ABSTRACT
Objective: Malaysia's first case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was reported in January 2020, with the first case in the state of Negeri Sembilan diagnosed on 17 February 2020. The National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme commenced in early March 2021 in Negeri Sembilan. This study describes the COVID-19 cases and vaccination coverage in Seremban District, Negeri Sembilan, during 2021. Methods: The demographic and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 cases and the district's vaccination coverage were described. Vaccination coverage was plotted against COVID-19 cases on the epidemic curve. The chi-square test was used to examine the differences between the vaccination status of COVID-19 cases and severity category, hospitalization status and mortality. Results: In Seremban District, there were 65 879 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in 2021. The data revealed that the 21–30-year age group had the highest proportion of cases (16 365;24.8%), the majority of cases were male (58.3%), and most cases were from the sub-district of Ampangan (23.1%). The majority of cases were Malaysian. Over half (53.5%) were symptomatic, with fever (29.8%) and cough (22.8%) being the most frequently reported symptoms. COVID-19 vaccination status was significantly associated with severity category, hospitalization and mortality (P < 0.001 for all categories). Discussion: This is the first study to describe two-dose vaccination coverage and the trend in COVID-19 cases in Seremban District. It was observed that COVID-19 cases had been reduced following more than 60.0% vaccination coverage. © 2023, World Health Organization. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Grounded in the technology-organization-environment framework, this paper investigates critical drivers of mobile commerce (m-commerce) adoption intention by SMEs in Saudi Arabia, a developing country in transition, during the COVID-19 pandemic. A quantitative approach was adopted in this study for data collection and analysis. A proposed research model was tested and validated using PLS-SEM on data collected using a structured questionnaire from a sample of 171 Saudi SMEs located in the capital city of Riyadh. The findings reveal that top management support, environmental uncertainty and perceived benefits are the critical drivers of m-commerce adoption intention. However, perceived costs do not influence firms' intentions to adopt m-commerce. This study contributes to a better understanding of m-commerce adoption intention in developing countries, particularly in Saudi Arabia. Both theoretical and practical implications of interest can be derived from this study.
ABSTRACT
Background: COVID-19 pandemic imposed a devastating effect on the psychological health of health professionals as they worked nonstop to withstand the hardship of the pandemic. The present study intended to determine the post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) and coping strategies among health professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh. Methods: This country-wide cross-sectional study was conducted from July to December 2021 among 1394 health professionals (596 physicians, 713 nurses, 85 medical technologists) who served COVID-19 patients at the secondary, tertiary, and specialized government healthcare facilities in Bangladesh and completed at least one month after exposure to COVID-19 patient-care. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed by SPSS software. All the ethical issues were maintained strictly. Findings: Most of the participants, 877 (62.9%) [95% CI: 60.3-65.5], were female, and 327 (23.5%) [95% CI: 21.3-25.8] developed PTSD. Females (AOR:1.42 [95% CI: 1.083-1.868] p = 0.011), having an elderly family member (AOR:1.515 [95% CI: 1.173-1.956] p = 0.0014), working in specialized hospitals (AOR:2.685 [95% CI: 1.928-3.739] p < 0.001), and working ≥8 hours/day (AOR:1.897 [95% CI: 1.350-2.666] p = 0.0002) had higher odds of developing PTSD. Most of the participants adopted spiritual approaches 96 (29.4%) [24.5-34.6] and distraction by watching TV/YouTube 59 (18.0%) [14.0-22.6] as coping strategies. Interpretation: The study findings would be helpful for health policymakers and managers to develop comprehensive measures for restoring the mental well-being of health professionals by alleviating PTSD induced by a pandemic like COVID-19. Funding: The study got funding from the Directorate General of Medical Education under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Bangladesh.
ABSTRACT
Purpose This study aims to investigate how social capital (e.g. cognitive and relational) influences students' trust (e.g. cognitive and affective) as mediator variables, affecting students' information sharing activity on Facebook. Design/methodology/approach The sample consists of 398 valid participants obtained through an online survey and using structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the research hypotheses. Findings The empirical results indicate that social capital has significant and positive effects on students' trust (e.g. cognitive and affective-based trust), also mediator variables. Furthermore, the mediator variables partially mediate social capital and information sharing based on the concept of cognition-affection-behavior (CAB). Research limitations/implications This study was limited to Indonesian students. Therefore, future study is needed to analyze across cultures and regions. It can help practitioners, regulators and researchers to observe the dynamic behavior on the impact of social capital on social media users' activities. Practical implications Education stakeholders (e.g. lecturers and teachers) can identify the students' goal and rational concerns to improve their social capital and trust to share information. The government as a regulator needs to support students' activities on social media to provide updated information regarding economic and social conditions during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature on virtual communities. Specifically, it considers how social capital influences trust, which subsequently affects information sharing based on the CAB context among Indonesian student' Facebook users.
