of all coded data yielded three overarching themes: (1) pedagogy and limited teaching strategies;(2) efficacy of soft skills readiness, which was broken down further into the sub-themes of (a) andragogical instructional deployment, and (b) soft skills: conversations versus course within the curriculum;and (3) instructor readiness and the drawbacks of accelerated learning. The researcher observed snapshots of classroom methodological patterns of instruction that may have contributed to welfare recipients' inability to maintain long-term employment. Holistically, this study examined the effectiveness of welfare educational vendor programs and classroom methodologies that impact long-term employment outcomes. The concluding chapter provides recommendations for improvements to help welfare recipients obtain long-term employment. This study provided opportunities to mitigate existing conditions that hinder individuals from maintaining long-term employability. In addition, the saliency of this study contributes to improving classroom instructional methodologies that can help individuals maintain long-term employment outcomes, particularly by giving students the ability to obtain self-sufficiency in supporting their families within distressed communities in northern New Jersey. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

A whole pathway approach to regional spasticity service improvement

Introduction: Spasticity is a highly prevalent and complex symptom of neurological insult/disease and gaining consistency in a MDT approach at the acute, rehab and community level is challenging (RCP 2018). Across Greater Manchester (GM) (3.2million residents and 7 NHS Trusts) there is wide variation in spasticity service provision within stroke and neuro services creating inequity across the region. GMNISDN have therefore been working with regional colleagues to understand current practices and to establish a model of best practice for spasticity management across GM. Method(s): MDT working party established across stroke and neuro, inpatients and community to: * Scope current practice and patient need (2019). * Review relevant literature, guidelines, and evidence-based practice. * Scope different delivery models across the UK. * Create GM Best Practice Model for Spasticity Management (2020). * Pilot audit a representative sample of services against national standards and GM model (2020). * Host spasticity education conference (2019) and webinar series (2021) to aid education around pathophysiology, assessment and management of spasticity. Result(s): * Spasticity service provision is varied, and at times underresourced and discoordinated. * Areas of good practice, training needs and areas for improvement identified (e.g. access pathways, waiting times and follow-up). * Importance of MDT collaboration in treatment planning and evaluation highlighted. * GM Best Practice Model used to aid clinical decision-making and to educate clinicians. * Training events attended by GM and national colleagues and rated excellent. Conclusion(s): Access to appropriately resourced and coordinated spasticity services in GM is inequitable. Further work is required to understand the post-covid picture and explore pathway development/improvement across stroke and neuro services.

Active Transportation, the Ultimate Low Carbon Way to Travel—A Review of International Research and Education

Active transport1 is a relatively new term but one that has been gaining support over the past decade as an alternative to “non-motorized transport” (NMT). Walking and cycling are the main transport modes within the active transport cluster. This paper summarizes the current state of international research and knowledge on active transport in urban and peri-urban areas in high-, middle- and low-income countries. It also explores current research gaps and potential “future looking” research areas. The information was collected in early 2020 and is based on a rapid literature review, a 15-question Internet survey, semi-structured interviews, and a peer-review process with key actors and experts in active transport. Respondents were professionally active in a broad range of areas directly or indirectly connected to the topic. A total of 112 cleaned responses2 were obtained from high, middle- and low-income countries. The main findings show that there is a high level of scholarship in the subject, with a greater breadth of research in high income countries. There has been an increase in research attention since 1990. Both are widely covered by work on road safety aspects. A key difference can be seen between cycling and walking and their positioning as transport modes. More papers on cycling are published in transport-related journals, while walking is better covered in health-related journals. Based on the identified research gaps found in this review, suggestions are put forward for further possible research areas of interest on active transport in the post COVID recovery. Copyright © 2022 Allen and Nolmark.

COVID-19 HISTORY REPORTED BY MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN (MSM) IN THE UK IN A LARGE, COMMUNITY SURVEY ('RIISH-COVID')

Introduction As COVID-19 has deepened health inequalities, we examine the COVID-19 experience of MSM as a population disproportionately affected by poor-health. Methods An online cross-sectional survey of MSM recruited via social media and dating applications for 3 weeks in November/December 2021. Questions included those on COVID-19 experience addressing: COVID-19 test history;when (if ever) tested positive;self-perception of ever having had COVID-19 and long-COVID. Logistic regression was used to assess sociodemographic and behavioural characteristics associated with these outcomes. Results Among 1,038 participants (median age: 41;88.1% white ethnicity): most reported ever testing for COVID-19 (95.0%;n=987), while 19.6% (193/987) reported a positive result [8.1% (80/987) testing positive since August 2021]. In those without a prior positive test (n=793) or testing history (n=52), an additional 148 participants reported self-perceived COVID, resulting in 32.8% (341/1038) with a COVID-19 history. In these, one-quarter (25.2%;86/341) reported long- COVID (8.3%;86/1038 of all) and 4.1% (14/341) hospitalisation history for COVID-related symptoms (1.8%;19/1038 of all). COVID-19 history was associated with residence in England (aOR:1.52,95%CI:1.02-2.28), degree-level education (aOR:1.33;95%CI:1.01-1.75), and vaccination status (aOR:2.98,95%CI:1.61-5.53, none/one dose vs. boosted). Long-COVID was associated with hospitalisation history (aOR:3.21;95%CI:1.09-9.45) and degree-level education (aOR:0.56;95%CI:0.36-0.99). Conclusion In this large community sample, one in five MSM reported testing positive for COVID-19, and one-third had a COVID-19 history. There was no evidence of age or ethnicityrelated inequalities, although long-COVID appears to exceed general population estimates. Continued monitoring of long- COVID in MSM is warranted as COVID-19 infections in the UK continue to increase.