ABSTRACT
Background: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on disease management and progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in various ethnic groups is not known. We aimed to study the prevalence of IBD in various ethnic groups and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The objectives of the study were to determine severity of IBD and compliance in various ethnic groups, to compare status at follow-up before the pandemic and recent follow-up during the pandemic. Design: Our records were queried from 2017 to 2021 for diagnostic terms related to inflammatory bowel disease. Retrospective chart review was performed of the cases found in the search results to determine diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease. Relevant clinicopathological parameters were recorded including status at follow-up before the pandemic and most recent follow-up during the pandemic. Results: Total of 350 patients with inflammatory bowel disease included 232 White and 118 Black patients with a mean age of 43 years and 36 years respectively. Crohn's disease (CD) was found to be more common than ulcerative colitis (UC), only 5 cases of indeterminate colitis were noted, Table. In both UC and CD, more Black patients presented with anemia and emergency department (ED) visits. Overall Black patients had lower compliance to medication and follow-up appointments, Table. Loss of insurance was most frequently mentioned as the reason for loss of compliance. In CD, Black patients presented with greater severity of disease in the form of more ED visits, hospital admissions, duration of hospital stays, IBD related surgeries, Table. During the pandemic compliance for follow-up appointments significantly decreased for all patients (from 83% to 58% in White patients and from 69% to 48% in Black patients respectively), (p<0.001). No SARS-CoV-2 infection related exacerbation of IBD was reported. Conclusions: Socioeconomical factors and the COVID-19 pandemic influenced access to healthcare and progression of IBD. Reduced compliance to follow-up was noted in all ethnic groups during the pandemic. Greater severity of disease especially in case of CD, and lower compliance to medication in the Black population were noted. No exacerbation of IBD was reported due to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Recent reports have indicated that a considerable portion of patients experiences a cardiac injury, ranging from 7.2% to 22.2%, which is linked to higher mortality. Nevertheless, previous studies have exclusively focused on the cardiac injury defined as a raised cardiac marker without a definitive diagnosis. To our knowledge, the present retrospective cohort study is the first study to comprehensively address cardiovascular (CV) complications and related outcomes in COVID-19 patients. Purpose: To address CV complications and their relationship to clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Methods: A total of 196 adult hospitalized patients admitted to our hospital with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 and a consultation requested from the cardiology department were enrolled in this retrospective single-center cohort study from September 10, 2020, to December 10, 2020, with a median age of 65 years (IQR, 52-77). Cardiac examinations included cardiac biomarkers, electrocardiography, and echocardiography. Data regarding complications during hospitalization were extracted, and patients were categorized into two groups concerning the presence or absence of CV complications. All transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) assessments were performed by a single cardiologist, who was provided with personal protective gear according to national guidelines. Follow-up continued for 3 months after hospital discharge. Results: CV complication was observed in 54 (27.6%) patients, with arrhythmia being the most prevalent (14.8%) followed by myocarditis, acute coronary syndromes, ST-elevation myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, and deep vein thrombosis in 15 (7.7%), 12 (6.1%), 10 (5.1%), 8 (4.1%), and 4 (2%) patients, respectively. The proportion of patients with elevated hs-TpI, NT-proBPN, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction was greater in the CV complication group. Severe forms of COVID-19 comprised nearly two-thirds (64.3%) of our study population and constituted a significantly higher share of the CV complication group members (75.9% vs 59.9%;P = 0.036). Intensive care unit admission (64.8% vs 44.4%;P = 0.011) and stay (5.5 days vs 0 day;P = 0.032) were notably higher in patients with CV complications. Among 196 patients, 50 died during hospitalization and 10 died after discharge, yielding allcause mortality of 30.8%. However, there were no between-group differences concerning mortality. Heart failure, cancer/autoimmune disease, severity, interferon beta-1a, and arrhythmia were the independent predictors of all-cause mortality during and after hospitalization. Conclusion: CV complications occurred widely among COVID-19 patients. Moreover, arrhythmia, as the most common complication, was associated with increased mortality.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Personal protective equipments (PPEs) are like war uniforms in the fight against Corona Pandemic. The limited supply of PPEs warrant their proper use not only to avoid shortage of supplies but also to prevent any infectious spread to healthcare workers. This study aimed at analyzing awareness among non-consultant hospital doctors re proper use of PPEs Method: A questionnaire was devised using local available guidelines published by university Hospital Limerick. The study was done in 2 phases. In 1st phase 100 questionnaires were distributed to non-consultant hospital doctors(NCHDs). Results were analysed and after 1st phase and emails were sent with results and local guidelines and a zoom educational session was organized. In 2nd phase, questionnaire was redistributed in a week's time and results were re analysed to close the loop. Results: 200 NCHDs participated in the study,100 in each phase. Most common age group in two phases was 21-30 yrs. Awareness about PPEs use for Covid 19 increased significantly in 2nd phase across all domains (what is included in PPEs (100% from 91%), Sequence for putting on PPEs (52% to 88% p<0.05), steps for FIT test (57% to 74% p=0.247) and sequence for removing PPEs (47% to 81% p<0.05). Conclusions: Though PPEs donning and doffing sessions were organized by the hospital officially, Awareness about effective use of PPEs among NCHDs further improved after organizing a Zoom educational session and auditing.