COVID-19 VACCINATION UPTAKE AND COVERAGE REPORTED BY MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN (MSM) IN THE UK IN A LARGE, COMMUNITY SURVEY ('RIISHCOVID')

Introduction MSM are disproportionately affected by health inequalities which may be exacerbated by COVID-19 and pandemic- related restrictions. We examine uptake of the COVID- 19 vaccine in MSM and assess factors associated with vaccination status. Methods An online cross-sectional survey of MSM recruited via social media and dating applications for 3 weeks in November/December 2021. Questions included those on vaccine offer and uptake (1 dose/2 doses/2 doses+booster). Logistic regression assessed factors associated with reporting full vaccination status (≥2 doses) by sociodemographic characteristics, HIV status, self-reported COVID history, and mental health indicators. Results Of 1,039 participants, 98.2% (n=1,020) reported everhaving been offered a COVID vaccine, of which 98.0% (1,000/1,020) reported ≥1 dose and 96.5% (985/1020) full vaccination status. In multivariate models, full vaccination status was associated with: age (aOR:1.04, 95%CI:1.01-1.06 per increasing year), gender (aOR: 0.26, 95%CI:0.09-0.72, gender minority vs cis male), degree-level education (aOR: 2.11,95% CI:1.12-3.98), employment since lockdown (aOR: 2.07,95% CI:1.08-3.94), single relationship status (aOR: 0.50,95% CI:0.25-1.00), self-reported COVID-19 history (aOR: 0.47, 95%CI:0.25-0.88), HPV vaccination history (aOR: 3.32, 95% CI:1.43-7.75), and self-reported low life-worth (aOR: 0.29, 95%CI:0.15-0.54). Conclusion This large community survey suggests COVID-19 vaccine uptake and coverage is high in MSM and exceeds general population vaccination estimates. However, inequalities appear to exist in some groups, including younger age-groups, gender minorities, and those with poorer mental health less likely to report full vaccination. Efforts are needed to limit COVID-related exacerbation of health inequalities in these groups who already experience a greater burden of poor health relative to other MSM.

One year on: assessing the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on demand for semi-urgent ENT services.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated how the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has impacted on presentations to ENT first-on-call services. METHODS: All appointments to a rapid access triage clinic from 1 June to 31 August in 2019 and 2020 were reviewed retrospectively and their reasons for consultation classified. A binomial proportion test was used to determine whether the proportions of consultations per presentation differed significantly between years. This analysis was repeated with the number of unique patients per presenting complaint. RESULTS: The proportions of nine reasons for consultation differed significantly between 2019 and 2020, including an increase in otitis media and nasal trauma presentations, and a decrease in otitis externa and tonsillitis presentations. Reattendances caused some variation in the frequency of certain diagnoses. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest a shift in the presentations to first-on-call services, which may be a result of changes in patient behaviour and access to healthcare services.

Just 93 Days, and the Sacrifice, Courage, and Hope that filled those Days

The Deputy Incidence Manager of the Ebola Crisis Emergency Center in Lagos, Dr. Olukayode Oguntimehin (actor uncredited), describes the "894 contacts identified and monitored, [the estimated] 18,500 face-to-face visits [...] to assess Ebola symptom development, [...and the ...] massive social mobilization campaign" to contain and treat Ebola patients. The point of emphasis becomes the number of empty beds in the Yaba facility. The number of living surpasses the number of dead, but only because of the responsibility taken by the individuals being remembered at the funeral and by the national and international agencies that supported their efforts. Author Biography Allen H. Redmon is Professor of English and Film Studies in the Department of Humanities at Texas A & M University Central Texas, where he teaches classes in film studies and adaptation.

Enhanced Telehealth Case Management Plus Emergency Financial Assistance for Homeless-Experienced People Living With HIV During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, in Boston, Massachusetts, implemented an intensive telehealth case management intervention combined with emergency financial assistance for 270 homeless-experienced people living with HIV (PLWH) to reduce COVID-19 transmission and promote HIV care retention during Boston's first pandemic peak (March 16-May 31, 2020). Our telehealth model successfully maintained prepandemic case management and primary care contact levels, highlighting the importance of such programs in supporting the care engagement of homeless-experienced PLWH and addressing the dual COVID-19 and HIV epidemics.